Home Advantages: Best Vegetables for Planting in Early Spring
Narration provided by Wondervox (in a fun British accent).
Home Advantages is a semi-regular feature highlighting our efforts to keep up a small house in the New Jersey woods, whether it’s redoing a vegetable garden or unclogging a bathroom sink! Follow along this year as I undertake small improvements here and there, and show you how you can, too! – Mark
By Mark McNease
Cool-weather vegetables are calling
If you’re itching to start planting, March is a great time to begin, with several hearty, cool-weather loving vegetables looking for the nearest garden. Lots of vegetables thrive in the cool, moist conditions of early spring, and they can provide delicious and nutritious harvests you can tell people you grew yourself! Here’s a short list of some of the best vegetables to plant in March, along with tips on how to care for them.
Onions
Onions can be planted in March, and they’ll reward you with pungent and flavorful bulbs later in the summer. You can start onions from seeds, sets, or transplants, depending on your preference and availability. Onions prefer a sunny location with fertile and well-drained soil, and they need regular watering and weeding. They’re ready to harvest when the tops fall over and turn brown, usually in July or August. You can store them in a cool and dry place for several months, or eat them as you go along.
Lettuce
We had some success with lettuce last year. It’s one of the easiest and fastest vegetables to grow, and it loves the cool weather of spring. You can sow lettuce seeds directly into the soil or in containers, and you’ll have tender and crisp leaves ready to pick in as little as four weeks. Lettuce comes in lots of varieties, such as romaine, butterhead, iceberg, and leaf, and you can mix and match them for a colorful garden that turns into a colorful salad. Lettuce likes moist but well-drained soil, and regular watering and fertilizing. Harvest the outer leaves first, and leave the center intact for more growth.
Spinach
Spinach is another leafy green that grows well in spring, and it’s packed with iron, calcium, vitamin A, and antioxidants. Spinach can tolerate light frost, so you can plant it as soon as the soil is workable. Spinach prefers rich and moist soil, and partial shade. You can sow spinach seeds directly into the ground, or start them indoors and transplant them later (or buy them at a nursery!). Spinach grows quickly, and you can harvest the leaves when they’re young and tender, or wait until they’re larger and more mature.
Carrots
Carrots are root vegetables that need deep and loose soil to grow properly. Keep this in mind if your use raised-bed gardens like we do. They may not be deep enough for carrots. You can plant carrot seeds in March, and thin them out as they germinate. Carrots like full sun and moderate water, and they can take up to three months to mature. You can harvest carrots when they’re about an inch in diameter, or leave them in the ground longer for bigger roots.
Peas
Peas are legumes that fix nitrogen into the soil, which helps other plants grow better. Peas can be planted in March, as they can withstand light frost and cold temperatures. Peas need well-drained soil, full sun, and a trellis or stake to support their vines. You can sow pea seeds about an inch deep and two inches apart, and water them regularly. Peas can be harvested in about two months, and you can enjoy them fresh or frozen. Peas come in different types, such as snow peas, snap peas, and shelling peas, and they are high in protein and fiber.
Radishes
Radishes are spicy, crunchy root vegetables that add a kick to salads and soups. They’re very easy to grow, and they can be ready to harvest in as little as three weeks. You can plant radish seeds in March, and thin them out as they sprout. Radishes like loose and fertile soil, and plenty of water. You can harvest radishes when they’re about an inch across, or smaller for a milder flavor. Radishes come in various shapes, sizes, and colors, such as red, white, pink, and purple, and they’re rich in vitamin C and potassium.
You can read previous posts about the garden HERE, HERE and HERE.
Comments, suggestions, encouragement welcome! We’re listening.