Vegetables to Plant in Spring
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Spring is the perfect time to get your hands in the soil and start growing vegetables that will provide fresh, homegrown produce all season long.
As the weather begins to warm and the days get longer, there are plenty of vegetables to plant in spring that thrive in the cooler temperatures.
In this post, I’ll share my go-to spring vegetables and the best practices for a successful spring garden, from preparing your soil to choosing the right crops for early planting.
For more spring planting ideas, check out my guides:
1. Sugar Snap Peas and Snow Peas
When it comes to planting in early spring, sugar snap peas and snow peas are two of my absolute go-to crops.
These peas thrive in cooler temperatures, making them some of the earliest vegetables you can plant in your spring garden.
The best part? You can plant them even before the last frost since both varieties are frost-tolerant.
Sugar snap peas are known for their crisp, sweet pods that you can eat whole, while snow peas have flatter pods and are often used in stir-fries and salads.
Nothing beats the taste of freshly harvested peas straight from the vine.
Planting Tips
For the best results, direct sow the peas' seeds as soon as the ground is thawed and workable.
You don’t need to start these indoors, which makes them one of the easier crops for beginners.
When planting, soak the seeds overnight to speed up germination.
Then, sow them about an inch deep and a couple of inches apart in well-draining garden soil.
Both varieties prefer full sun but can tolerate partial shade, especially in warmer climates.
They also benefit from a little support as they grow.
I usually set up a trellis or some stakes to give them something to climb, which encourages healthier plants and makes harvesting easier.
Here is the trellis I recommend:
Growing and Harvesting
In just a few weeks after planting, you’ll start to see the vines develop.
Keep an eye on your peas once they begin to flower.
The pods will start forming shortly afterward, and that's when I know it’s almost time to harvest.
Sugar snap peas are best picked when the pods are plump and crisp, whereas snow peas should be harvested when the pods are still flat but fully developed.
It’s important to check your peas regularly, as the more you harvest, the more they’ll produce.
I make it a habit to pick peas every couple of days to keep the plants producing well into early summer.
Here are the sugar snap peas I recommend growing:
Here are the snow peas I recommend growing:
Why I Love Growing Peas in Spring
One of the reasons I always make space for sugar snap peas and snow peas is how easy they are to grow, even in smaller spaces or containers.
They don’t require a lot of care, just regular watering and a sunny spot.
Plus, they’re ready to harvest in just 6 to 8 weeks after planting, making them one of the first fresh veggies you can enjoy in the season.
There’s also something incredibly satisfying about popping open a pea pod and enjoying it right in the garden.
For more tips, check out my guide:
2. Swiss Chard
When it comes to versatile leafy greens that can thrive in early spring, Swiss chard is at the top of my list.
It’s one of those plants that not only grows well in cooler weather but also continues producing throughout the season.
Swiss chard is incredibly resilient, easy to grow, and its vibrant stems—ranging from deep red to bright yellow—add a splash of color to the garden.
Plus, it’s packed with nutrients, making it a fantastic addition to both the garden and the kitchen.
Why Swiss Chard Thrives in Spring
One of the reasons to plant Swiss chard in early spring is because it can handle the fluctuating temperatures that come with the season.
While it prefers the cool weather of spring, it can also tolerate warmer days and even a light frost.
This makes it an ideal choice for those unpredictable early spring days when the weather can go from chilly mornings to warmer afternoons.
Swiss chard is also very forgiving when it comes to soil and growing conditions.
Unlike some more delicate plants, it isn’t too picky about its soil.
That being said, it is a good idea to give chard a good start by enriching the soil with compost or organic matter before planting.
It helps ensure the leaves grow large and tender.
Here is the organic compost I recommend:
Planting Swiss Chard
Swiss chard can be grown from seeds, and like many other spring vegetables, you can direct sow the seeds outdoors once the soil is workable.
If you want a head start, you can also start seeds indoors a few weeks before your last frost, then transplant the seedlings once the weather warms up.
Sow the seeds about half an inch deep and space them roughly 6 to 12 inches apart.
Swiss chard grows well in full sun, but if you’re in an area with particularly warm spring temperatures, it can also handle some light shade, especially in the afternoon.
After planting, keep the soil consistently moist to encourage healthy growth, and within a couple of weeks, the seedlings will begin to pop up.
Here are the Swiss chard seeds I recommend:
Growing and Harvesting
One of the things I love most about Swiss chard is how fast it grows.
In just four to six weeks after planting, you can start harvesting the outer leaves.
