Without a doubt, spring is every gardener’s most awaited season. The previous winter’s last frosts are thawing and gardeners can now spend hours tilling and amending the garden for a renewed opportunity to cultivate and harvest. Spring is such an ideal season to plant certain crops as the temperature and soil conditions are conducive for growth. An article in the online green living and sustainability advocate site TreeHugger.com has listed six of the easiest crops to grow during this season. The article will help you jump-start your gardening season as these vegetables can be easily grown from seeds, and are usually a no-brainer that even novice gardeners can enjoy a good, bountiful harvest. (Related: Know more about spring gardening with Homesteading.news)

Top spring vegetables to grow

Gardeners have long touted this list of vegetables to be easy growers during spring.

Spinach – Fresh baby spinach is generally easy to sprout and grow in a spring garden. The plant is noted for its incredible resistance against frost, especially when cultivated under cover. Spinach varieties can be classified as either savoy and semi-savoy or smooth-leaf. Savoy and semi-savoy varieties tend to have crinkled or curly crisp leaves. On the other hand, smooth-leaf varieties feature flatter leaves and a softer texture. The article suggests that you grow both varieties to determine which one cultivates best in your soil type and location. Doing so may also help you identify your preferred variety. For a good harvest of early spring greens, plant spinach close together and take the leaves when the plant is still small. Spinach can also be planted during fall.

Lettuce – Growing lettuce just for baby greens is faster and easier. Doing so also provides an almost constant supply of salad greens from spring to summer. The article suggests using mixed lettuce seed in planting. It is also ideal to plant the crop close together in each row. This will help produce a solid row of lettuce that can be repeatedly harvested throughout the season. Using mixed lettuce seeds will also produce leaves of varied textures that may prove interesting in salads.

Kale – Kale is another ideal crop to cultivate this season. Kale is relatively easy to grow and can be used as a baby green or as full-sized leaves. The vegetable has a lot of varieties that range from the crinkly and dense dinosaur kale to the flatter red Russian. According to the article, kale is sweeter as a baby green in spring and in late fall.

Chard – The vegetable is another easy spring staple, and can be eaten fresh or cooked. According to the article, it is ideal to plant chard closer than the packet instructions. It is also good to plant a wide variety of chard — such as red, white and yellow varieties — to improve the garden’s look and to add more color to salads. Some varieties can be harvested as early as about 25 days after planting.

Peas – This spring garden staple takes about 50 to 65 days to mature. Peas can grow either as bushes or vines. Peas should be soaked in water overnight before planting. This will help the vegetable attain its best germination rate.

Radish – Radishes are some of the fastest growing vegetables you can cultivate during spring. Radishes can be harvested as early as three weeks after planting. Radishes come in various colors, shapes, and sizes. The plant’s fast growth and easy harvesting is an ideal for impatient gardeners.

Source:
courtesy of NATURALNEWS

by Earl Garcia

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