What to Plant in Spring: Essential Guide to Vegetables, Flowers, and Herbs

Spring brings gardeners the exciting opportunity to plant a wide variety of crops that will provide months of beauty, fragrance, and harvest. Knowing what to plant in spring and when to plant it is crucial for garden success, as different plants have varying temperature requirements and frost tolerance. From hardy vegetables that can withstand light frosts to tender flowers that need warm soil, spring planting requires understanding your local climate and the specific needs of each plant type.

Understanding Spring Planting Categories

Spring planting success depends on categorizing plants by their temperature tolerance and timing requirements, with cool-season crops planted before the last frost, warm-season plants after soil warming, and succession plantings ensuring continuous harvest and bloom throughout the growing season. Key categories:

• Cool-season crops: Tolerate light frost, prefer cool weather
• Warm-season crops: Require warm soil and no frost risk
• Succession plants: Multiple plantings for extended harvest
• Perennial installations: Long-term garden investments
• Summer bulbs: Tender bulbs for summer bloom
• Annual flowers: Single-season color and cutting gardens

Cool-Season Vegetables (Plant 4-6 weeks before last frost)

Leafy Greens

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)

• Varieties: Leaf, romaine, butterhead, iceberg types
• Planting: Direct sow or transplant
• Spacing: 4-6 inches apart for heads, 2-3 inches for leaf
• Harvest: 45-65 days, cut-and-come-again method
• Care: Consistent moisture, partial shade in hot weather
• Succession: Plant every 2 weeks for continuous harvest

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)

• Varieties: Smooth leaf, savoyed, baby leaf types
• Planting: Direct sow in rows or broadcasts
• Spacing: 2-4 inches apart, thin as needed
• Harvest: 40-50 days, cut individual leaves
• Care: Cool weather, bolts in heat
• Succession: Plant every 2-3 weeks until warm weather

Kale (Brassica oleracea)

• Varieties: Curly, lacinato, red Russian types
• Planting: Direct sow or transplant
• Spacing: 12-18 inches apart for full heads
• Harvest: 50-70 days, continuous leaf harvest
• Care: Very cold hardy, improves with light frost
• Succession: Plant spring and fall crops

Root Vegetables

Radishes (Raphanus sativus)

• Varieties: Round, long, mild, spicy types
• Planting: Direct sow, shallow planting
• Spacing: 1-2 inches apart, thin to proper spacing
• Harvest: 25-35 days, very quick crop
• Care: Consistent moisture for best quality
• Succession: Plant every 2 weeks for continuous harvest

Carrots (Daucus carota)

• Varieties: Short, medium, long, colored types
• Planting: Direct sow, requires fine seedbed
• Spacing: 2-3 inches apart after thinning
• Harvest: 60-80 days depending on variety
• Care: Deep, loose soil, consistent moisture
• Succession: Plant every 3-4 weeks

Beets (Beta vulgaris)

• Varieties: Red, golden, striped, baby types
• Planting: Direct sow, soak seeds before planting
• Spacing: 3-4 inches apart, use thinnings as greens
• Harvest: 50-60 days for roots, 30 days for greens
• Care: Tolerates various soil types
• Succession: Plant every 3-4 weeks

Legumes

Peas (Pisum sativum)

• Varieties: Snow peas, snap peas, shelling peas
• Planting: Direct sow, inoculate with rhizobia
• Spacing: 2-4 inches apart, provide support
• Harvest: 60-70 days, pick regularly for production
• Care: Cool weather crop, provide climbing support
• Succession: Plant every 2-3 weeks until warm weather

Fava Beans (Vicia faba)

• Varieties: Large seeded, small seeded types
• Planting: Direct sow in cool weather
• Spacing: 4-6 inches apart in double rows
• Harvest: 80-100 days, harvest young for best quality
• Care: Very cold hardy, nitrogen fixation
• Succession: Single planting sufficient for most gardens

Brassicas

Broccoli (Brassica oleracea)

• Varieties: Standard, purple, baby broccoli types
• Planting: Transplant for best results
• Spacing: 12-18 inches apart in rows
• Harvest: 60-80 days, cut main head first
• Care: Cool weather, consistent moisture
• Succession: Plant every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest

Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)

• Varieties: Early, late, red, savoy types
• Planting: Transplant recommended
• Spacing: 12-24 inches apart depending on variety
• Harvest: 70-100 days, harvest when firm
• Care: Consistent moisture prevents splitting
• Succession: Plant early and late varieties

Warm-Season Vegetables (Plant after last frost)

Fruiting Vegetables

Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum)

• Varieties: Determinate, indeterminate, cherry, paste types
• Planting: Transplant after soil warms to 60°F
• Spacing: 18-36 inches apart depending on variety
• Harvest: 60-90 days from transplant
• Care: Support systems, consistent watering
• Succession: Plant early, mid, and late varieties

Peppers (Capsicum species)

• Varieties: Sweet bells, hot peppers, specialty types
• Planting: Transplant when night temperatures stay above 50°F
• Spacing: 12-18 inches apart
• Harvest: 70-80 days from transplant
• Care: Warm soil, consistent moisture
• Succession: Single planting usually sufficient

Eggplant (Solanum melongena)

• Varieties: Large purple, Asian, miniature types
• Planting: Transplant when soil is consistently warm
• Spacing: 18-24 inches apart
• Harvest: 70-85 days from transplant
• Care: Heat-loving, consistent moisture
• Succession: Single planting sufficient

Vine Crops

Squash (Cucurbita species)

• Varieties: Summer squash, winter squash, zucchini
• Planting: Direct sow or transplant after soil warms
• Spacing: 3-6 feet apart depending on variety
• Harvest: 50-120 days depending on type
• Care: Rich soil, consistent moisture, space for vining
• Succession: Plant summer types every 3-4 weeks

Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus)

• Varieties: Slicing, pickling, burpless types
• Planting: Direct sow or transplant when soil is warm
• Spacing: 12-18 inches apart, provide support
• Harvest: 50-65 days, harvest regularly
• Care: Warm soil, consistent moisture, climbing support
• Succession: Plant every 2-3 weeks

Melons (Cucumis melo, Citrullus lanatus)

• Varieties: Cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon
• Planting: Direct sow or transplant in warm soil
• Spacing: 3-6 feet apart, need space to vine
• Harvest: 80-120 days, check for ripeness indicators
• Care: Hot weather, long season, consistent moisture
• Succession: Single planting sufficient

Legumes

Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)

• Varieties: Bush beans, pole beans, various colors
• Planting: Direct sow when soil reaches 60°F
• Spacing: 2-6 inches apart depending on type
• Harvest: 50-60 days, harvest regularly for production
• Care: Warm soil, provide support for pole varieties
• Succession: Plant every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest

Lima Beans (Phaseolus lunatus)

• Varieties: Bush lima, pole lima, baby lima
• Planting: Direct sow in warm soil
• Spacing: 4-6 inches apart
• Harvest: 70-90 days, harvest when pods are plump
• Care: Hot weather, longer season than snap beans
• Succession: Single planting usually sufficient

Spring Flowers

Cool-Season Annuals

Pansies (Viola × wittrockiana)

• Colors: Purple, yellow, white, blue, multicolored faces
• Planting: Transplant in cool weather
• Spacing: 6-8 inches apart
• Bloom time: Spring through fall in cool climates
• Care: Cool weather, consistent moisture
• Best use: Containers, borders, cool-season color

Sweet Peas (Lathyrus odoratus)

• Colors: Pink, purple, white, red, fragrant varieties
• Planting: Direct sow in cool soil
• Spacing: 4-6 inches apart, provide climbing support
• Bloom time: Spring through early summer
• Care: Cool weather, climbing support, regular picking
• Best use: Cut flowers, fragrant gardens, vertical color

Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

• Colors: Orange, yellow, cream varieties
• Planting: Direct sow or transplant
• Spacing: 8-12 inches apart
• Bloom time: Spring through fall
• Care: Cool weather, deadhead for continued blooms
• Best use: Cutting gardens, edible flowers, medicinal

Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus)

• Colors: Wide range of colors, various heights
• Planting: Transplant in cool weather
• Spacing: 6-12 inches apart depending on variety
• Bloom time: Spring through fall
• Care: Cool weather, pinch for bushier growth
• Best use: Cut flowers, vertical accents, cottage gardens

