Over the past few years, home gardening has exploded as a hobby. More and more people are starting their own gardens to relax or as a fun way to get fresh produce! The ability to walk out the front door and pick fresh, organic, homegrown vegetables is incredibly appealing, with the younger generations beginning to appreciate the art once again. However, gardening isn’t as simple as planting a seed in the dirt and walking away. It takes research, practice, and dedication to growing a fabulous garden. If you are just getting started on your gardening endeavors, being able to pick from anything can make it daunting to choose where to start, but there are some great staple vegetables you should plant in your garden this spring!
What Spring Vegetables Should I Plant in My Garden?
Some classic garden essentials are tomatoes and lettuce. Both vegetables are lovely to have on hand if you’re a fan of fresh salads and pasta. Tomatoes grow best in full sun, but you must be careful if the weather is consistently hot, as this can cause them to wither. If you’re living anywhere prone to heatwaves, it would be essential to give them a bit of insulation. Lettuce is an excellent choice if you want something that will last long into the season. It can even grow all year if the winter is mild!
Peppers, carrots, and cucumbers are also old standbys. They all come in many varieties and add texture or a pop of color to any dish. Peppers love warm weather, so they grow exceptionally well in sunny places like Pasadena, California. Another spring staple that grows year-round in SoCal is carrots, and if you have a small garden, they can even be grown in containers. Cucumbers are a good choice for people with a bit more space to grow. They do best in warm, sunny weather but can be finicky if the temperature drops too low or gets too hot.
How Do I Know Which Spring Vegetables Will Grow Best?
The vegetables that will thrive best in your garden depend heavily on your location and how the season’s weather progresses. While we can’t control the weather, we can narrow down which plants are best suited for our environment by utilizing hardiness zones. Hardiness zones are essentially a cheat sheet for what grows best in each location around the world based on everything from weather patterns to temperature fluctuations to soil type. For more information, click HERE!
How Should I Start a Spring Vegetables Garden?
While starting a spring vegetables garden from scratch may require a good chunk of upfront work, it becomes a simple and straightforward process afterward.
First, you need to research what vegetables will grow in your area. Again, utilizing hardiness zones will help, as will a Farmer’s Almanac or asking your local fellow gardeners.
Second, you need to prep your garden space. This may involve buying pots, building planter boxes, setting up irrigation systems, or whatever else you need. Hiring a landscape professional is an easy way to knock this step out of the park while getting a beautifully designed and highly functional space.
Third, you need to buy quality seeds and materials. From there, you will be able to grow your own seedlings. If you don’t want to start from seed, you can always buy seedlings from a local garden center to get a head start.
Fourth, prep your garden for planting and wait for the optimal weather to plant. If the forecast says it is going to snow next week, wait! You will want the temperature to be above 55 degrees consistently.
Lastly, water, fertilize, and love watching your seedlings grow into mature plants. In a few months, you will be able to start harvesting your bounty!
How Can I Make My Vegetable Garden Eco-Friendly?
It is a known fact that many backyards are wasteful, overusing water and doing little to benefit the long-term sustainability of the environment. Rather than creating a beautiful waste of space, homeowners can utilize these tips to make their gardens eco-friendly. A few examples are drip irrigation systems, reduction of grass spaces, using a compost bin, and more!
Is Southern California a Good Place to Grow Spring Vegetables?
For people living in Southern California, you couldn’t hope for a better place to grow your own food. Due to the moderate climate and long growing season, gardeners can grow just about anything they want. We recommend growing squash, cucumbers, spinach, lettuce, beets, eggplant, peppers, carrots, radishes, and tomatoes. Plus, you can throw a vast array of yummy herbs into the mix!
Design Scapes – Plan the Ultimate Garden
Do you want to renovate your outdoor space and include a garden for your spring vegetables? We at Design Scapes can help you design a garden zone perfect for your specific gardening needs. Southern California is a great place to grow a garden, whether it is veggies, fruits, or even flowers. With so many options to choose from, there are plenty of opportunities to try and grow new things and see what works best for your garden. Whether you want climbing lattice, raised garden beds, or handcrafted planter boxes, we have you covered. Book a consultation with us today to learn more!