The great thing about chard is that it’s a “cut-and-come-again” vegetable, meaning you can harvest the larger outer leaves and let the inner leaves continue growing.
This way, you can enjoy fresh greens all season long.
To harvest, simply cut the outer leaves close to the base of the plant.
As long as you leave the central part of the plant intact, it keeps producing new leaves throughout the season.
This method also gives me the option to pick leaves while they’re tender and young for salads, or let them grow a bit larger for sautéing and cooking.
Why Swiss Chard is a Garden Favorite
Aside from being easy to grow, Swiss chard is one of the most versatile vegetables you can have in your garden.
I love how it handles both cool and warm temperatures, making it a long-lasting crop.
The leaves are great in salads, stir-fries, soups, and even smoothies.
The colorful stems are just as delicious and can be sautéed like asparagus or added to dishes for a pop of color.
In addition, Swiss chard’s ability to tolerate a wide range of growing conditions makes it perfect for gardeners of all experience levels.
Whether you have a large garden or a small container setup, you can successfully grow and harvest chard throughout the spring and beyond.
For more growing tips, check out my guides:
3. Root Vegetables: Carrots, Beets, and Radishes
Root vegetables like carrots, beets, and radishes are some of the most rewarding crops to grow in a spring garden.
These cool-season favorites thrive in the mild temperatures of spring and offer a range of colors, flavors, and textures that can be enjoyed early in the season.
Whether you're looking for crisp, spicy radishes or sweet, earthy beets, root vegetables are a must for any spring planting.
Why Root Vegetables Thrive in Spring
One of the main reasons I love growing root vegetables in spring is that they prefer cooler temperatures and shorter daylight hours, which prevents them from bolting or becoming too woody.
The key to success with these crops is to plant them early, giving them time to mature before the heat of summer sets in.
All three—carrots, beets, and radishes—are typically sown directly into the garden as seeds, making them easy to plant without the need for indoor seed starting.
Another advantage of growing root vegetables in spring is that they are generally quick-growing, especially radishes, which can be ready to harvest in as little as 3 to 4 weeks.
Carrots and beets take a bit longer but are still relatively fast-growing compared to many other vegetables.
For me, there's nothing more satisfying than pulling a perfectly formed carrot out of the ground after just a few weeks of care.
Planting Tips for Carrots, Beets, and Radishes
The first step in planting root vegetables is to prepare the garden soil.
These crops need loose, well-drained soil that allows their roots to expand without obstruction.
I make sure to remove any rocks or debris and, if necessary, mix in compost or other organic material to improve the soil structure.
For root vegetables, fine-textured soil works best, as it allows the roots to grow straight and avoid becoming misshapen.
Here’s how I plant each one:
Carrots:
Sow seeds about 1/4 inch deep and space them 2 to 3 inches apart.
Carrot seeds are tiny, so thinning them out after they germinate is often necessary to give the roots room to grow.
I tend to use a method called "broadcast seeding," where I scatter the seeds lightly over a row and thin them later.
Here are the carrot seeds I recommend:
Beets:
Beet seeds are a bit larger and easier to handle.
Plant them about 1 inch deep and space them about 3 inches apart.
Beet seeds are actually clusters of seeds, so multiple seedlings can sprout from a single one, which means thinning is also necessary.
Beets grow well in full sun but can tolerate some light shade if necessary.
Here are the seeds I recommend:
Radishes:
Radishes are perhaps the easiest and fastest-growing of the root vegetables.
I plant radish seeds about 1/2 inch deep and space them 1 inch apart.
Since they mature quickly, you can plant radishes in succession, sowing seeds every couple of weeks for a continuous harvest throughout spring.
Here are the radish seeds I recommend:
Growing and Care
After planting, keeping the soil consistently moist is key to good germination and healthy root development.
One thing I always watch out for is soil compaction.
If the soil becomes too dense, it can cause the roots to become deformed.
I usually keep the soil lightly mulched to retain moisture without causing the ground to harden.
For all three of these root vegetables, thinning the seedlings is crucial for ensuring healthy root development.
If the plants are too crowded, the roots won’t have enough room to expand, leading to stunted or misshapen vegetables.
While it may feel a bit painful to pull out perfectly good seedlings, it’s essential for a healthy harvest.
Harvesting Root Vegetables
Each of these vegetables has its own timeline for harvesting:
Carrots:
Depending on the variety, carrots can take anywhere from 50 to 75 days to mature.
You can typically harvest when the shoulders of the carrot are visible above the soil, and they reach the size that you prefer.
If you like baby carrots, you can harvest them earlier, which is a fun option for small spring salads.
