In the Garden: How to Grow 5 Spring Basics

Spring is a time of great excitement in the garden—and the one thing I like best about winter is that it’s only one season away from spring! This is the time of year when I map out my garden (I use the Vegetable Garden Planner), choose which crops to grow, and wait for warmer weather without trying to get too antsy. Here are a few tried-and-true spring crops to consider planting this year, all of which are simple to grow. Click on the numbered links to access a complete guide for each veggie, including when to plant, how to plant, pest and disease prevention, and recommended varieties.

1. Spinach

Spinach is a cold-hardy green that seems to thrive in my garden no matter what I do—and that’s fine by me! It’s easy to harvest, and you don’t have to have much space to grow quite a bit of this nutritious crop.

2. Lettuce

One great thing about growing lettuce is that there are so many types to choose from. My two favorites are crunchy Romaine and cut-and-come-again leaf lettuce. The latter is great because you can harvest the out leaves when you want a salad, and then the plant continues to grow, quickly producing new batches of leaves.

3. Radishes

Radishes are generally one the first crops to ripen in my spring garden. A little sea salt sprinkled on a just-picked, just-washed radish … definitely the taste of spring. Try spicy varieties if you like a little zing in your salads.

4. Peas

Peas are always the first crop I plant in spring, and my favorite thing about growing them is their versatility. Sugar snap peas are great as a snack, in salads, in stir-fries and more.

5. Carrots

Carrots are great in spring and fall, so plan on two rounds of planting. While they take longer to mature than the above crops, they’re definitely worth the wait. You’ll taste the difference between sweet, tender spring carrots and grocery store carrots right away.

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