Although you might think spring is not the best time to plant vegetables because of the milder temperature, it actually is! And, in a moment, you’re going to learn why certain vegetables SHOULD be planted in spring.
This article will walk you through 9 of the best vegetables to plant in spring and why spring, in particular, may be a more beneficial time for these vegetables than others.
9 Best Vegetables To Plant In Spring!
Let’s not waste any more time and dive straight into it!
9 – Carrots
Starting the list with a good one – carrots. (Thank me later I didn’t start it with broccoli or something…ugh…)
It is a good idea to plant carrots around spring just before the outside temperature begins to turn too warm. This is because carrot seeds prefer slightly cooler temperatures to germinate effectively.
Also, most of the sweetness carrots develop actually comes from cool conditions. So, early spring planting could potentially lead to sweeter carrots.
8 – Beets
Beets prefer slightly cooler temperatures and will thrive if planted in early spring. They typically take anywhere between 2-3 months to fully mature, meaning a quicker return on your gardening efforts.
Before the outside temperature rises too high as spring fades away, plant your beets so that they’ll have the optimal temperature for maximum growth.
7 – Kale
Some love it; others, not very much. Personally, this is not one of my top vegetables…
Anyways, kale is a good vegetable to plant in spring. It thrives in cooler temperatures and is actually quite resilient compared to some of the other vegetables on this list. Planting kale in early spring ensures a steady harvest throughout the growing season.
6 – Garlic
Everyone’s second favorite vegetable – garlic. (First are potatoes obviously)
People just love garlic, don’t they? Garlic bread, garlic in soups, garlic in gravy, garlic in meat, and garlic in pretty much everything savory.
The good news is that garlic needs a long growing season, so planting it right around the time when spring begins is a good idea. This will ensure a higher chance of success and complete garlic development before summer sets in.
5 – Potatoes
Potatoes have to be the most popular and loved vegetable around the world. Surprisingly, they too can be planted earlier in spring.
When the temperature is slightly on the cooler side, immediate planting will be beneficial since the time for harvesting will come around as temperatures rise and spring transitions into summer.
4 – Onions
Another classic vegetable that should be planted in spring. The good thing about onions is that you don’t have to wait for seeds to germinate. They can even be started with sets and seedlings.
For initial growth, planting in early spring is best while the outside temperature is still cool. This gives the onion bulbs a chance to develop before the scorching summer heat comes in to place additional stress on the delicate bulbs.
3 – Turnips
Turnips can be planted early at the beginning of spring because they prefer a slightly cooler temperature for growth. They’re very fast growing and will probably fully develop within 40-60 days of planting, meaning you can harvest them long before the summer heat starts to set in.
2 – Broccoli
Yeah…I know…the feared broccoli made it to the list too…
Broccoli can and, in fact, should be planted earlier in spring as it has a preference for cooler temperatures and will take slightly longer to fully mature. (70-100 days) Planting it before summer starts to set in may be a good idea to save it from the intense summer heat which may hinder growth.
1 – Peas
If you want peas that are slightly sweeter, planting them early in spring may be a good idea since they develop most of their sweetness in cooler temperatures.
The biggest advantage of early planting, however, is that the earlier you plant the quicker you can harvest, especially vegetables like peas that are ready to be harvested within 2-3 months of planting.
Final Words
Planting certain vegetables right around springtime could be beneficial for many reasons. The most important reason being that temperatures are milder during spring, meaning your crops can develop a strong foundation and root system before the summer heat and stress kicks in.
Plant your vegetables at the right time of the year and provide them with nutrient-dense soil and some water every once in a while. That’s all they need to thrive!
