For any gardener living in a climate where frost and snow claim the winter months, planting season just can't seem to arrive soon enough in the spring.
Many young garden plants can be harmed by a frost, so that average last frost date is an important one on any gardener's calendar, and can feel so far away when all you want to do is plant something!
For those longing to get their hands deep in some garden soil, there are thankfully many garden crops that actually do best when planted early, even well before that last frost date. Here are 21 plants that will thank you for giving in to impatience, and tucking them into the garden while the days are still cool.
1. Onions
Onions really benefit from getting in the ground as early as it can be worked. The more time they have to grow and put on lush greenery before the summer solstice, the better.
For long-day onions, they'll start to focus on forming bulbs once those summer days reach 14-15 hours of daylight, so the more established your plants are by then, the better, bigger onions you'll see come harvest time.
2. Lettuce
Lettuce is one of those cold-loving crops that really thrives in the "shoulder seasons" of spring and fall. Direct sow your lettuce right in the ground as soon as the soil's not water-logged.
Or, if you've started seedlings in the house, harden them off for a few days, before tucking them into the garden.
For a continual supply of lettuce for the kitchen, I like to start new plantings of lettuce every 10 days to two weeks.
3. Peas
There's an old tradition that planting peas on St. Patrick's Day brings good luck. This beloved holiday comes quite some time before the last spring frost, in much of the US.
Here in Maine that's honestly a little early for planting peas, though I've tried it quite a few years. (Good luck isn't something to eschew, after all!). What I've discovered is that those St. Patty's day peas bloom and start setting peas in the very same week as those planted in mid-April. They just take a lot longer to get going.
In general, planting peas 4-6 weeks before the last frost gives the best results.
4. Spinach
There's a real benefit to getting spinach in the ground before the last frost, since this cold-loving green really doesn't like the heat. Spinach has a tendency to bolt as soon as days get hot.
Spinach does, however, love sun and well-drained soil, so you don't want to start it too early. 2-3 weeks before that last frost date is the sweet spot.
5. Turnips
Both turnips and their rutabaga cousins really thrive getting started in cool weather. Turnips are fast to grow, so if you choose a fast-growing variety, and get them in the soil promptly, you'll be surprised at how early in the season you can actually put a root vegetable on the dinner table.
Don't forget to enjoy those delicious turnip greens, while the bulbs are forming. I know plenty of people who grow turnips only for the greens, because they're so tasty!
6. Kale
Kale is such a hardy, cheery little seedling to see popping up in those early spring gardens. 4-6 weeks before the last frost is a good time to plant kale, whether you're directly seeding it, or transplanting hardened-off seedlings.
Before you know it, you'll be adding baby kale to your salads, and those kale plants will keep going strong until well after the frosts return in the fall. I've definitely gone digging in the garden beneath freshly-fallen snow, to harvest perfectly lush and green kale, more than once. This really is a hardy vegetable!
7. Beets
I love getting beets started as soon as the soil is well drained, and can be worked in the spring. Many beet varieties grow so quickly that this can be an early crop that's done and harvested, early enough to grow a whole second crop in the same space later in the summer.
Consider following early beets with fall peas, beans, carrots, or even a second round of more beets!
8. Chard
Most varieties of chard do well planted about 2-3 weeks before that last frost date. The "Bright Lights" variety is my favorite, because those colors are just so vivid, even when the plants are just seedlings.
Much like kale, this is a vegetable you'll be able to enjoy all summer, and well into the fall, since the plants are so hardy.
9. Potatoes
Potatoes are one of those plants you want to get into the ground early so they have plenty of time to grow, but not so early that the seed potatoes rot before they can really start growing.
2-3 weeks before the last frost date is good timing for potatoes.
10. Broccoli
For broccoli, you'll be transplanting seedlings, rather than starting your crop directly in the ground from seeds. Broccoli plants take quite a long time to grow and form those beautiful, big heads.
About 2 weeks before the last frost date is a good time to go ahead and get broccoli seedlings in the ground, as long as they've got at least one pair of true leaves. The soil should be sunny, rich, and well-drained, to give them a great start.
11. Carrots
Carrots are such a fun vegetable to grow, and they're a great way to let kids get started in the garden early in the season.
As soon as the soil is well drained enough to work, it's ok to get your carrot bed prepared. Carrots like deeply-worked, well-drained soil, so raised beds are a great way to go if you want to get growing before your ground has dried out enough in the spring.
