By now you’re probably getting inspired with warmer weather on the way and want to go accomplish your Spring Cleaning Checklist and finally begin gardening again!
This article will help you grow and care for the best flowers, herbs, and vegetables of the season, whether you want to learn about the ones you already have or create a totally new landscape for your garden. Before going through with your choices, make sure your yard is ready to welcome spring with this easy guide. So, let’s get started!
Early Spring Flowers
Despite all the rain and mud of early spring, these flowers still blossom, bringing along the joy and warmth of such a beautiful season. Among the options of early spring flowers are Daffodil, Scilla, Forsythia, and Crocus. Each one is unique in its own way, but they’re all flowers that indicate the start of spring and also will be at their peak of beauty around mid-spring.
- Daffodils grow from bulbs and can vary in color. There’s also a dwarf Narcissus (or Tete-a-Tete) that only grows up to 15” tall.
- Scilla, also known as Bluebell grows from small bulbs that bloom into amazing blue and purple flowers. They’re great in rock gardens since they easily grow in rocky, wooded areas. Best if planted in the fall.
- Forsythia is a bright yellow flower that usually grows up to 9’ tall.
- Crocus comes in yellow, white, purple, lavender, or a mix of these colors. While they can generally withstand droughts, they don’t do well in extremely hot climates. Best if planted in the fall.
Want to learn more about planting bulbs? Have a look at this Home Life complete guide.
Mid Spring Flowers
- Azaleas are a classic choice as they’re easy to grow and require little maintenance. They come in white, yellow, pink, purple, and red. Learn how to plant Azaleas here.
- Magnolia Trees produce beautiful flowers during the spring. The North American species, Magnolia grandiflora, can grow in both sunny and shady spots.
- Primroses come in a variety of wonderful colors and types. They are charming when planted next to a pond but can also create a wonderful contrast when planted near taller flowers.
Late Spring Flowers
- Lily of the Valley is grown for its appearance, but it’s also appreciated for its strong fragrance. In addition, it can be enjoyed all through spring, summer and fall!
- Lilacs should be planted in the fall or early spring because of the cool and rainy weather, and they should get at least 6 hours of full sunlight during the day. When done right, they tend to have a long life. Great for attracting bees and butterflies.
- Jack-in-the-Pulpit flowers appear around April and have a yellowish-green color. They can grow from corm or seed, as long as the soil is abundant in organic material. And you should be very careful around these plants since they can cause skin irritation in some people.
Herbs
Spring is the perfect time to harvest those herbs you’ve been growing and use them in fresh, home cooked meals!
- Parsley is best planted in sunny areas and take about two months before they’re ready to be harvested. Here’s a step-by-step guide to growing parsley to get you started.
- Mint spreads quickly and easily, so be sure to grow it in a pot so it doesn’t take over your whole garden. Mint is ready for harvesting as soon as the leaves start to show.
- There are many different types of mint, including apple, pineapple, peppermint, and lemon. To learn more about the different flavors of mint, check out this nifty guide!
- Salad burnet has a bitter flavor when young but as it matures it becomes a delicious addition to salads or even as a garnish for drinks. Be sure to plant it where you want it to grow because it doesn’t do well with transplanting.
- Chervil grows better in moist soil. Its scent is similar to parsley, but a little sweeter. It also has quite a few health benefits, making it a great choice for your herb garden.
- Chives can grow in pretty much any soil, but they do need full sunlight. The entire plant is edible and has a light, onion-like flavor, perfect for all types of recipes. Learn how to grow chives here.
Interested in trying something different in the kitchen? Check this article with 5 delicious spring herb recipes!
Vegetables
- Radishes are perfect to plant in early spring when the weather is still cool. It’s important to know when to harvest them, which you can tell by pushing the soil back a little and seeing if a bulb has grown.
- Beets are best planted in March and April. They need a soil that’s rich in phosphorous so they can germinate properly. Check out The Old Farmer’s Almanac to help you get started.
- Lettuce is a staple in most homes, so why not grow it yourself to save a little money? Prepare the soil with organic matter about a week before planting and make sure it’s loose and moist. Harvest as soon as the heads are full size, right before they mature. Learn how to grow lettuce here.
- Arugula may have a bitter taste by itself, but it makes a great addition to salads! Best if planted in April with full sun exposure. It grows quickly, usually read for harvest in about four weeks. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to grow arugula.
- Pro tip: when growing arugula, plant some every two or three weeks so you’ll be able to harvest them before they flower and you’ll have a replenishing supply throughout the season.
If you’re a newbie when it comes to gardening, here’s a beginner's guide to help you. If you’re not ready to plant seeds, bulbs, and corms, you can easily buy starter flowers, herbs, and veggies from your local garden store for an easier way to grow them.
If you’re still not quite sure what to plant or how to landscape your garden, you can always hire professional help to give you a gorgeous garden.