Beets:
Beets are usually ready to harvest about 6 to 8 weeks after planting.
I prefer to harvest beets when they’re around the size of a golf ball, as they tend to be sweeter and more tender at this stage.
Both the roots and the greens are edible, so nothing goes to waste.
Radishes:
Radishes are the speed demons of the garden.
Some varieties can be ready to harvest in as little as 3 weeks.
I always make sure to harvest them as soon as they’re ready because if left in the ground too long, they can become overly spicy and woody.
You’ll know they’re ready when they reach about 1 inch in diameter and feel firm to the touch.
Why I Love Growing Root Vegetables in Spring
Root vegetables are not only easy to grow but they also bring a lot of variety to my garden.
Each crop offers its own unique flavors and textures, and they grow well together, making them perfect for companion planting.
Plus, because they’re fast-growing and low-maintenance, they’re a great option for beginner gardeners or those who want quick results.
One of the best parts about growing root vegetables is that you can plant them early in the spring and often follow them with another crop in the summer, maximizing your growing space.
Whether you're planting them in raised beds, rows, or even containers, these vegetables are hardy and adaptable, making them a staple in my spring planting routine.
For more tips, check out my guide:
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4. Lettuce and Spinach
When it comes to spring vegetables, few things are as satisfying as growing your own fresh lettuce and spinach.
These leafy greens are perfect for the cooler spring weather and are among the first crops I plant when the frost is no longer a threat.
Both lettuce and spinach are quick-growing, versatile, and can be harvested multiple times during the season, making them a must for any spring vegetable garden.
Why Lettuce and Spinach are Perfect for Spring
Lettuce and spinach are cool-weather crops that prefer temperatures between 50-70°F, making early spring ideal for growing them.
They don’t handle the heat well, so planting them in spring gives you a window to harvest before the summer sun causes them to bolt or become bitter.
I find that these greens thrive in the milder temperatures, and with regular planting and harvesting, they provide a continuous supply of fresh, tender leaves.
Another reason they’re perfect for spring is how fast they grow.
From the time I sow the seeds, it usually only takes about 4 to 6 weeks before I’m enjoying fresh salads straight from the garden.
This makes them great for those of us who want quick results after the long winter months.
Planting Tips for Lettuce and Spinach
Both lettuce and spinach can be direct sown into the garden, but you can start them indoors in late winter.
This gives you a head start and allows me to transplant the seedlings as soon as the weather is warm enough.
If you choose to plant seeds directly, wait until the ground is thawed and workable—usually about 2 to 4 weeks before your last frost.
Here’s how I typically plant these greens:
Lettuce:
There are many varieties of lettuce, from loose-leaf types to more structured heads like romaine or butterhead.
For loose-leaf lettuce, I sow the seeds about 1/4 inch deep and space them 6 to 12 inches apart, depending on the variety.
Lettuce seeds are tiny, so you don’t need to cover them with much soil—just a light sprinkle to keep them in place.
Lettuce also prefers full sun, but if you’re in an area that warms up quickly, partial shade in the afternoon can help prevent it from bolting.
Here are the lettuce seeds I recommend:
Spinach:
Spinach is a little hardier than lettuce when it comes to cooler temperatures and can even handle a light frost, so you can plant it a little earlier.
Sow spinach seeds about 1/2 inch deep and space them about 4 to 6 inches apart.
Spinach also grows well in full sun, but like lettuce, it benefits from some shade if the spring weather turns warmer.
Here are the spinach seeds I recommend:
Growing and Care
After planting, keeping the soil consistently moist is key to growing healthy lettuce and spinach.
These greens have shallow root systems, so they need regular watering, especially during dry spells.
I like to mulch around the plants to help retain moisture and keep the soil cool.
Here is the mulch I recommend:
Since lettuce and spinach grow quickly, so you can plant them in succession—every 1 to 2 weeks—so that you always have fresh greens ready to harvest.
This way, you don’t end up with a huge harvest all at once, and can enjoy tender young leaves throughout the spring season.
Thinning the plants is also important for both lettuce and spinach.
While it may feel counterintuitive, thinning ensures that each plant has enough room to grow, resulting in healthier, larger leaves.
Harvesting Lettuce and Spinach
One of the best things about lettuce and spinach is that you can harvest them multiple times.
For loose-leaf lettuce, I use the "cut-and-come-again" method, where I snip the outer leaves and leave the center of the plant intact.
This allows the plant to keep growing and producing more leaves throughout the season.
I usually start harvesting when the leaves are about 3 to 4 inches long, which gives me tender, sweet greens for salads and sandwiches.
