What can I plant in early spring?

Last week’s snow has melted away and it’s time to get back to gardening outside. The good news is that there is a lot of moisture in this last snowfall, something we really needed. So when the ground clears and dries up in the garden, which vegetables can we plant from late March into April? We can plant many cool weather vegetable seeds directly in the ground.

Beets, broccoli, cabbage, kale, lettuce, peas, spinach, turnips like the cooler spring temperatures and can be planted from seed now.

You can also plant broccoli, cabbage, kale and spinach from starts now, just be sure you harden them off before you plant them.

Onions and garlic can also be planted now. Onions are planted from seed, sets and plants. 

Garlic is planted from individual cloves. Potatoes should be planted later in April. Egg-sized seed potatoes can be planted whole. Larger seed potatoes can be cut in half or quartered and then planted.

Make sure you have at least one set of "eyes" on each piece you plant. Always select certified seed potatoes. Supermarket potatoes are treated to prevent them from sprouting. This is the time to plant perennial vegetables, including rhubarb and asparagus.

Rhubarb and asparagus are available as bare-root crowns.  Don't harvest rhubarb or asparagus during their first season. This will allow the plant to establish. Rhubarb and asparagus can produce for 10 years or more, so pick a spot in the garden where they won't be disturbed for many seasons.

Before planting your seeds, starts or crowns, amend your soil with compost, peat moss and/or coconut coir. Take the bags home, dump into a pile, mix it all together and  add to your vegetable garden.

Add some fertilizer to your soil while you're planting. Put some in the bottom of each row or planting hole, so the roots of your new plants can grow into it.

While you're at it, plant some pansies and violas for color.