12. Asparagus Crowns
Early spring is also the perfect time to establish a new bed of asparagus. While you can start asparagus from seeds, the more usual way to start an asparagus bed is by planting year-old crowns.
2-3 weeks before the last frost is a good time to prepare your new asparagus bed, and get those crowns planted.
13. Kohlrabi
This odd-looking vegetable doesn't get a lot of love here in the US, but it's really starting to catch on at farmer's markets. It's so tender, and easy to grow, it's really a great beginner vegetable.
Many varieties of kohlrabi mature quickly, so direct-seeding kohlrabi works well. Go ahead a plant about 2-3 weeks before the last frost.
If you're starting with seedlings instead of seeds, it's ok to plant them before the last frost. Just make sure they've hardened off for a few days, treating them like you would baby broccoli plants.
14. Parsnips
Parsnips take a long, long time to grow and mature, so thankfully they're perfectly happy to get started as soon as the soil can be worked in the spring.
These are a true cool weather crop, that like to start growing while temperatures are still cool. Those beautiful white roots are sweetest and tastiest when harvested after they've been through at least a couple of frosts in the fall, so these are one of the first vegetables to go into the garden in the spring, and one of the last to come out before winter.
15. Radishes
When you think of fast-growing vegetables, chances are, radishes come to mind. They're fast to germinate, grow quickly, and are happy to get planted early in the season. This means that for many, they're often the first garden produce to make it onto the table, well before summer even arrives.
16. Strawberries
Just like with asparagus, early spring is actually a great time to get many perennial berry plants in the ground, strawberries included.
Make sure the soil is well drained, and well-fertilized, to give strawberries their best start. Some planting guides recommend waiting until after the last frost, but those in the know start earlier than this. If you've ever grown strawberries in northern climates, you will have noticed how strawberry plants that have wintered over are putting on new leaves and really getting going, long before that last frost date.
Go ahead and let yourself get those plants in the ground as soon as it's dry enough to prepare their new bed well.
17. Fruit Trees
Apple, pear, cherry, and other perennial fruit trees also do well when planted early in the spring, as dormant bare-root trees.
Even here in Maine, if you order fruit trees from northern growers, you can expect to see those arrive on your doorstep by mid to late April, several weeks before the last frost date. It's ok to get those lovely trees right in the ground, no need to wait for warmer weather.
18. Raspberry and Blackberry Bushes
Just as with so many other fruit-bearing perennials, early spring is a good time to get blackberries and raspberries planted.
As soon as the ground can be worked in spring, it's not too soon to go ahead and get those dormant bramble bushes in the ground.
19. Cilantro
It's easy to focus on fruits and vegetables, when thinking about getting the spring gardens planted, but some annual herbs are hardy enough to get planted before the last frost as well.
Cilantro is one of these, and it really thrives in cool weather. Since cilantro has a tendency to bolt in hot weather, getting it started early gives you a longer growing season with it.
20. Garlic
Fall is the usual time to plant garlic, but if that just didn't work out for you last fall, don't despair. With a little care, you can still plant garlic in the early spring and end up with huge bulbs that rival those started in fall. (The garlic in the picture was grown in Maine and started in mid-April.)
For more tips on growing great garlic in the spring, this guide has helpful tips.
21. Bachelor's Buttons
While we're starting crops early, how about a few edible flowers to grace those early garden-to-table meals?
Bachelors' buttons are a hardy and cheery little flower that love an early start. Go ahead and get those seeds planted about 2-3 weeks before the last frost, and you'll have blossoms before you know it.
21 Ways to Add Whimsy to Any Garden
If your garden is feeling a bit ho-hum, try adding some whimsical accents that make it a more joyful place to be.
Sweet little simple touches make it more fun to spend time in the garden, and more time in the garden is good for both body and soul!
Here some fun and easy ideas.
23 Beautiful Blossoms You Can Grow and Eat
Edible flowers offer so much joy and whimsy to any dish. If you have plenty of edible flowers growing right in your own garden or backyard, it's easy to add a bright touch of color to even weeknight meals.
Here are 23 edible blossoms that are easy to grow, and fun to add to your dinner
Anna Chesley
Anna Chesley is a freelance writer living a homestead lifestyle, with a special love for family travel, old books, vintage skills, and seaside living. In addition to founding Salt In My Coffee, she runs the website, New England Family Life, as well as The 1800's Housewife, a website devoted to re-creating authentic 1800's recipes.
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