The best vegetables to plant in early spring tolerate and thrive in the cooler temperatures of the season. Many of these also can be planted again in late summer and fall to extend the fresh veggie season.
Many gardeners get a jump on the spring gardening season by sowing seeds in the ground early or planting transplants.
Early spring gardening can be a bit of a weather gamble, so you’ll want to pay attention to your usual last frost date in spring. Most of these veggies can be planted outdoors two to three weeks before that date.
Here are nine vegetables (listed by alphabet) to plant in early spring:
- 1. Carrots
- 2. Collards
- 3. Kale
- 4. Lettuces
- 5. Peas
- 6. Potatoes
- 7. Radishes
- 8. Spinach
- 9. Swiss chard
We’ve also included a Spring Gardening Checklist to help with your vegetable garden. Topics covered include soil needs for early spring vegetables, how to fertilize early spring vegetables, and what to do if freezing temperatures return.
1. Carrots
Carrots, a root vegetable, come in many colors and forms. Some carrots are short and squatty and others are long and slender.
Where to plant: Full sun
How to plant: Sow seeds directly in the garden about three weeks before the last spring frost. The soil should be loose to about 12 inches deep. Carrot growth will be stunted if the root runs into hard pan or dense soil.
Water: Water when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch.
Harvest: Pull leaves and carrots when they are the size you want.
2. Collards
A favorite leafy vegetable of the South, collards are pricey in the grocery stores and farmers market. This makes collards a great, cheaper-than-when-purchased option, to plant in early spring.
Where to plant: Full sun; however, collards benefit from afternoon shade.
How to plant: Sow seeds directly in the garden two to four weeks before the last frost.
Water: Water when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch.
Harvest: Cut collard leaves when they are the size you want. The flavor fades considerably when it gets hot.
3. Kale
Kale, an antioxidant powerhouse, is easy to grow and it thrives in the cool temperatures of early spring. There are many different types to try, including dinosaur (aka Lacinato), which might get kids interested in growing their food.
Where to plant: Full sun to light shade.
How to plant: Sow seeds a few weeks before the last frost. Seedlings from a garden center can be planted then, too.
Water: Water when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch.
Harvest: Cut any size of leaves.
4. Lettuces
Whether it’s romaine, oakleaf, arugula or other lettuce greens, there’s nothing better than the salad days. Pick some leaves for your spring lunch or dinner.
Where to plant: Full sun to shade.
How to plant: Sow seeds directly in the ground or in a container. Some garden centers will have transplants.
Water: Keep soil moist but not wet.
Harvest: Pull the whole plant or snip off the outer leaves.
5. Peas
Easy-peasy to grow and talk about flavor! The earliest are the deliciously sweet snow peas, which can be cooked in their pods or eaten fresh. Peas can be a climbing plant or bush. Bush plants work well when planted in containers.
Where to plant: Full sun to part shade.
How to plant: Best to sow seeds directly in the soil.
Water: Water when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch.
Harvest: Pull or snip pods from plants when they feel full.
6. Potatoes
Potatoes are simple to grow in the ground or in containers. Packages of seed potatoes (which look like regular small potatoes) can be found in garden centers and at online retailers. Cut the seed potatoes so you have two or three eyes on each piece.
Where to plant: Full sun, well-drained soil.
How to plant: Place seed potatoes cut side down, about 3 inches deep and 12 inches apart in a trench. When their green leaves get 6 to 8 inches tall, add soil to cover one-half to two-thirds of the leaves. This is called hilling and is usually repeated two or three times a season.
In containers, add about 3 inches of soil, place the seed potatoes cut side down 4 to 6 inches apart, cover with about 2 inches of soil. When the leaves get 3 to 4 inches tall, cover with soil. Cover the leaves one more time when they reach 3 to 4 inches above the soil surface.
Water: Water when the top couple of inches of soil feels dry to the touch.
Harvest: Harvest potatoes when the leaves turn brown. Don’t wash the soil off the potatoes. Rather, lightly brush the soil away and place the potatoes in a single layer protected from the elements. This allows them to cure. After a couple of weeks, clean the potatoes, then bake, boil, roast or fry them to your heart’s content.
7. Radishes
Radishes are root vegetables that are easy to grow in early spring. They go from seed to edible plant in just a few weeks. As a bonus, you can eat the whole plant, leaves to roots.
Where to plant: Full sun to light shade.
How to plant: Sow radish seeds about 1 inch apart and ½ inch deep.
Water: Water when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch.
Harvest: Thin radishes to about 3 inches apart. Eat the thinnings in salads. Harvest the whole plant when leaves are about 4 inches tall.
8. Spinach
Whether eaten fresh from the garden or cooked, the deep green leaves of spinach add beauty and nutrients to a salad or dish.
Where to plant: Full sun to part shade.
How to plant: Sow seeds directly in the ground or in a container. Some garden centers will have transplants.
Water: Water when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch.
Harvest: Snip leaves or pull the plant.
9. Swiss chard
Swiss chard can be all one color, such as green, or it can be a rainbow of leaf and stem colors. Either way, this leafy edible ornamental is easy to grow. Chard frequently thrives from spring to fall.
Where to plant: Full sun to part shade.
How to plant: Sow seeds three weeks before the last frost. Some garden centers will have seedlings, which can be transplanted at the same time.
Water: Water when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch.
Harvest: Start by cutting the outer leaves working your way toward the center.
Spring gardening checklist
Check Plant Hardiness Zone Map before planting
The USDA produces the Plant Hardiness Zone Map, which breaks up the country into growing zones, based on the average coldest temperature. Find your growing zone by plugging in your ZIP Code.
The updated USDA Hardiness Zone Map is the best way to determine which plants are most likely to thrive (and tolerate the cold) where you live.
Soil needs for early spring vegetables
Whether sowing seed directly or planting transplants, the soil should be loamy and loose. Heavy clay soil impedes the growth of plants, especially root crops, like carrots and radishes.
None of these plants will do well in consistently wet soil. At planting time, mix in compost chopped leaves or other organic matter in the soil and around the base of plants.
How to fertilize early spring vegetables
Use a water soluble or granular fertilizer as recommended on the product label. Work granular fertilizer around the base of the plants and water it in.
Early spring containers
All these vegetables will do well in early spring containers, even the carrots, if you select a short and squatty type. Use a high-quality potting mix in your pots. Plants growing in pots may need more water than those in the ground.
What if freezing temperatures return?
Vegetables planted in early spring are usually able to withstand low temperatures but may not survive a hard freeze.
Protect your early spring vegetables from freezing by tenting cloth or plastic sheets, blankets or plant or row covers. Avoid allowing plastic to rest on the plants because they will get damaged or killed.
Related Lawn Love gardening articles:
– How to Start a Vegetable Garden (Vegetable Gardening 101)
– How Often to Water Your Vegetable Garden
– 9 Drought-Tolerant Vegetables
– 5 Vegetables That Thrive in a Fall Garden
– Beginner’s Guide to Growing an Edible Garden
– Beginner’s Guide to Raised Bed Gardening
When to Call a Green Thumb (Gardening Pro)
If you’re uncertain about where or how to grow your garden, many of Lawn Love’s lawn care pros also can help you with plant selection and installing vegetable and flower gardens.
If you run into issues with your garden – such as a plant disease threatening your vegetables – an experienced gardener or someone knowledgeable at your neighborhood garden center can help.
When you have gardening questions, Lawn Love has answers and can connect you to the best gardening pros near you.
Main Photo Credit: Pixabay
