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If you’re impatient (like me), or simply want quicker returns from your garden, planting fast-growing vegetables is the secret to getting fresh food fast. These crops are also excellent for succession planting for getting harvests all year long. As soon as one crop is done, stick the next crop in (after refreshing the soil, of course).

These speedy crops are:

• Perfect for beginners
• Ideal for raised beds and small gardens
• Great for repeat harvests
• Amazing for kids and first-time gardeners
• Excellent for maximizing yields in short seasons

Below is your ultimate guide to 25 vegetables that grow fast with many ready to harvest in 20–60 days.

The Fastest Growing Vegetables by Category

To make this guide easier to use, the vegetables are grouped by:

• Super Fast (20–35 days)
• Fast (35–60 days)
• Still Quick but Larger Crops (60–75 days)

Each section includes the days to maturity and the easiest varieties to grow.

Super Fast Vegetables (20–35 Days)

These are the absolute fastest-growing crops that are perfect for instant gratification.

1. Radishes (22–30 Days)

Radishes are one of the quickest vegetables to grow from seed.

Varieties to Try:

• Cherry Belle
• French Breakfast
• Easter Egg Blend

Notes:
Plant every 1–2 weeks for continuous harvests.

2. Arugula (25–30 Days)

Arugula grows quickly and thrives in cooler temps.

Tips:
Harvest young for mild flavor. Great for cut-and-come-again.

3. Baby Lettuce (21–30 Days)

Baby greens grow much faster than full heads.

Varieties:

• Buttercrunch
• Black Seeded Simpson
• Mesclun mixes

4. Spinach (28–35 Days)

A cool-season staple that grows fast and stores well.

Notes:
Bolt-resistant varieties perform best.

5. Green Onions (30–35 Days)

Green onions grow quickly from sets or seed.

Tip:
Trim and regrow — they keep producing.

6. Microgreens (7–14 Days)

The absolute fastest edible crop you can grow.

Popular Choices:
Radish, broccoli, sunflower, pea shoots.

Fast-Growing Vegetables (35–60 Days)

These crops grow quickly but produce more substantial harvests.

7. Bok Choy (40–50 Days)

A compact, fast-growing leafy green perfect for small gardens.

Baby bok choy matures in as little as 30 days.

8. Kale (45–55 Days)

You can pick baby leaves earlier, but large leaves grow fast too.

Varieties:
Dwarf Curly, Lacinato, Red Russian.

9. Swiss Chard (45–55 Days)

One of the most productive greens you can grow.

Tip:
Harvest outer leaves and let the plant keep producing.

10. Beets (45–60 Days)

Beets give you a double harvest: greens + roots.

Fast Varieties:
Detroit Dark Red, Chioggia, Golden.

11. Turnips (40–55 Days)

Turnip roots grow quickly, and the greens are delicious.

Best for speed:
Purple Top, Hakurei.

12. Cucumbers (50–60 Days)

Cucumbers grow remarkably fast once temperatures warm up.

Varieties:
Marketmore 76, Boston Pickling, Lemon Cucumber.

13. Zucchini (45–55 Days)

A famously productive and fast-growing crop.

Tip:
Harvest small for best flavor.

14. Bush Beans (45–55 Days)

One of the easiest warm-weather crops.

Varieties:
Blue Lake, Provider, Jade.

15. Peas (55–60 Days)

Cool-season crops that grow fast and taste incredible fresh.

Varieties:
Sugar Snap, Oregon Giant, Snow Peas.

Larger but Still Fast-Growing Vegetables (60–75 Days)

These vegetables grow quickly considering their size and yield.

16. Carrots (60–70 Days)

You can harvest baby carrots in 30–40 days.

Fast Varieties:
Nantes, Scarlet, Little Finger.

17. Summer Squash (50–60 Days)

Produces quickly and heavily.

Options:
Yellow straightneck, patty pan.

18. Kohlrabi (55–65 Days)

A fun, crunchy vegetable kids love.

Notes:
Grow in spring or fall.

19. Baby Potatoes (60–70 Days)

New potatoes mature fast compared to full-size varieties.

Tip:
Grow in grow bags or containers for easy harvest.

20. Broccoli Raab (40–55 Days)

Not true broccoli, but super fast and flavorful.

21. Mustard Greens (30–40 Days)

A spicy, fast-growing green ideal for cool weather.

22. Tatsoi (40–45 Days)

A mild Asian green that grows rapidly.

23. Cilantro (30–35 Days)

Grows quickly, especially in spring.

Note:
Bolts in hot weather.

24. Dill (40–50 Days)

An aromatic herb that grows fast and reseeds easily.

25. Bush Tomatoes (60–70 Days)

Dwarf and patio varieties are the fastest producers.

Fast Varieties:
Tiny Tim
Patio Choice Yellow
Early Girl

Tips for Getting the Fastest Possible Harvests

To push your harvest even faster:

• Warm the soil with black mulch or row covers
• Start seeds indoors when appropriate
• Choose dwarf, bush, or “early” varieties
• Water consistently
• Use fresh compost or organic fertilizer
• Harvest young and often

Fast vegetables + good soil = rapid results.

Final Thoughts

Growing quick vegetables is the best way to stay motivated, fill your table with fresh food, and enjoy steady harvests all season long.

Plant just a few of these, and you’ll be picking your own produce faster than you thought possible.