5 easy spring vegetables

Have you ever wanted to jumpstart your growing journey this season but just don’t quite seem to find the time? This article shows you 5 easy vegetables you can plant right here, right now.

Many standard garden vegetables require warm soil and no sign of frost, while a variety of cool-season spring crops can be planted right now, jumpstarting your gardening journey this season and putting food on your plate long before the summer vegetables come in. Gothenburg’s weather right now rotates between bright sunny days and cloudy rainy days, with temperatures well above 0 degrees Celsius, both in the day and night. This gives us 3 options to planting many cool season vegetables; directly in the soil with no cover, planted underneath a row cover or polytunnel, or in pots and trays placed by a sunny window or porch.

For those a little unsure of which to pick, we suggest planting in pots and trays first, which can be moved outside into the sun on warm days and then brought inside at night. This is a foolproof way of avoiding frost while starting an early spring garden long before the soil outside is ready to plant in. Furthermore, container gardening is a great way for to grow some of your own food on windowsills or balconies, for those of you who do not have access to a garden plot outside.

Whether you are a beginner or a pro, these are 5 spring vegetables that can be planted from seed for an early spring garden – and are usually foolproof enough to allow even the most beginning of beginners to reap a good harvest!

1. Beets

Beets are great for health and they are relatively easy to grow, starting in late March or early April. Their seeds fail to germinate in hot weather, and so cool temperatures are important during its planting. Furthermore, according to some studies, beets taste best when they have a few weeks of cool air. They get bigger and bigger if the weather is constantly cool, however, when temperatures rise above 18 degrees, be sure to get to the garden to gather these veggies! This is because they die quickly in warmer temperatures.

2. Kale

It is advised to plant kale indoors first during this time of the year to allow it to harden off a bit before it is replanted outside, exposing to harsher climatic conditions. Allowing the seeds to germinate indoors for a few weeks will allow kale to become a small plant in the garden. Kale is quite frost hardy, however, it does need light and well-drained soil to flourish. It is even possible to harvest baby kale leaves in as little as three weeks! Full-sized leaves may take between 50 to 70 days to mature, depending on the variety. Try colorful kales like the Purple Kale or Black Kale (Cavolo Nero) varieties for extra diversity and beauty in the garden an on your plate.

3. Spinach

Spinach can be remarkably frost-resistant, especially when grown within a polytunnel. There are many of varieties of spinach and it is worth planting a few variations of spinach to see which works best for you and which you prefer the taste of. Spinach requires well-drained soil to grow well in and it prefers full sun. However, spinach will still produce a respectable harvest even in partial shade. The harvesting of small leaves can be done as early as three weeks from planting, while it takes about 45-50 days to full maturity! Spinach also works great for planting late in the season during the fall, as it can be covered with mulch and will often survive till an early spring harvest.

4. Radishes

Radishes are one of the fastest vegetables you can grow, with many varieties allowing harvest as early as three weeks from planting. They grow fast from seed to bulb, so it is worth keeping an eye on them after a few weeks. Radishes are great for interplanting with lettuce or other spring greens because they can help in naturally thinning out those crops as the radishes are harvested. They are also great for growing with kids, as their seeds are large enough for small children to help plant, they mature quickly, and they are easy to pull from the ground – a great fit for impatient gardeners as well!

5. Carrots

Carrots come in all shapes and sizes; red, orange, yellow or purple, and these cooler season vegetables are packed with vitamins, which are beneficial to your health! Most varieties of carrots are resistant to pests and diseases, and they tolerate frost quite well. With proper sun and water, they can be picked early in their growth stage as tender baby carrots, or later, as crunchy mature carrots. For carrots to grow from seed to maturity, it takes between two to four months, depending on the variety. Early Nantes is an example of quick growing variety that suits as a spring carrot with only 60 days to maturity.

What are you waiting for? Get planting now!

With Love,

The Growgbg Team