Spring is in sight and soon it will be time to get your garden in shape. To make sure you’re off to a good start, here are some of the best vegetables you can plant early in the season. Planting now ensures that you harvest your vegetables sooner and can get more out of your gardening season.
Plant early vegetables to extend your Gardening Year
Vegetables are classified as ”Hardy” and ”Tender,” according to their growth and quality in certain temperatures, and their power of withstanding cold and frost. Cabbage and Cauliflower are called ”Hardy” Vegetables, as they can endure a certain amount of frost and cold, whilst French Beans, Tomatoes, and Melons are ”Tender,” because they are destroyed by frost, and the quality is poor in a cool season.
“Tender Vegetables” are those which cannot be planted out in the Spring until all fear of frosts is over, and until the ground has become warm. These ”Tender Vegetables” are particularly desirable during the warmer season of the year, for instance, the full value of a Water or Rock Melon could not really be appreciated in Winter.
Peas
Peas are one of the earliest vegetables to sow and they thrive in cooler temperatures. Their sweet taste is worth the effort of planting them—just make sure that you wait until after any risk of frost has passed before sowing them. For best results, prepare your soil by adding plenty of compost and then sow your seeds directly into the ground or into pots. If you’re planting directly into the ground, spread a thin layer of compost over your seeds once they’ve been planted. When harvesting, pick peas regularly as this will encourage more pods to form on each plant.
Radishes
Radishes are another vegetable that loves cooler weather and can be planted from March onwards. They don’t need long growing seasons so you can expect quick results when planting them early! Prepare your plot for radishes by digging over and adding some compost or manure; then simply scatter the seeds over your prepared ground or container before covering with a thin layer of soil. Radishes should be ready for harvest within 4-6 weeks, so keep an eye on them when they start sprouting up and remember to water regularly during dry periods.
Spinach
Spinach is an invaluable early crop as it provides fresh greens all year round – even during winter months. Spinach prefers full sun but will also tolerate partial shade and thrives in cool weather so it’s perfect for sowing early in springtime. Once again, prepare your soil with plenty of compost or manure before sowing spinach seeds directly into containers or outdoors onto prepared plots; water frequently during dry periods and watch out for signs of wilting leaves which indicate that plants need extra moisture quickly! Harvest spinach leaves as soon as they are big enough to eat by snipping off at their base with scissors or cutting the entire plant at ground level if necessary; keep harvesting regularly throughout springtime for optimal yields!
How To Get Early Vegetables
To have these ”Early Crops” the gardener must utilize indoor seed boxes, a cold frame or a hot bed. Where all three are available so much the better. Planting from a hot bed into a cold frame and gradually getting the seedlings accustomed to outdoor conditions produces strong sturdy plants for putting in the open ground as soon as the season permits.
In mild climates the cold frame may be used in place of the hot bed for raising the seedlings. The Home Gardener need not be deterred from having early tomatoes, Melons, Beans, etc., for lack of a hot bed or cold frame. With common sense management, seed boxes can be utilized for getting early seedlings and will prove a most efficient substitute.
By starting early with these vegetables, you’ll benefit from a larger harvest come summertime – and who doesn’t love being rewarded for their hard work? With proper preparation and care, these vegetables will give you plenty to enjoy throughout the growing season ahead. So get ready, grab those gardening gloves and make this spring one that’s filled with delicious rewards.
