The Best Plants to Grow in Spring

by Rosso Gardens on 05/06/12

Spring is a very busy time for a gardener and thanks to this great article from helium novice gardeners can relish in the wonders of the grden.  The arrival of spring means the planting of most of the vegetables or flowers in most gardens.  But before your spring planting, there are many tasks to accomplish.  These will vary depending on the type of garden you have and other factors, but may include:

• Rake and clear away accumulated dead growth, twigs, leaves, and various winter debris.
• Remove tree and plant guards.
• Trim ornamental grasses.
• Prune rose bushes.
• Cut back evergreen plants.
• Edge flower beds so they are not overrun with grass.
• Do a thorough weeding.
• Clean any old perennials of their foliage.  Replant any that have been heaved out of the ground by frost.
• Remove winter mulch.
• Add compost or manure to fertilize the soil for your new plantings.

Then when it comes time to plant, you want to be careful in your selections.  There are some plants that are good to plant early in the spring, but there are some that are not hardy enough to handle the kind of drop in temperature that can happen in spring.

Of course this will also depend a great deal on your location.  In some growing zones, spring still has plenty of sub-freezing nights.  In others, spring is as consistently hot as other regions’ summer.

If you’re growing vegetables, consider the following for spring planting:

* Asparagus

Plant in early spring at a seed depth of 2-3”.  Soak the crowns for three hours prior to planting.  Asparagus grows well with a heavy phosphate fertilizer.

* Beans

Plant in April or May at a seed depth of 1.5”.

* Beets

Plant in April at a seed depth of 0.5”.  Plant another batch in June.

* Broccoli

Plant in April or May at a seed depth of 0.5-1”.

* Brussels sprouts

Plants can be planted in early spring.  Brussels sprouts will survive a light frost.  Seeds should be planted in the late spring or early summer at a depth of 0.25”.

* Cabbage

Plant in April at a seed depth of 0.5”.  Cabbage grows well with a heavy nitrogen fertilizer.

* Carrots

Plant in April at a seed depth of 0.5”.  Can then also be planted in the summer.

* Cauliflower

Plant in May at a seed depth of 0.5”.

* Corn

Plant every two weeks starting in May at a seed depth of 1”.  Plant close together in blocks rather than rows.

* Cucumbers

Plant in May or June at a seed depth of 1”.

* Eggplant

Plant 2 weeks after the last frost at a seed depth

by Philo Gabriel