After a long winter, season spring is a welcome relief. The silver-white winter is melting into spring. This is the perfect time of the year for gardening spring vegetables. The sun is shining, the trees are budding and the ground is thawing.
If you're thinking about planting something delicious in your veggie garden while enjoying the warm spring sunlight, you have a variety of options. Growing vegetables is a wonderful way to have your own organic produce.
Many vegetables grow better in summer but there are several home garden favourites that are early growers. You can plant them directly in the soil, pots, and trays in a sunny window or porch and start your very own veggie garden this spring.
These plants should be protected from the dipping night temperature. To find out when the frost will end you should see the USDA hardiness zone. The soil should have the optimal pH level for planting. Most vegetables grow best in soil between pH levels 6 to 7.
Here are the ten easy and best spring vegetables to plant in your garden :
1. Lettuce:
These are classic leafy greens that can be planted in veggie beds and container vegetable gardens. This annual leafy vegetable prefers cool weather. The seedlings can be grown indoors or can be bought from the local nurseries. It is planted in early spring as seedling rather than seed. They grow fast and you can get the harvest in a month or two. You can plant them in an assortment for a mixed salad fresh from the garden.
Lettuces need the soil temperature between 10 to 20 degrees Celsius. They should be planted just below the soil's surface in a partly shaded area. You should plant them around 20 cms apart for optimal healthy growth.
They thrive in nutrient-rich and consistently moist soil. Dry soil can result in bitter lettuce, so it's important to keep the soil well hydrated. It is also essential to protect them from pests. To protect them, you can spray a mixture of chili or vinegar with water at regular intervals.
2. Carrots:
The carrot seeds can be grown in a veggie patch and the seedlings can be replanted. Carrots are packed with vitamins and are deliciously sweet in taste. They’re are available in a variety of colors like red, purple, yellow, and even orange.
This root vegetable needs proper sunlight, water, and deep sandy soil, free of rocks. The plantation area should be weed-free for their healthy growth. Carrots thrive in cool spring temperatures. The seedlings should not be overcrowded.
To conserve moisture you can consider adding some mulch after the plants are established. Most carrot varieties are ready in 60 to 70 days. When the tops of the carrot are visible they are ready to harvest.
3. Tomatoes:
These are some of the favourite juicy vegetables that can be planted in the spring season. They can be grown from the seed and transplanted. Tomatoes are available in different varieties, sizes, flavours, and colours.
Provide enough growing room and train them up a tall stake. They should be planted 30 to 50 centimeters apart in full sun position. Some compact varieties can be grown in containers also. They need to be regularly watered and protected from late frost as well as hot spells.
A good amount of compost and fertilizers should be added to the soil for their healthy growth. They should be kept well mulched and fertilized with high-calcium fertilizers. They should be watered at regular intervals. You can pick them when they are ripe and enjoy their different uses.
4. Potatoes:
They can be planted as soon as the ground is workable. They prefer light, well-drained soil but can adapt to different soil types. Potatoes come in different varieties and there are so many ways to enjoy the crop.
They are planted in early spring and can survive a bit of frost. For their protection from the frost, the crop should be covered to avoid damage.
They should be planted in loose and slightly acidic soil. For planting them cut a potato and plant the chunks four inches deep keeping the eye side upward. Cover the bottoms with extra soil when the stems reach eight inches tall. Potatoes grow under the soil in bunches and for harvesting, they need to be digged out.
5. Onions:
The aroma of the green onion is fabulous and the taste is delectable. They are one of the most useful cooking ingredients. This bulb vegetable can be grown from the seed or transplanted. They can survive mild winter. They are a nutrient-dense food, rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants and low in calories. Their different varieties are available in red, white, and purple colors.
Onions can be planted in early spring in the soil mixed with a good amount of compost. The bulbs should be placed about four inches apart. A steady supply of water helps the onion bulbs to grow better.
When about half of the green leaves have wilted and the bulbs have a papery outer layer, they are ready to harvest. For harvesting dig out the onion bulbs developed under the soil.
6. Beets:
These colorful root vegetables can be planted in mid-spring after the last frost. They are less cold-tolerant. The tender harvest is more flavourful, larger beets are woody and less sweet. They are considered a super healthy food for humans and are known for flavor and aroma.
They are high in water, moderate in fiber and protein, and low in calories.
Beets perform better in loose sandy soil free from rocks. The soils should be kept free from weeds to retain the nutrition. They can be planted in pots also because they need less space to grow.
You can grow beets from the seed. The seeds should be soaked in warm water before planting to soften their shells. They should be planted three inches apart. The soil should be kept constantly moist. They are ready to pull out when they are slightly protruding from the soil.
7. Peas:
Peas are one of the quintessential spring vegetables. These climbing plants prefer cold weather and can be grown from seeds. The seeds should be soaked before planting.
Peas can be grown as vines or bushes. They are grown with vertical support like a trellis or bamboo teepee. The dwarf varieties of peas do not need any support. You can start picking pods a few weeks after the plant blossoms.
Peas need well-drained, fertilized soil and can survive in the hardiness zone between 3 to 11. They are ready to harvest within 50 to 70 days. They can be harvested when the seeds are visible. Tender peas are sweeter than more mature
8. Broccoli:
They are planted in early spring and harvested in early summer. Broccoli thrives in slightly acidic soil. They should be planted half an inch under the ground and provide fertilization.
The broccoli flower remains a tight rosette because of cold weather. Broccoli contains several vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. It keeps the blood sugar stable and strengthens the immune system. They can be eaten cooked or raw.
Broccoli can be sown directly or transplanted. The broccoli seeds can be grown indoors before the frost and the seedlings can be transplanted in a distance of 12 inches. The seeds can be grown directly also just before the last frost. They are ready to harvest in 50 to 60 days.
9. Garlic:
Garlic is very easy to grow in early spring. The loose sandy soil free from rocks is needed for its plantation. They can be planted in the fall or early spring. The garlic cloves should be planted under the ground at a distance of 3 inches apart. This herb has curative and medicinal properties and is antibacterial and antiseptic. It is rich in minerals and vitamins.
Garlic is an essential element in the kitchen.
They can survive in the hardiness zone of USDA from 4 to 9. They prefer to grow in soil with organic material content. The individual cloves of the bulb should be planted keeping the pointed side upward. The garlic is ready to harvest when the greenery has turned yellow and dried.
10. Cucumbers:
They are definitely one of the best options for freshly harvested, locally grown spring gardens.They are a perfect refreshing snack in the summer.
Cucumbers grow better in full sun, fertilized soil, and moist soil. They should be planted 3 centimeters deep in the soil maintaining a distance of 30 centimeters apart. They are ready to harvest in 6 to 8 weeks.
The vine of cucumber spreads in the garden and needs support. It would be great to consider using a trellis to support the vine at an optimal height, which can lead to better fruiting. Also, remember that they heavily depend on pollination for successful growth.
Spring is a wonderful time to indulge in the joy of gardening and cultivate a variety of delicious vegetable crops. There are several options and varieties of spring vegetables that you can choose to plant in your garden. The vegetable plantation not only makes the garden alive but also rewards you with a fresh and nutritious harvest. Embrace the spring vegetable plantation as a delightful way to stay active in your garden and rejuvenate yourself after a long winter spent indoors.