Gardening: How Long Does it Really Take to Garden?

Daylight savings time, spring forward concept - retro alarm clock and dandelion flowers in the grass

Time is precious and limited, and when it comes to gardening, timing is imperative for growing success. When in the year should you plant a beet? How long does it take for peppers to mature? How much time should lapse before you harvest?

Today, it’s ‘grow time.’ We’ll talk all things related to growing timing — how long it takes to set up your garden, how long specific veggies take to mature, and when to harvest.

Time for Set-Up

If you’re growing with Gardenuity, it takes about 45 minutes to set up an entire container garden kit. All the ingredients are there; you just need to assemble them according to the included instructions.

If you’re growing on your own, it takes much more time and research.

First, you’ll need to figure out what can grow in your climate. Then, find a good plot of land that’s not too shady or too sunny — we recommend starting small or an herb garden if you’re a beginner. Run to the store for your gardening needs and then get planting — it’ll be a good weekend project!

Time to Mature

When it comes to maturation time, every variety moves at its own pace. For example, cucumbers grow differently than tomatoes, and peppers grow differently than herbs.

Below we’ve included the estimated maturation times for several of our favorite plants.

Radishes: about 25-40 days or ½ – 2″ in diameter
Beets: 50-70 days or 2-3″ in diameter
Carrots: 60-80 days or ¾” in diameter
Cucumbers: 55-65 days or 6-8″ long
Sweet Peppers: 70-90 days or 2-4″ in diameter
Hot Peppers: 60-90 days or 1-3″ long
Spinach: 45-60 days or 4-5″ tall
Tomatoes: 70-90 days
Herbs: as soon as size permits!

If we’ve missed any, feel free to ask us for specifics!

Time to Harvest

Believe it or not, ripeness isn’t the only factor in a harvest. The time of day you pick your bounty is also very important.

With a few exceptions, it’s almost always best to harvest your plants early in the morning. When picked in the morning, they stay crisp and fresher longer. By midday, much of the plant’s water has evaporated, making it more likely to be a wilted and limp harvest. This is especially true for leafy green vegetables!

If harvesting in the morning is impossible for your schedule (or you’re just not a morning person), it’s acceptable to harvest in the evening once the hot sun has disappeared.

Certain vegetables like tomatoes, zucchinis, and carrots are less sensitive to the sun, so they can be picked throughout the day. Just be sure to get them out of the sun and into shade quickly after harvest.

So how long does it take to garden? It varies depending on the season, your experience level, and the plants you are growing. Whatever the case, we know that time spent gardening is time well spent!