What Vegetables Grow in Spring?

If you’re a vegetable lover, the spring harvest has much to offer. From asparagus to green beans, you’ll find plenty of options. Kale is a versatile vegetable that can be used in salads, stir-fries, and soups. Its leaves are excellent for salads and are great raw as well. For a unique way to eat kale, try sauteeing the leaves in olive oil or using them in stir-fries.

For those who don’t have the time to wait for the last frost date, you can extend the growing season by planting cool-loving crops such as broccoli, cabbage, and spinach. These crops grow best in early spring and fall temperatures. They’ll produce the best flavor and nutritional value. You can start planting these vegetables as early as January or February and harvest them in a couple months. You can find planting dates online for different vegetables and herbs, so you’ll be able to plan your gardening activities based on your location.

Another great vegetable to plant in the springtime is kale. Kale is often referred to as a “superfood” and is the ideal vegetable for early spring planting. Kale does not mind the cold spring temperatures and produces edible leaves within a month of planting. For best results, plant kale seeds once the soil temperature is at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Space seedlings six to eight inches apart. This vegetable also grows well in containers.

Radishes are a great salad green to plant in containers that are 6 inches deep. If you’re planning to grow them in the ground, remember to choose smaller varieties. They’ll grow much faster than you’d expect, and you can harvest them several times over. Spinach is also cold-tolerant, but you’ll need to plant it in batches, as once it warms up, the leaves will bolt. So, plant your radish seeds as early as possible, to reap the most benefits from these greens.

While you may have thought that planting tomatoes should be a late summer or early fall activity, the truth is that these plants should be planted early in the spring. They should be protected from dipping temperatures at night. If you’re worried about cold-induced damage, consider putting frost fabric or a heavy layer of cedar mulch over your vegetables. Alternatively, if you’d rather plant vegetables in late summer or early fall, consider a later planting time.

When planting vegetables in early spring, remember to check your local weather zone to be sure you’re planting in the right spot. Regardless of your climate, you should add compost to the soil before you plant. A general rule of thumb is to put two inches of organic matter in six inches of soil. This will help your plants receive proper amounts of water, air, and nutrients. If you’re unsure, ask your local gardener for tips.

Lettuce is an annual leafy green vegetable that prefers cool temperatures but is not as hardy as spinach. Seedlings of lettuce are easily available at your local nursery. After they have been transplanted, they will grow into large supermarket heads. Alternatively, you can plant parsley seeds, which need about three to four weeks to germinate. The early harvesting of parsley is ideal for salads. The leaves mature slowly, so you should plant the seeds three to four weeks before the last spring frost date.