Plan Your Early Spring Garden Planting
As the days grow longer and warmer, gardeners across the country are eager to turn the soil and start planting. While it may still feel like winter, early spring is the perfect time to cultivate a variety of hardy, frost-tolerant crops.
Vegetables
Kale, a tough leafy green that withstands cold and even freezing weather, can be planted in fall or early spring for a long harvest. Chard (Swiss chard), another cold-tolerant vegetable, is suitable for fall or early spring planting. Onions and garlic can be planted before the last frost, with garlic benefiting from mulch for frost protection.
Turnips, a hardy root vegetable, is good for cool weather planting. Peas, an ideal cool-season crop, can be direct-sown as soon as the soil is workable and tolerates mild frost. Radishes, which grow quickly, can be sown early in spring. Spinach thrives in cool weather and can be planted early spring.
Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, collards are cool-season cole crops suitable for transplanting or sowing before the last frost, preferring cooler soil and temperatures. Carrots can be direct-sown early for spring or fall harvest. Lettuce and mustard greens are fast-growing cool weather greens.
Herbs
Parsley, a cool-weather herb, thrives in early spring and can overwinter in milder climates. Dill, a cool-loving herb, is suited for planting as temperatures drop below 85°F (29°C), growing well in fall and early spring. Rosemary, sage, and thyme are hardy perennials that can be started in cool weather, especially in milder areas. Cilantro prefers cooler weather and can be planted early spring.
Timing is Key
While online planting calendars provide a basic outline of when to start planting, the last frost date may seem far away. However, cool-season vegetables like beets, cabbage, spinach, carrots, onion sets, lettuce, peas, and radishes can be planted when temperatures rise just a little above freezing. Radishes seeds can be sown when soil is at least 39°F. Dill seeds should be sown 5 weeks before the last spring frost. Beets seeds can be sown when soil temperature is at least 40°F.
Brighten up Your Garden
To add a splash of colour to your early spring garden, consider planting Violas. They flower quickly and bloom for months on end. Nasturtiums can be planted and will bloom almost the entire year in some areas, from early spring through Thanksgiving.
Extend Your Harvest Season
By planting these cool-weather vegetables and herbs before the last spring frost date, you can extend your harvest season and enjoy fresh produce earlier in the year. Sweet peas (edible) seeds can be sown when soil is at least 34°F.
In early spring, consider planting kale and chard, as they are suitable for cold-tolerant gardening. For herbs, parsley and cilantro thrive in cool weather, making them ideal for early spring planting. Additionally, by planting cool-season vegetables like peas, radishes, and spinach before the last spring frost, you can expand your home-and-garden lifestyle and enjoy fresh produce earlier in the season.
