Easy-to-Grow Plants for First Garden

For first-time gardeners, experts suggest trying brightly colored flowers or vegetables in unusual colors such as purple potatoes or yellow pear tomatoes. Big seeds--such as corn, beans and sunflowers--are easier for little hands to hold and examine. Bulbs are great container plants that require little maintenance once in the ground.

Here are some other easy-to-grow suggestions:

Flowers: marigolds, zinnias, sages (red, purple, etc.), cosmos, snapdragons, daisies, sweet peas, nasturtiums, scarlet runner beans.

Vegetables: peas, radishes, purple bean bushes, alfalfa sprouts, rainbow chards, beets (white, orange, red, pink), giant or miniature pumpkins (especially white), squashes, Malabar spinach, orange cherry tomatoes.