As the days are getting longer and the dew on your grass is no longer a frost, it’s the perfect time to begin your home garden. It can be a fun way to incorporate extra activity into your day, while adding fruits and vegetables into your diet.
Follow these simple steps to get started:
Plan: The two most important factors to consider when planning a garden are space and which fruits, vegetables, and herbs you want to plant. Some fruits and vegetables can be grown in a small space or pot (tomatoes, peppers, onions) whereas others need several feet to spread out and grow properly (melons, squash, beans). Read the back of your seed packets to learn how much planting space is needed before you prepare your garden plot.
Prepare: Loosen the damp soil with a garden rake, hoe, or shovel and add some organic matter to the top of the soil and let sit for a few days. Work the organic matter into the soil.
Plant: Each plant requires a different depth in the soil, but generally plant seeds at a depth that is twice their diameter. Most seeds can be planted in a row 2-3” deep and 4-5” apart. For most fruit and vegetable seeds, you’ll begin to see seedlings sprout within 2-3 weeks after planting.
Maintain & Harvest: Follow the seed packet directions for watering and ‘picking’ instructions. Most fruits and vegetables will be easily noticed when ripe and ready to pick, but ones grown underground will need to be followed closely.
Remember, you can receive the health benefits from the fruits and vegetables when fresh, frozen, cooked, canned, dried, or as a 100% juice!
These are fruits and vegetables that can be grown this Spring:
- Apricots
- Artichokes
- Asparagus
- Bell Peppers
- Broccoli
- Chayote Squash
- Chile Peppers
- Chives
- Collard Greens
- Corn
- Fava Beans
- Fennel
- Green Beans
- Honeydew
- Jalapenos
- Limes
- Mango
- Mustard Greens
- Oranges
- Pea Pods
- Peas
- Pineapple
- Purple Asparagus
- Red Leaf Lettuce
- Rhubarb
- Snow Peas
- Spinach
- Spring Baby Lettuce
- Strawberries
- Swiss Chard
- Vidalia Onions
- White Asparagus