Spinach can be harvested similarly, by picking the outer leaves or harvesting the whole plant if you prefer.
Spinach is often ready to harvest 4 to 6 weeks after planting, and I like to pick the leaves when they’re young and tender for the best flavor.
However, if the weather starts warming up too much, spinach can bolt, so I keep an eye on it and harvest promptly.
Varieties to Consider
Both lettuce and spinach come in a wide range of varieties, offering different textures and flavors.
Here are a few I enjoy planting in spring:
Lettuce:
For a nice variety, I like to plant a mix of loose-leaf types, such as Black Seeded Simpson and Red Salad Bowl, as well as more structured varieties like Buttercrunch or Romaine.
The variety gives me a good mix of flavors and textures for salads.
Spinach:
I tend to stick with reliable varieties like Bloomsdale, which produces crinkled, dark green leaves, or Giant Noble, which is great if you want larger leaves for cooking.
Both are cold-hardy and grow well in early spring.
Why I Love Growing Lettuce and Spinach in Spring
There’s something incredibly rewarding about walking out into the garden and picking fresh greens for a salad or sandwich.
Both lettuce and spinach are easy to grow and take up very little space, which makes them perfect for small gardens or even container gardening.
I also appreciate how quickly they grow—giving me fresh produce early in the season when I’m craving something light and fresh after winter’s heavier food.
The versatility of these greens makes them a spring garden staple for me.
Whether I’m using lettuce in a crisp salad or spinach in a sautéed dish, they add a burst of freshness.
Plus, with their quick-growing nature, they’re perfect for beginner gardeners who want a crop that’s low-maintenance but high-reward.
For more tips, check out my guide:
5. Broccoli
Broccoli is one of the best vegetables to grow in early spring, as it thrives in cooler temperatures and is fairly easy to manage with the right care.
It’s a hardy plant, capable of withstanding a light frost, and the flavor is often sweeter when grown in cooler conditions.
Planting and Growing Broccoli
Broccoli is best started indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost and transplanted outside when the soil is workable.
Plant transplants about 18 to 24 inches apart to give them plenty of room to spread.
Broccoli loves full sun and well-draining, nutrient-rich soil, so always mix in compost before planting.
Consistent moisture is key for growing healthy broccoli heads.
Also make sure to mulch around the plants to help retain moisture and keep the soil cool.
One thing to watch out for is pests like cabbage worms, which can damage the leaves.
It is a good idea to use row covers early in the season to keep them at bay.
Here are the row covers I recommend:
Harvesting Broccoli
Broccoli forms a central head that’s ready to harvest when it’s firm and tight, typically 4 to 6 inches in diameter.
Make sure to harvest it before the individual buds start to flower.
After cutting the main head, broccoli often produces smaller side shoots, allowing for multiple harvests over the season.
Using a sharp knife, cut the head with about 6 inches of stem.
Side shoots will appear in the following weeks, extending the harvest and making broccoli one of the more productive spring crops.
Why I Love Growing Broccoli
Broccoli’s cool-weather resilience and ability to keep producing after the main harvest make it a great addition to the spring garden.
It's nutrient-packed and versatile in the kitchen, whether steamed, roasted, or eaten fresh.
Plus, the satisfaction of harvesting a big, healthy head of broccoli never gets old.
For more vegetable garden tips, check out my guides:
FAQs
When should I start planting my spring garden?
You should aim to plant your spring garden as soon as the soil is workable, typically a few weeks before the last frost.
For early planting, crops like peas and root vegetables can handle cooler temperatures, while others might need to wait until the weather warms up slightly.
How do I prepare my garden soil for spring planting?
Before planting, make sure to loosen the garden soil and remove any weeds or debris.
I like to add compost or other organic matter to enrich the soil, which gives my spring vegetables a great start.
Can I grow spring vegetables indoors?
Yes, many vegetables can be started indoors and transplanted outside once the weather warms up.
Lettuce, spinach, and herbs are great candidates for seed starting indoors before being moved to the garden.
Wrap-Up
Spring is an exciting time for vegetable gardening, with so many opportunities to enjoy fresh, homegrown produce.
By choosing the right garden plants and following a few simple steps, you can ensure a successful harvest that lasts throughout the season.
Whether you’ve planted fast-growing crops like radishes or cool-loving greens like lettuce and spinach, there are plenty of vegetables to grow in spring that will thrive in your garden.
With a little care and attention, your spring garden will reward you with delicious, homegrown vegetables that you can enjoy all season long.
