The best plants for your spring garden (and when to plant the spring garden) (2023)

Spring is a great time to plant vegetables in your spring garden. After the cold winter months and when the weather warms up, you can start sowing seeds, planting bulbs, and planting roots in the soil. The best vegetables to plant in spring are those that can survive light frosts, warm sunny days, and cool nights. If you plant vegetables at the right time, your spring garden can produce lettuce, kale, carrots, peas, and radishes in early summer.

The time to plant vegetables in spring is usually after the last frost. You will need to prepare the soil for planting and plan a garden layout for your spring vegetables to grow well. It's also a good idea to plant spring flowers alongside vegetables to attract pollinators. That way, you'll help ensure that the vegetables you planted in the spring grow well.

This article is a guide to preparing a spring garden to produce a bountiful crop of vegetables. You'll learn about the best vegetables to plant in the spring and how to make sure they grow well. In addition, you will also learn about various garden design ideas.

When to plant a spring garden

The best time to start planting vegetables in your spring garden is after the last frost. It is best to consult the USDA hardiness zone map to begin planning your spring garden. For most spring vegetables, it's best to start them indoors. You'll also need to start preparing your garden soil about two weeks before you plan to plant.

How to Choose the Best Plants for a Spring Garden

The best plants for a spring garden should be frost tolerant. Generally, the best spring crops are those that do best in both hot and cold climates. If unexpected snow or frost falls after planting, it is bettercover newly planted vegetables to protect them.

Some crops can be planted directly into the ground after the snow melts. For other vegetables that are sown in the spring, you'll need to start them indoors from seed at least four weeks before planting them in the ground.

Many types of tubers can be planted in the ground in early March.

The best plants in a spring garden - overview

Planting a successful spring garden requires choosing the best vegetables.

The first vegetables planted in the spring garden after the last frost are kale, spinach, onions, peas, turnips, radishes, and kale. If you plan to grow spring vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts, start as a seed indoors first. When spring weather warms up, you can plant carrots, potatoes, beets, and Swiss chard right in the ground.

It's also a good idea to plant early flowers near or in your spring garden. Some of the best spring-blooming plants include pansies, peonies, hardy geraniums, violas, and winter monkshood. These pretty flowers add color and visual interest as your vegetables grow. Also, they will attract pollinators to increase the yield of your vegetable crop.

How to prepare the soil in the spring garden.

A healthy harvest of spring vegetables begins with proper preparation. To prepare the soil for spring planting, use a shovel to dig out 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 cm) of soil and turn it over early in the season. About three weeks before you plan to plant anything, turn the soil over again.

When you dig and turn the soil, it's a good idea to add compost and old manure to the soil. This ensures that you prepare the soil by adding nutrients for healthy growth. Organic matter also retains moisture, which is essential for growing vegetables.

Another step in preparing to plant vegetables in the spring is to check the pH levels. Use a pH meter to check if the soil is acidic, neutral, or alkaline. You can then amend the soil as needed to prepare it for planting.

spring garden design

It is vital to think about your spring garden design and have a beneficial garden design. Most vegetables planted in a spring garden require full sun to grow. So it's a good idea to think about a spring garden layout that takes into account the height of the vegetables, the nutrient needs of the soil, and the spacing between plantings.

Here are four common garden design ideas to help you design your spring garden:

Planting in rows:The simplest garden design is to plant vegetables in rows. In the northern hemisphere, plant vegetables in straight rows running north-south. To ensure the best sun exposure, grow taller vegetables at the north end of the rows and shorter crops at the south end. If you live in the southern hemisphere, change your address.

Planting four squares:A common garden design idea is to divide a garden into four squares and group the vegetables according to their dietary needs. This type of garden layout allows you to rotate crops each year for healthier crops and fewer pest problems.

Square Foot Planting Layout:This type of spring garden design involves growing one type of vegetable in each square foot section. You will need to use spacing guidelines for each vegetable to figure out how many to plant.

Arrangement of blocks in raised beds:The block-style spring garden design helps increase yield by eliminating many aisles. Raised beds should be 3 to 4 feet (1 to 1.2 m) wide and as long as necessary. Plant vegetables in short, horizontal rows.

