When Can I Plant My Garden?

If you're new to gardening, you may think the growing season doesn't begin until April or May. But that's not true — you can start planting seeds much earlier.

In fact, you should! If you start the right crops now, you'll likely be harvesting your own fresh veggies by April or May.

But notice, I said you must start the right crops.

There are a handful of plants that thrive in the cooler conditions of late winter and early spring. And in this post, you'll learn which crops qualify.

Fun fact: Tower Garden doesn't use soil. That means you can start the growing season before most traditional gardeners (who must wait for the ground to warm up).

16 Crops That Thrive in Cool Spring Weather

I love the crisp, energizing air of early spring. And I'm not the only one.

The following 16 crops tolerate nippy nights and, in some cases, even light freezes:

Beans
Broccoli
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Chinese cabbage
Collards
Endive
Kale
Kohlrabi
Leeks
Lettuce
Mustard
Peas
Radicchio
Spinach
Swiss chard

I spy several superfoods on that list!

Tower Tip: Want more plant suggestions? Many fall season crops also grow well in the spring.

The Best Time to Plant Your Garden

For most of the United States, the best time to start spring crops is, well, now. But to get more exact planting recommendations based on your area, use this handy calendar.

(As a general rule, you should plant hardy greens and cole crops a few weeks before your final frost.)

Tower Tip: Don't want to wait for the weather to warm up? You can start your indoor garden any time, regardless of the temperatures outside.

As I mentioned, most of the crops above can handle light freezes. (Many of them actually prefer cold weather.) So it's OK if your spring garden experiences a few frosts.

How to Start Your Spring Garden

Excited to start your spring garden? Follow these five steps, and you'll be harvesting your own salads in no time.

1. Plan your garden.

A solid garden plan considers factors like plant arrangement, sun exposure, and what you actually like to eat.

2. Secure your growing supplies.

If you want to start your plants from seed, I recommend these seed suppliers. But for a head start, you may also order seedlings from a Tower Farm.

Are you running low on Mineral Blend or something else? Click over to the Tower Garden store to restock.

3. Clean your Tower Garden.

If your garden has been sitting in storage since last growing season, it may need a quick cleaning.

(If this is your first season with Tower Garden, you can skip this step.)

4. Plant your spring crops.

Once you have your seeds, follow these tips to germinate them successfully.

When your seedlings grow to about three inches tall and have roots protruding from the rockwool, you can plug them into your Tower Garden. (If you start with seedlings from a Tower Farm, you can plant them right away.)

5. Watch for severe weather.

Cold season crops are pretty tough. But if you anticipate a stretch of freezing weather, consider heating your Tower Garden.

A basic aquarium heater will suffice — you just need to keep the water temperature above 65˚F. And covering your plants with this blanket overnight can also protect them from frosts.

Happy Growing!

I hope this guide gets you gardening — and enjoying delicious harvests — earlier than you expected this year.

If you have any questions, leave a comment below, and I'll try to help!