The Best Spring Garden Starters

Do you plan on having a garden this year? The time to start may be earlier than you think. If you’re a first-time gardener, you'll be surprised by how many ways you can give your garden a head start this year through sprouting seeds indoors or in portable greenhouses. What are the best types of spring garden flowers that you can plant right now indoors? This article will discuss the types of plants and techniques to get you started.

How to Start Seeds

Starting a garden indoors is easy and cost-effective. It is also a great way to reuse and recycle items that would typically go in the landfill. All you need is some potting soil and small containers where you can start your seeds. This can be anything from used yogurt cups, egg containers, old Tupperware, disposable cups, milk containers, and anything else that can be repurposed into a short-term planter. Depending on where you live, you can also plant your seeds straight into the ground. Check your seed packet to make sure that you live in the right zones to do this.

The Best Vegetables for Early Spring

In the early spring, some vegetables perform better than others. When these are done, you can start planting your next wave of crops to keep your garden full of delicious food. Check out these best vegetables for early spring.

Asparagus

There’s nothing like the buttery-sweetness of a spring asparagus harvest. This vegetable can be started indoors or outside — as long as the soil temperature remains consistently above 50 degrees. Once it’s planted though, it will come back for years because it’s a perennial vegetable. For the best results, plant old asparagus crowns 4-6 weeks in the soil before the last frost. You may also start seedlings and still yield a good crop.

Kale

This superfood is hardy, easy to grow, and lasts a long time in the fridge. It’s also a popular spring vegetable because it provides quick satisfaction. Just one month after growth you can consume its nutritious leaves. Kale seeds can be started indoors or outdoors as long as the soil temperature stays consistently above 40 degrees. The seeds should be buried ½ inch deep and one inch apart for baby greens and 6-8 inches apart if you plan to grow mature kale. No matter what you choose, you’ll love the valuable contribution kale brings to your garden.

Lettuce

Imagine harvesting salad for meals right from your garden! Planting lettuce in the early spring allows you to reap its benefits for weeks to come. Butterhead and Romaine lettuce are hardy to cold temperatures and can continue to produce leaves if you cut them and let them continue to grow. Get them in before late spring and summer heat cause them to bolt.

Broccoli

This popular ingredient in stir-fries and side dishes is also a favorite early spring vegetable. Since they take more time to grow than other spring veggies, it’s important to start these indoors and plant them in your garden when the temperature outside is consistently 60 degrees and above. To plan for mature broccoli, place each started broccoli plant 1-2 feet apart.

Spinach

This fast-growing vegetable thrives in cold weather, so it’s a wonderful early spring plant to put in your garden. All you need to do is plant spinach directly in the soil weekly around six weeks before the last frost and then stop. This staggers the spinach growth so that you get a steady harvest of fresh veggies until the weather warms up outside.

Find Spring Garden Plants & More

You can find everything you need to plan and start your spring garden at Plantshed. If you have any questions about how to start or if you need some plants sent to your door to supplement your garden, contact us today!