The best plants for a spring garden.

Let's take a closer look at the ideal plants to plant at the start of a spring garden. You'll find the best root vegetables, leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables, and vegetables in the onion family to plant in your spring garden.

The best tubers for planting in the spring garden.

Here are some of the best root vegetables to plant in the spring garden:

Papas (Papa)

Potatoes are an ideal root vegetable to plant in a spring garden. Plant potatoes in mid-March or three to four weeks before the last frost date. Plant the seed potatoes with the "eyes" facing up and in rows about 15 cm (6 inches) deep. There should be about 30 cm between each planted potato seed.

When the potato sprouts are about eight inches tall, place a small mound of straw or grass around them so that about four inches of sprouts are showing on top. This helps ensure a bumper crop of potatoes. You can harvest baby potatoes about two weeks after the vines flower. Otherwise, wait until the vines die back, a sign that the potatoes are ready for harvest.

Carrots (dachshund carrot)

Sow carrot seeds directly into the loamy or sandy soil of the spring garden three to five weeks before the last frost. You will need to thin the carrots as they grow to ensure there are at least 2 inches between each plant. Rows of carrots should be 30cm apart. Keep the soil moist and mulch around the plants to prevent the soil from drying out.

Carrots planted in spring should be ready for harvest in summer.

Beet (Beta vulgaris)

Beetroot is easy to grow in a spring garden. Beet planting is ideal in early spring because it survives frost and grows quickly in full sun. You can plant beets from seed directly into the ground in late spring.

As soon as the beets start to grow, carefully thin the plants so that they are 5 cm apart. All you have to do is cut the beetroot leaves so that they are fine.

You can sow beet seeds every two to three weeks until mid-summer to get a regular crop of these delicious root vegetables.

radishes (horseradish sativa)

Radishes are a spicy root vegetable that is surprisingly easy to grow in a spring garden. Plant radishes in early spring, about four weeks before the last frost. As with carrots and beets, it is best to plant vegetables directly in the ground. Keep the soil evenly moist and use a thin layer of mulch to retain moisture.

Some radish varieties are ready about three weeks after planting. Radishes are the ideal spring vegetable because they grow best in cooler climates. You can also plant radishes in late summer toautumn harvest.

The Best Leafy Vegetables to Plant in a Spring Garden

Here are the best leafy greens to plant in spring:

Lettuce (sativa lettuce)

Lettuce is a popular cool-season crop that grows best in the spring. You can start lettuce from seed indoors four to six weeks before the last frost. Or you can plant directly into the ground in the spring when soil temperatures are at least 40°F (4°C).

As with most spring vegetables, plant lettuce in your garden where it gets full sun. It is essential to prepare the soil well with compost or organic matter before planting.

Spinach (spinach oleracea)

Spinach is a cold-hardy, leafy green vegetable that thrives when planted in early spring. It is best to grow spinach from seed directly in the ground. Sow spinach seeds as early as possible to work the soil. You should have about 12 seeds per plant. Water the spinach regularly and keep the soil moist with mulch.

Spinach is also one of thevegetables you can grow in winter.

Swiss chard (Beta vulgarisera.cyclic)

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 in your area. It is best to sow seeds directly into fertile soil up to 1 in (2.5 cm) deep and 2 to 6 in (5 to 15 cm) apart. As the seedlings grow to about three inches in height, it may be necessary to thin them.

When the leafy greens reach about 30 cm in height, you can start harvesting the outer leaves and let the smaller inner leaves grow. That way, you can enjoy the nutritious leafy greens for most of the season.

The Best Cruciferous Vegetables to Plant in a Spring Garden

Cruciferous vegetables are in the family.brasicaceae. They include a wide variety of nutritious vegetables that grow well in cool temperatures. Here are the best cruciferous vegetables to plant in the spring garden:

Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)

Cabbage can be difficult to grow for novice gardeners. However, cool spring or fall temperatures are vital to getting the best out of this crop.

For planting in a spring garden, start seeds indoors about eight weeks before the last spring frost. Two weeks before the last frost date, transfer the seedlings outside to harden them out for a week. Then transfer the cabbage seedlings to your garden, planting them 12 to 24 inches apart.

Cabbage is a heavy food and requires a high nitrogen fertilization. Cabbage grows best in soil temperatures between 60°F and 65°F (15°C – 18°C).

Broccoli (Brassica oleraceaera.Italic)

Broccoli is a cool-season plant in the cabbage family and grows best in cooler climates. To grow broccoli as a spring vegetable, start seeds indoors eight weeks before the last frost date. Alternatively, you can plant broccoli in the ground outdoors three weeks before the last frost. Broccoli should be planted in the ground 30 to 50 cm apart.

To promote healthy growth, keep vegetables well watered and mulch around plants to keep soil cool.

Cauliflower (Brassica oleraceaera.botrytis)

Cauliflower is a cool-season annual that has tightly packed florets like broccoli. Cauliflower grows best in the spring because it thrives in temperatures between 60°F and 65°F (15°C - 18°C).

To grow cauliflower in a spring garden, start seeds indoors five weeks before the last frost date. Then, a week or two later, transplant them into your spring garden and plant two feet apart. If necessary, protect from frost.

Cabbage (Brassica oleraceaera.easy peasy)

Kale is another cruciferous plant that you can plant in the spring. Healthy kale leaves taste best if the plant matures in a cool climate.

Plant kale seeds directly in your garden as soon as the soil is workable in the spring, making sure the greens get at least six hours of sun a day. If necessary, cover young kale plants at night to protect them from frost. Water kale regularly to keep the soil moist. Spring kale should be ready to harvest in early summer.

The Best Allium Vegetables to Plant in a Spring Garden

Here are the best garlic greens to plant in spring:

Onion (garlic onion)

Onions are hardy vegetables of the genusit. You can plant onions in a spring garden in raised beds. The best way to grow chives is to plant small onion bulbs in the ground when the risk of frost has passed. If you start the onions from seed, do so indoors in late January or February to prepare them for planting in March or April.

Leek (Allium ampeloprasum)

Leeks are an ideal vegetable to plant in spring because they survive light frosts even as tender plants.

It would be best if you sow leek seeds indoors in winter about 12 weeks before your last frost date. Before moving them to your garden, it is convenient to acclimatize the tender plants. To do this, place them outdoors for longer periods of time for a week or two. You can plant leeks in your garden around the time of the last spring frost.

chives (scallions)

Chives do well when planted in spring gardens. It would be best if you started the seeds indoors eight to ten weeks before the last frost. After the seedlings have hardened out, plant out in the garden in early spring, after any risk of frost has passed. Choose a sunny spot and plant in fertile, well-draining soil.

Other vegetables to plant in the spring garden

Here are some other types of vegetables that are ideal for spring planting:

Peas (the pea plant)

Peas are some of the first crops you can plant outdoors in the spring. Peas are tasty, hardy vegetables that are easy to grow and can even handle a little snow. The best time to plant peas is between the end of February and the beginning of April. Plant spring vegetables in a sunny, organic-rich soil while the soil is still cool.

Green beans (Faseolus vulgaris)

You can plant green beans in spring, when there is no longer any risk of frost. You should wait until the soil temperature is at least 48°F (9°) and plant the seeds directly in the garden. Use posts or a trellis to support growing vines. When growing beans in a spring garden, it's good to remember that they don't require additional nitrogenous fertilizer. Also, be careful when weeding, as beans have shallow roots.

Asparagus (asparagus officinalis)

The asparagus is one of the best.perennial vegetablesgrow in spring. The ideal time to plant asparagus crowns is as early in the spring as possible when the soil is workable.

Plant the spring vegetable in well-draining soil that gets plenty of sun. It is best to avoid harvesting asparagus for the first two to three years. Once established, asparagus stalks will emerge each spring when soil temperatures are above 50°F (10°C).

celery (celery)

It is best to plant celery in early spring for a summer harvest. This cool weather vegetable needs about 16 weeks of cool weather to mature.

You can start growing celery indoors by planting the seeds ten to twelve weeks before the last spring frost. You can transfer celery seedlings outdoors when the soil temperature is at least 50°F (10°). When grown in soil, regular watering of celery is essential. Celery has a long growing season and is ready to harvest in the summer.

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