Cold, packed earth and lack of ample sunlight during the winter months can make it difficult to grow even the hardiest fruits and vegetables. For this reason, most gardeners look forward to the arrival of spring and warmer weather to plant their fruits and veggies.

Spring is also the perfect season for beginner gardeners to jumpstart their own edible gardens. For one thing, pollinators like bees, butterflies and flower flies become active during the warm spring months, and taking advantage of this can do wonders for a budding edible garden.

But not all vegetables are best sown in spring, and knowing which is which can make all the difference between a thriving garden and a sparse one come summertime. Take a look at some of the best vegetables to grow in the warm spring months.

Lettuce

Salad staples like lettuce are often sown during the earlier months of spring when the temperature is still low. This is because lettuce seeds won’t germinate in warmer soil, so take care not to miss the perfect sowing period. Once the seeds germinate, the plants should have no trouble growing for at least two months in the warmer weather of spring.

Arugula

Arugula is one of the fastest growing salad greens, often maturing in just a few weeks’ time. This salad staple is also a great source of essential nutrients including calcium, potassium, folate and vitamins C and K.

Carrot

Carrots are some of the easiest vegetables to grow in spring, even for beginner gardeners. Whether red, orange or purple, these cool season veggies are loaded with vitamin A, a potent antioxidant that protects against macular degeneration and vision loss.

Beetroot

Beetroot is best planted during the earlier spring months when the ground is still a bit cold. This root vegetable also doesn’t require a lot of space. You can even grow them in pots! Just harvest them once the weather starts to warm up to keep them from rotting.

Radish

Radish is another fast-growing vegetable perfect for beginner gardeners to plant in spring. This nutrient-rich vegetable requires little maintenance, and it doesn’t attract a lot of pests. Like beetroot, radish can also be grown in pots if space is an issue.

Kale

Kale is packed with antioxidants like vitamin C, beta carotene and selenium, all of which help boost immune functions and reduce the risk of cancer. When growing kale, it’s best to germinate seeds indoors to avoid damp soil and cooler temperatures during the earlier spring months. Transplant them outside once the ground is warm enough.

Broccoli

This cruciferous vegetable is known for its sulfur-rich compounds that help stave off cancer and other chronic conditions. Broccoli heads should form throughout spring and mature once fall comes around the corner.

Cauliflower

Cauliflower is one of the few vegetables with high levels of choline, an essential nutrient that supports brain and heart health. Cauliflower is also a cool-season vegetable, so it’s best to plant it even before the last frost date.

Tomato

Although technically fruits, tomatoes are one of the most popular staples in vegetable gardens across the U.S. Lycopene, a plant compound found in tomatoes, is hailed for its potent cancer-fighting activities. Provide a trellis when planting tomatoes to support the plant’s sprawling vines.

Eggplant

The eggplant offers a wide range of nutrients including fiber, protein, potassium, folate and vitamin K. Plant eggplants after the last frost date to prevent failed germination. You can also plant the seeds indoors in pots before the last frost date and transplant them outside after eight to nine weeks.

Plant these veggies in spring for a bountiful harvest come summertime.

For more stories on spring vegetables and gardening tips, visit HomeGardeningNews.com.

Sources:

AccuWeather.com

NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov