Spring Radish Seedlings
What are the best spring vegetables for beginners in the garden? Which vegetables do kids enjoy? When should you plant? Where is the best place to buy seeds? I will try to answer some of these questions. Please share your experience too.
3 Easy Spring Vegetables to Grow
These 3 spring vegetables are the ones which work reliably for me:
Radishes – best spring vegetable for beginners even if you don’t like the taste! I find them to be reliable germinators. They are ready to eat in 21-35 days, depending on the variety you choose. Kids like to watch them grow. If you don’t like to eat them, find friends and neighbors who do and give them away. Sharing is fun! Look for mild varieties which your kids (and you) might actually enjoy. They can be cooked like turnip.
Lettuce – tastes much better straight from the garden than from any store. Picky eater kids just might like garden lettuce! The earliest varieties are ready to eat in 45 days. Look for heat tolerant varieties for a longer harvest. Plant several varieties and see what works for you. It doesn’t matter if you plant the seeds too thickly because you can eat the thinnings!
Green Onions – sometimes called bunching onions or scallions. Great for serving with sour cream and for sprinkling in soups, salads, and stir-fries and on baked potatoes. I serve them sliced up in a bowl so that each family member can take as many, or as few, as they want. Green onions take 45-70 days to reach full harvest size, depending on the variety, but you can have some to eat earlier as you thin out the seedlings. Kids can enjoy pulling them out the ground when the dirt is soft.
Best Time to Plant Spring Vegetables
Catalogs and seed packets are fond of telling you to plant spring vegetables when the ground is workable or when the soil is at a certain temperature. Catalogs give soil temperature of 40-75F as suitable for lettuce, 45-80F for radish, and 55-75F for onions.
I’ve never used a thermometer to measure the soil temperature. Last year I planted here in Kansas in the first week in March. The seeds germinated fine and then it turned colder. All that happened was the seedlings grew very slowly. If it’s warm enough to work without gloves and to be out every day to water the seed bed until your seedlings are established, I say “Go for it!”
Best Place to Buy Seeds
A vegetable seed supplier who is local to you will have seeds best suited to your area. You can also ask for good advice on how to prepare the soil and when to plant. And it is nice to support a local business. I’m not talking here about a hardware store or garden center which sells generic packet seeds. You want to find a supplier who produces seed from their own cultivated plants.
One place to find suppliers is the Mother Earth News Best Garden Seed Companies guide which lists suppliers by state. You can also check with local green/organic listings, such as Kansas City Food Circle, or ask other local gardeners where they get their seeds.
Do you have further questions about spring vegetables for beginners? Do you have a hint or tip to share? What are you planning to plant? Leave a comment.
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We’ll be planting our first garden this Spring, so this post is helpful (as always). I’d heard radishes were a big hit with the kids, so that will definitely top our list.
Debi´s last blog ..3 Great Nature Playdates
PEAS! They are easy to grow, good for the soil and sweet as sugar. Our kids always eat the peas straight from the vine (so does our Yorkie)! Dwarf varieties are easy to grow without a trellis and only get about 14″ tall.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Wendy Gabriel, Alison Kerr, MommyMellie, Carole Brown, Debi Huang and others. Debi Huang said: Gardening w/ kids? RT @alisonkerr Spring Vegetables for Beginners http://ow.ly/1n0MwC plan for some #playoutdoors time in the #garden [...]
Debi, I’m excited for you that you will be planting. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes!
Lisa, I love peas as well. Every year I try peas and green beans but so far they’ve been a failure. I think I need to find a new spot for them. Some day I’m sure I’ll be successful.
[...] never to early to start planning a spring garden. Everyone can garden and here are three great spring veggies for newbie’s! Need seed? Head to the local garden supply store or order [...]