Spring is a season of renewal and a perfect time to kickstart your vegetable garden. As the days lengthen and temperatures rise, the soil becomes a fertile canvas for a variety of delicious and nutritious crops.
Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a first-time planter, this guide highlights 13 of the best vegetables to grow in your spring garden, ensuring a bountiful harvest and a colorful palette on your plate.
1. Potatoes
Potatoes are a hearty plant that can survive a frost or two, which means they can be planted right at the beginning of spring.
Make sure the dirt is slightly acidic and loose—tightly compacted soil leads to malformed potatoes.
To plant, cut up a potato and plant the chunks, eye side up, four inches deep. When the stems of the plants reach eight inches, start to cover the bottoms with extra soil.
Sunlight makes the potatoes green and bitter tasting, so it’s best to keep them well covered.
2. Carrots
Sow carrot seeds directly in the loamy or sandy spring garden ground about three to five weeks before the last frost.
You will need to thin the carrots as they grow to ensure there is at least 2” (5 cm) between each plant. Carrot rows should be 12” (30 cm) apart. Keep the soil moist and mulch around the plants to prevent the soil from drying out.
Carrots planted in the spring should be ready for harvesting in the summer.
3. Beets
Beets are a great choice for early spring. Beets don’t need a lot of space, so they can be grown in pots. Soak the beet seeds in warm water to soften the shells before planting them half an inch in the ground.
Spread the seeds out three inches apart. Once the seedlings appear, make sure the soil is consistently moist by watering them often.
4. Radishes
Radishes move fast in the garden from seed to bulb so keep an eye on them after a few weeks. This category of produce is virtually pest-free, although watch out for maggots.
This plant is a great choice for beginners because of the easy success with each harvest. Radishes are often eaten raw or used as garnish, but other recipes include salsas, slaws and sautés.
5. Lettuce
Lettuce is a popular cool-season crop that grows best in spring. You can start lettuce from seed indoors four to six weeks before the last frost. Or you can plant directly in the ground in spring when the soil temperature is at least 40°F (4°C).
As with most spring vegetables, plant lettuce in your garden where it gets full sun. It’s vital to prepare the ground well with compost or organic matter before planting.
6. Spinach
Spinach is pricey in stores, so grow a successive crop by planting rows about ten days apart for a few weeks.
Spinach prefers cool weather and will withstand light frosts; it will “bolt” or go to seed when the days heat up. Look for varieties that are more heat-resistant if you live in a warmer climate.
7. Swiss Chard
Also called chard, this vegetable is ideal for planting in spring. The best time to plant the leafy vegetable is three weeks before the last frost date for your area.
When the leafy vegetables grow to about 12” (30 cm) tall, you can start to harvest the outer leaves and let the smaller inner leaves grow. This way, you can enjoy the nutritious vegetables leaves for most of the season.
8. Broccoli
Broccoli is a cool-season vegetable that is planted in early spring and harvested in early summer. It’s usually grown as an annual, though it’s technically a biennial and can survive mild winters.
Most homegrown broccoli is ready to harvest when it’s fist-sized.
9. Kale
A cousin to cabbage and broccoli, it can be planted directly in garden soil as a seed, or grown indoors and transplanted.
It can handle frost, which can actually improve the flavor of its leaves, but doesn’t do well in summer heat, which causes it to bolt and grow bitter.
10. Onions
Plant onions in soil mixed with compost in early spring. The bulbs should be placed about six inches apart.
A steady supply of water is needed for the little bulbs to grow, but they’re heartier than they may appear and can snap back from a drought.
11. Leeks
Leeks are ideal vegetables to plant in the spring because they survive light frosts even as tender plants.
It would be best if you sowed leek seeds indoors in winter about 12 weeks before the last frost date. Before transferring them to your vegetable patch, it’s a good idea to acclimatize the tender plants. You can then plant leeks in your garden around the time of your last spring frost.
12. Peas
Tender homegrown peas are a sure sign of spring and a favorite of many home gardeners. These annual climbing plants prefer cold weather and can be planted from seed after the last frost.
Plant the spring vegetables in a sunny location and organically-rich soil while the soil is still cool.
13. Asparagus
Asparagus is one of the best perennial vegetables to grow in spring. The ideal time to plant asparagus crowns is as early as possible in spring when the soil is workable.
Plant the spring vegetable in well-draining soil that gets plenty of sunshine. It’s best to avoid harvesting asparagus during the first two to three years. Once established, asparagus stems will emerge every spring when the soil temperature warms over 50°F (10°C).
Embark on a rewarding gardening journey this spring by cultivating a variety of vegetables that thrive in the season’s mild temperatures.
From vibrant leafy greens to crunchy root vegetables, the possibilities are endless.
Embrace the joy of growing your own food and savor the freshness of homegrown produce straight from your spring garden. Happy planting!