If you'd like to grow your own vegetables, but think you have a "brown thumb" – one that kills every plant rather than have them thrive, then why not try these easy veggies.

Too many first time gardeners set themselves up to fail by trying to grow vegetables that need a lot of looking after, and, quite frankly, can be very picky about weather and location and sunlight and so on. These five veggies are almost indestructible – chives, spring onions, English spinach, leeks and snake beans.

The first thing all of these five have in common is that you sow the seed where you want the plant to grow – none of this seed raising mix and transplanting business – that's when most seedlings die!

Just follow these simple instructions, and you'll soon have a green thumb (at least for these veggies).

Chives

Chives can be grown in a pot or in a garden bed. The soil doesn't have to be particularly great, just make sure it's neither sand nor clay. Normal potting mix will do the trick nicely if growing in a pot.

If growing from seed simply sprinkle the seed on the soil and water in well. Water regularly until seedlings emerge, then water as required. If you remember, give it a feed with soluble fertiliser once a month. If not – it will still grow. It will also multiply, so if it starts to get too
big for the pot, simply lift it out, cut in half (or more if you really have a lot) and re-pot.

To harvest, simply snip off what you want with a pair of scissors.

Chives are great on boiled potatoes, in potato salad and other salads, and as a garnish on soups and stews.

Spring Onions

Spring Onions are a little like chives on steroids. They grow similarly but are much more robust, larger, and are great cooked in soups and stews. Some people confuse shallots and spring onions – shallots have a clove (similar to onions) and spring onions are straight with no bulb at the bottom (similar to chives).

As for chives, simply sprinkle the seed onto the soil and then water in. Keep the water up until shoots appear then water as required.

These plants will benefit from feeding, but will grow just as happily without. They also self seed. The seed for spring onion forms at the top of a stalk and looks like a large pom pom. Allow this to flower and just let the seed drop onto the soil. If you are watering and feeding your plants, you'll have lots of new babies in a few weeks.

Harvest by snipping off what you require.

English Spinach

You can either grow this from seed, or look for a bunch in the supermarket which still has some roots attached. Cut off the edible portion and plant the base with roots attached.

If growing from seed, plant in a pot or garden bed. When planting, always plant the seed as deep as the seed is wide.

Water in well and keep the water up to it until seedlings emerge. Water during hot spells (you'll know when you need to water – the spinach wilts quite dramatically), and a regular feed with a soluble fertiliser like seaweed solution will do wonders for your spinach.

Harvest by taking the outer leaves first. Great in salads in summer, or cooked like regular spinach or Silverbeet in winter. Great for omelettes, quiches, stews, soufflés, and of course lasagne!

Leeks

Another one you can grow from seed or by planting the base of a store bought leek which still has roots attached (although you will get much better results from seed).

Can be grown in a pot or garden bed. Plant out seeds and water in well. Keep up the water until seedlings emerge. If you fertiliser early you can get away with not doing this again, although growth will be faster the more you feed it.

To harvest simply uproot from the ground when ready (about 15" tall, although you can harvest them when they are smaller).

Leeks taste like fragrant onions – they have a very subtle flavour. They go well with pumpkin (pumpkin and leek lasagne is delicious) and can used is soups, stews and stir fries.

Snake Beans

You may initially have trouble getting these seeds, but once you have planted them you'll never run out as you can harvest seeds from the plant.

Snake beans love hot weather, so they are really only a summer crop in most areas. They are a climber too, so you'll need some sort of trellis or lattice work for them to grow over.

Plant your seeds as deep as they are wide and water in well. Water regularly until you start to see growth, then no need to water until you can see the plant start to wilt.

Snake beans are prodigious producers, so it will be easy to let some pods stay on the vine to dry out for next years crop.

The earlier you harvest these the better – don't let them get too tough or they become inedible. These beans are great in stir fries and curries.

These five vegetables really are easy to grow, care for, harvest and propagate. So what are you waiting for – get out there and start growing – you can impress your friends with your own produce!