Fastest Growing Vegetables (Under 45 Days)
These 26 plants start producing in under 45 days from seed. Perfect for impatient gardeners who want quick results.
Cress
Fastest food crop -- ready in a week. Peppery sprouts for salads and sandwiches.
Green Onion
Quick-growing allium. Regrows from roots after cutting. Perfect windowsill crop.
Arugula
Peppery salad green that grows fast in cool weather. A staple of Mediterranean cuisine.
Mizuna
Japanese mustard green with feathery leaves and mild, peppery flavor.
Tatsoi
Asian rosette green with spoon-shaped leaves. Mild mustard flavor.
Radish
The fastest vegetable -- harvest in as little as 3 weeks. Perfect for beginners.
Lettuce
Cool-season crop perfect for spring and fall. Bolts (goes to seed) in heat.
Bok Choy
Fast-growing Asian green. Crunchy stalks and tender leaves. Great in stir-fries.
Mustard Greens
Spicy, peppery greens that grow fast in cool weather. Many colorful varieties.
Turnip
Fast-growing root vegetable. Both roots and greens are edible and nutritious.
Watercress
Peppery aquatic green. Can grow in shallow running water or very moist soil.
Buckwheat
Fast-growing pseudocereal and cover crop. Flowers attract bees for buckwheat honey.
Nasturtium
Edible flower with peppery flavor. Leaves, flowers, and seed pods all edible.
Spinach
Nutrient-dense cool-season green. One of the first crops you can plant in spring.
Dill
Feathery herb essential for pickles, fish, and Scandinavian cooking.
Sorrel
Tangy, lemony perennial green. French sorrel is milder than garden sorrel.
Chervil
Delicate French herb with mild anise flavor. One of the four fines herbes.
Zucchini
Prolific summer squash -- one plant can feed a family. Easy for beginners.
Cilantro
Cool-season herb essential in Mexican, Indian, and Thai cooking. Bolts quickly in heat.
Kohlrabi
Unusual-looking brassica with sweet, crisp flesh. Edible raw or cooked.
Marigold
Cheerful annual that repels pests. Essential companion plant.
Calendula
Bright orange/yellow medicinal flower. Petals are edible and used in salves.
Dandelion
Underrated superfood green. Entire plant is edible -- leaves, roots, flowers.
Endive
Bitter salad green with curly leaves. Blanching reduces bitterness.
Saffron
World's most expensive spice. Purple crocus flowers with red stigmas harvested by hand.
Epazote
Mexican herb essential for cooking black beans. Strong, pungent flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest vegetable to grow?
Green onions and arugula are among the fastest, ready in as little as 20-21 days from seed. Radishes follow at 22-30 days. Lettuce, mustard greens, and bok choy are also very fast at 30-45 days. These quick-growing crops are perfect for impatient gardeners.
Can I succession plant fast-growing vegetables?
Absolutely. Succession planting means sowing new seeds every 2-3 weeks for a continuous harvest. This works especially well with fast crops like radishes, lettuce, and arugula. You can have fresh greens on your table every week of the growing season.
Are fast-growing vegetables good for beginners?
Yes. Fast-growing vegetables provide quick gratification and let beginners learn from mistakes faster. If your first planting of radishes fails, you can try again in just a few weeks. This rapid feedback loop helps new gardeners build skills and confidence quickly.
What fast-growing plants work in containers?
Nearly all fast-growing vegetables grow well in containers. Radishes need just 6 inches of depth. Lettuce and arugula do great in wide, shallow containers. Green onions grow in almost any pot. Mustard greens and bok choy need slightly larger containers but are still compact.