Even beginners can sow success in the garden with a few simple tips

Let's start small. That's the first step when you want to begin growing vegetables. Don't plow up the back yard, just plant a few containers or a small garden plot.

Growing vegetables for our families is a national craze. It gives us better-tasting, safer choices. And if your local grocery store does not offer a lot of varieties, well, here's a low-cost solution.

“We see primarily people looking to save a little money,” said Rick Belding, horticulturist, Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe.

“And they want to teach their children how to do this. It's an activity that the whole family can partake in.”

It's Belding's contention that youngsters who eschew eating vegetables change their mind when they grow their own.

But there's nothing inspiring about shopping, digging, planting and weeding only to watch your tomatoes die on the vine. So we reached out to experts to get some ideas about which vegetables beginners should choose as well as a few tips.

Herbs, which seem born to thrive in containers, are easy to grow and are expensive in the grocery store, Belding said.

And one of the benefits of planting your tomatoes in containers is that you can move them to the sunniest spot, said Jill Weiss, who is a grower and assistant curator of the Idea Garden at Cantigny in Wheaton.

Plants are easier than seeds, of course, but if you want to try seeds, Weiss suggests starting with zucchini or cucumbers. When space is at a premium, beets will work.

“Dig a hollow in the ground, put the seed in, water it and basically unless we have a really, really dry summer, the rains are enough,” she said. “And there are no pest problems.”

One to watch out for: Carrots can be hard to grow if you have heavy clay soil.

Watering can be an issue for beginners. You want to water when the soil is starting to get dried out, but you don't want it completely dry, and you don't want your plants sitting in water, warns Mark Hoover, horticulturist at Morton Arboretum in Lisle.

He suggests trying planters that you hang and watch the tomatoes or strawberries grow out the bottom because they prevent over watering.

Consistency in watering is very important, says Lance Walheim, gardening author who works with Bayer Advanced products. Water deeply, then give time for the soil to dry partially, he suggests. He likes a drip irrigation system, but you might not want to make that investment your first season.

Fertilizer is another of those things that require just the right amount — not too little or too much, Walheim said. He recommends nitrogen every four to six weeks.

And he reminds us that 2 to 3 inches of organic mulch over the roots of the vegetables helps keep the moisture in and the weeds out.

Another serious issue for some gardeners is sun. If you don't have a lot, skip the tomatoes. But Hoover urges you to try some things anyway. He has had success with peppers on his east-facing balcony that gets only morning sun.

Here are plant suggestions from each member of our panel.

Rick Belding, Chicago Botanic Garden#8226; Swiss chard. You can plant the seeds now, and harvest into the fall. And the Bright Lights variety is not only tasty, believe it or not it has stems of gold, pink, orange, purple, red and white. This beauty is a possibility for gardeners with less than ideal amounts of sun.#8226; Basil. Genovese, the best choice for pesto, can't be planted until after mid-May. Remember where a plant originated, Belding said, and you'll know more about caring for it. This Mediterranean specimen does not like frost, but if you grow it in a container close to the house, you might cheat that late frost.#8226; Squash. Honey Bear is an acorn bush squash, and it will work in a large container if you want. It tastes great, has no insect issues, and the seeds are yummy roasted. Plant it in late May.#8226; Tomatoes. Smaller tomatoes seem to be the choice for beginners. Sun Gold is a sweet cherry with intense flavor. #8220;Even people who don't like tomatoes like these.#8221; But it needs a small trellis or some sort of support.#8226; Peppers. Try Ace, a red bell pepper, and Sport, the medium-hot pepper used for Chicago-style hot dogs.#8226; Turnip. Yes, really. Belding also turned up his nose at the idea of eating turnips. But he thinks you'll enjoy this quick grower on your salads. You can plant them now and through the summer.Jill Weiss, Cantigny#8226; Cabbage. You know this is good for you, and you can plant it now, which Weiss thinks will help prevent your rushing to put out your tomatoes, which have to wait till danger of frost is past. She recommends Everlast for its big heads.#8226; Onion. Buy plants or sets. Weiss has been gardening for years, and she still uses onion plants rather than seeds, which tend to produce vegetables that rot. Walla Walla is her choice. And here's a great thinning tip: when you have to pull out onions, pop them on the grill! #8226; Cantaloupe. If you're dying to grow fruit, try ones that grow on vines. Trees are more difficult, expensive, a lot of work and require five years before they produce.Mark Hoover, Morton Arboretum#8226; Eggplant. You can grow eggplants in containers. Imagine your friends' amazement when you say you grew the shiny beauties yourself!#8226; Cilantro. You can cut it all summer for the salsa you're making with your tomatoes. Keep it moist. Herbs are a choice where sun is at a premium.#8226; Raspberries. This is something worth gardening for. Yes, they need watering and pruning, but they give you raspberries! Try everbearing. #8226; Garlic. After you have a successful harvest, plant garlic bulbs in the fall like you do tulips. #8226; Peas. Hoover insists he is not going too far to recommend these yummies for beginners. You will need a trellis of some sort, though. Lance Walheim, Bayer Advanced #8226; Super Sweet 100 is Walheim's suggestion for a cherry tomato. If you're itching for a standard size, he recommends Early Girl and Brandywine.#8226; Bibb lettuce is an essential for that salad you are planning. It's the easiest lettuce to grow in Illinois, and you can plant it now. It doesn't like the heat of summer. #8226; Easter Egg radish. How can we resist that today?#8226; Spinach. America is an heirloom variety that has been popular for well over half a century. 17821650Black Beauty Eggplant Courtesy Burpee.com 17571540Easter Egg RadishCourtesy Burpee.com 8481200Genevese Basil.Courtesy Burpee.com 11081287Sun Gold TomatoCourtesy Burpee.com 846684Super Sweet 100 TomatoCourtesy Burpee.com 18002705Tokyo Cross TurnipCourtesy Burpee.com 900914Tokyo Cross TurnipCourtesy Burpee.com 25923763Peppers are a good choice to mix with tomatoes. Courtesy Morton Arboretum 719899Can you find a prettier vegetable than Bright Lights Swiss chard?Courtesy All-America Selections 18001486Honey Bear Squash.Courtesy All-America Selections 27144000Walla Walla onions. Courtesy Brent Bergherm/wallawalla.org. 23041728Cilantro Delfino.Courtesy All-America Selections