Garden Vegetable Garden Ideas 10 Vegetables to Plant in Early Spring Eager to get gardening? These vegetable varieties can be planted early in the season. By Madeline Buiano Madeline Buiano Madeline Buiano is an associate editor at MarthaStewart.com, sharing her knowledge on a range of topics—from gardening and cleaning to home and pets. She has five years of writing and editing experience in the digital publishing industry. Editorial Guidelines and Katelyn Chef Katelyn Chef Katelyn is a freelance writer for MarthaStewart.com. Editorial Guidelines Updated on February 13, 2024 Trending Videos Close this video player . Photo: aimintang/Getty Images You don't need to wait until the warmest days of spring to begin planting vegetables in your garden—there are a handful of cold-hardy varieties that can be planted early in the season. The best vegetables to sow at the beginning of spring are ones that can tolerate an unexpected frost, or that can be planted when the ground is still relatively hard. Additionally, vegetables that don't like the heat should be planted earlier rather than later. To help you plan your spring garden, we're sharing which vegetables you should get in the ground first. Ben Gordon, landscape designer and the owner of Metropolitan Garden and Design Sally McCabe, associate director of community education for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Carrie Spoonemore, co-creator of Park Seed's From Seed to Spoon app How to Plan Your Vegetable Garden 01 of 11 Lettuce Laurence Mouton/Getty Images. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is one of the first vegetables that can be planted in the garden come spring. "Once the lettuce begins to mature, you can start harvesting the outer leaves so the leaves inside will continue to grow," says Ben Gordon, a landscape designer and the owner of Metropolitan Garden and Design. "This should lead to a harvest date of around April to May." Growing zone: 3 to 9Days to maturity: 60 to 70 daysMature size: 8 to 12 inches tall x 6 to 8 inches wide Care requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil Find Your growing Zone Here 02 of 11 Beets Fotomary/Getty Images Seven weeks after planting, beets (Beta vulgaris var. crassa) can be harvested and used in a myriad of warm-weather recipes. When the beets reach about 2 inches in diameter and begin to slightly protrude from the soil, it's time to pull them. Letting your beets grow any larger will lessen their flavor and texture, says Gordon. Growing zone: 2 to 10Days to maturity: 50 to 60 daysMature size: 6 to 12 inches tall x 2 to 3 inches wide Care requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil 03 of 11 Radishes Ralf Geithe / Getty Images Radishes (Raphanus sativus) are an instant gratification crop, since they germinate in a matter of days and can be eaten at any size, says Sally McCabe, associate director of community education for Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. "They come in many sizes, shapes and colors, from tiny globes to huge arm-sized behemoths." Growing zone: 2 to 9Days to maturity: 25 to 30 daysMature size: 3 to 6 inches tall x 1 to 2 inches wide Care requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil 04 of 11 Spinach tacojim / Getty Images Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is so cold tolerant that you can sprinkle the seeds on frozen ground, and they will germinate as soon as the ground thaws, says Carrie Spoonemore, co-creator of Park Seed's From Seed to Spoon app. Hot, dry weather can make the vegetable taste bitter, so planting in early spring is ideal. Growing zone: 3 to 9Days to maturity: 25 to 30 daysMature size: 6 to 12 inches tall x 6 to 12 inches wide Care requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil 05 of 11 Peas emholk/Getty Images Peas (Pisum sativum) are one of the best cool-weather crops. "The seeds will germinate in soil temperatures as low as 40 degrees [Farhemnheit] and can tolerate even being snowed on," says Spoonemore. "There are many pea varieties—from sugar snap peas to peas you shell and eat and snow peas." Depending on the variety you choose, you may need a trellis for them to grow on, as some varieties get quite tall. Growing zone: 3 to 11Days to maturity: 60 to 70 daysMature size: 1 to 3 feet tall x 12 to 8 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil 06 of 11 Carrots fotoedu/Getty Images. Carrots (Daucus carota) stay sweetest when soil is cool and moist, making them a great option for your early spring vegetable garden. "Hot, dry weather is stressful, slowing growth and making them bitter," says Sally McCabe. Give carrots room when sowing the seeds so they can grow big and healthy. Growing zone: 3 to 9Days to maturity: 60 to 80 daysMature size: 6 to 12 inches tall x 1 to 3 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil 07 of 11 Cabbage Getty Images Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) is a cool-season crop that can tolerate cooler temperatures and even light frost, says Spoonemore. Planting the vegetable in early spring allows it to mature before the summer heat, which can cause cabbage to bolt or become bitter in taste. Growing zone: 3 to 9Days to maturity: 70 to 120 daysMature size: 1 to 3 feet tall x 1 to 3 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil 08 of 11 Broccoli Luka Pollak Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) doesn’t grow well in summer heat, so it should be planted in early spring or just before. "Direct sow the seeds or start indoors and transplant outside about two weeks before your last frost date," says Spoonemore. Growing zone: 3 to 9Days to maturity: 70 to 120 daysMature size: 1 to 3 feet tall x 1 to 3 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil 09 of 11 Kale Wera Rodsawang/Getty Images Kale (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica) is a hardy green that can be planted early in the spring. "It's rich in nutrients and can withstand cooler temperatures," says Spoonemore. "When choosing a kale, remember that green ones tend to be sweeter, while red varieties are somewhat more appealing to the eye." Growing zone: 3 to 10Days to maturity: 50 to 60 daysMature size: 12 to 24 inches tall x 10 to 18 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil 10 of 11 Potatoes OLEKSANDR KOZACHOK/Getty Images Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) can survive a light frost, so they can be planted as soon as the ground is workable. "Once the stems are about 8 inches long, cover them, or your potatoes will taste bitter and have a bit of green to them," says Spoonemore. Growing zone: 3 to 10Days to maturity: 100 to 120 daysMature size: 18 to 30 inches tall x 18 to 24 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil 11 of 11 Turnips Anthony Rosenberg/Getty Images. Turnips (Brassica rapa) are a colorful crop that look beautiful in the garden. "Turnips grow quickly and stay sweetest when soil is cool and moist but will tolerate heat into the summer," says McCabe. "Plant your first turnip crop two to four weeks before the last frost." For a continuous supply, sow seeds at two-week intervals throughout spring and up until eight weeks before regular heavy frosts are expected. Growing zone: 2 to 11Days to maturity: 40 to 50 daysMature size: 6 to 12 inches tall x 6 to 12 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun to part shade; moist, well-draining soil Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit