Nothing beats a meal you have grown yourself. Agriculture is one of the defining features of human intelligence. Some social archeologists consider the dawn of agriculture to be one of the most important developments in human history: allowing us to settle down and diversify our lifestyle.

Gardening as a hobby is immensely satisfying – meditative even. It has been shown to have great therapeutic effects that benefit regular practitioners. Not all culinary plants are easy to grow. Here is a guide to some of the least complex edible plants you can cultivate in your garden.

Chili Peppers

Chili peppers have been selectively interbred to thrive in pretty much any climate and in many different soil types. You’ll need to do a little bit of research about the kind of soil in your area before picking one of the hundreds of chili pepper varieties. Companies like www.happyvalleyseeds.com.au/offer a wide range of chili pepper seeds and information about what conditions each plant will thrive under, if you are not sure. Chili peppers originate in South America, and it is fair to say that they completely revolutionized cookery all around the world when they first spread from their homeland.

Cucumber

Cucumbers might not be the most versatile vegetable, but they are key ingredients in cold soups and salads. Cucumbers originated in India, where they were cultivated over 3000 years ago. They pickle well, which any gardener will tell you is a great boon. Many gardeners opt to pickle their cucumbers in order to save some that would otherwise go to waste.

Squash

Squashes are so easy to grow that you might find they become a little too comfortable with your garden and need to be trimmed back. There are many kinds of squash available: from pumpkins to decorative gourds. Squashes have flavorsome and meaty flesh. They go well in curries, soups, and pies. 

Cabbage

People familiar with limp-boiled cabbage in their school lunches might look down on this plant, but the fact remains that it is a genuinely beautiful vegetable when prepared correctly. Pickled, steamed, lightly boiled, caramelized, or fried: a good cabbage can go a long way. Pickled cabbage in the form of kimchi or sauerkraut is considered a delicacy in Germany and Korea. No roast dinner is complete without caramelized red cabbage cooked slowly with sugar and vinegar.

Garlic

Garlic has been highly prized in cookery since the heyday of the Roman empire. It remains a culinary game-changer – adding sharpness to pretty much any dish. Growing garlic yourself is pretty easy. It is known as one of the most simple plants to cultivate and can stand a great variety of conditions. Both the leaves and the bulbs of garlic plants are edible – although the bulb is more familiar to Western cooks.

Onions Ah, the humble onion. Truly a staple of nearly every kind of cooking, the onion also happens to be a highly adaptable and dependable aromatic. Most recipes call for the cooking of the onion’s bulb, although the entire plant is edible.