I killed a cactus. A cactus. The plant that survives in deserts with zero attention died in my apartment. So when I say anyone can grow vegetables, I mean it — because if I can, you absolutely can.

I started with one tomato plant in a $5 bucket. That tomato plant produced about 30 tomatoes over the summer and I have been chasing that high ever since. Here is what actually matters for beginners.

Start With the Unkillables

Cherry tomatoes, bush beans, zucchini, and herbs (basil, mint, chives). These plants want to live. They will survive bad soil, irregular watering, and a surprising amount of neglect. Do not start with bell peppers or cauliflower — those are divas that need perfect conditions.

Radishes go from seed to harvest in 25 days. Twenty-five. You could plant them, go on vacation, and come back to radishes. There is no easier confidence builder.

Sunlight Is Non-Negotiable

Vegetables need at least six hours of direct sun. Not “bright shade.” Not “the sun hits that spot in the afternoon for maybe an hour.” Direct, unfiltered sun for six-plus hours. If your only sunny spot is the driveway, put pots there. If you have no sunny spot, grow leafy greens and herbs — they tolerate partial shade.

Containers Work Fine

You do not need a raised bed. A five-gallon bucket with holes drilled in the bottom grows one tomato plant, two pepper plants, or a whole crop of lettuce. Use potting mix, not garden soil. Garden soil compacts in containers and chokes roots. Potting mix is lighter and designed for it.

Self-watering containers are worth the extra $10. They have a reservoir at the bottom so you water once a week instead of every day. I built mine from two stacked buckets with a plastic cup as a wick. YouTube has a hundred tutorials.

The Real Secret: Mulch

Spread straw, shredded leaves, or grass clippings two inches thick around your plants. Mulch cuts watering in half and stops weeds. Most beginner gardens fail because people stop watering. Mulch makes forgetting to water forgivable by keeping moisture in the soil. It is the single biggest upgrade for the least effort.