Warm-Season Annuals

Marigolds (Tagetes species)

• Colors: Yellow, orange, red, bicolored varieties
• Planting: Direct sow or transplant after frost danger
• Spacing: 6-18 inches apart depending on variety
• Bloom time: Summer through frost
• Care: Heat tolerant, drought tolerant once established
• Best use: Borders, companion planting, cut flowers

Zinnias (Zinnia elegans)

• Colors: Every color except blue, many forms
• Planting: Direct sow after soil warms
• Spacing: 6-18 inches apart depending on variety
• Bloom time: Summer through frost
• Care: Heat tolerant, good air circulation
• Best use: Cut flowers, butterfly gardens, borders

Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus)

• Varieties: Giant, medium, dwarf, colored varieties
• Planting: Direct sow after soil warms
• Spacing: 6-24 inches apart depending on variety
• Bloom time: Mid-summer through fall
• Care: Full sun, rich soil, staking for tall varieties
• Best use: Background plantings, bird gardens, cut flowers

Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)

• Colors: Pink, white, purple, orange varieties
• Planting: Direct sow after frost danger
• Spacing: 12-18 inches apart
• Bloom time: Summer through frost
• Care: Heat tolerant, drought tolerant, self-seeding
• Best use: Cottage gardens, naturalizing, cut flowers

Herbs for Spring Planting

Cool-Season Herbs

Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum)

• Planting: Direct sow in cool weather
• Spacing: 4-6 inches apart
• Harvest: 40-50 days, cut-and-come-again
• Care: Cool weather, bolts in heat
• Succession: Plant every 2-3 weeks

Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)

• Varieties: Flat leaf, curly leaf types
• Planting: Direct sow or transplant
• Spacing: 6-8 inches apart
• Harvest: 70-90 days, continuous harvest
• Care: Cool weather, biennial plant
• Succession: Single planting sufficient

Dill (Anethum graveolens)

• Planting: Direct sow, does not transplant well
• Spacing: 8-12 inches apart
• Harvest: 40-60 days for leaves, 90 days for seeds
• Care: Cool weather, self-seeding annual
• Succession: Plant every 3-4 weeks

Warm-Season Herbs

Basil (Ocimum basilicum)

• Varieties: Sweet, purple, Thai, lemon types
• Planting: Transplant after soil warms to 60°F
• Spacing: 8-12 inches apart
• Harvest: 60-90 days, pinch flowers for leaf production
• Care: Heat-loving, protect from cold
• Succession: Plant every 3-4 weeks

Oregano (Origanum vulgare)

• Varieties: Greek, Italian, Mexican types
• Planting: Transplant or direct sow
• Spacing: 8-12 inches apart
• Harvest: 60-80 days, perennial in most climates
• Care: Heat tolerant, well-draining soil
• Succession: Single planting sufficient

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

• Varieties: Common, lemon, creeping types
• Planting: Transplant recommended
• Spacing: 6-12 inches apart
• Harvest: 60-90 days, perennial herb
• Care: Heat tolerant, excellent drainage
• Succession: Single planting sufficient

Summer-Flowering Bulbs

Tender Bulbs (Plant after soil warms)

Gladiolus (Gladiolus species)

• Colors: Every color except true blue
• Planting: Plant corms 4-6 inches deep
• Spacing: 6-8 inches apart
• Bloom time: 70-90 days after planting
• Care: Full sun, well-draining soil, staking
• Succession: Plant every 2 weeks for continuous blooms

Dahlias (Dahlia species)

• Varieties: Dinner plate, pompon, cactus, single types
• Planting: Plant tubers 4-6 inches deep
• Spacing: 12-18 inches apart
• Bloom time: 8-12 weeks after planting
• Care: Rich soil, consistent moisture, staking
• Succession: Single planting sufficient

Caladiums (Caladium bicolor)

• Colors: Colorful foliage, not flowers
• Planting: Plant tubers when soil reaches 70°F
• Spacing: 8-12 inches apart
• Growth: Grown for colorful leaves
• Care: Partial shade, high humidity, consistent moisture
• Succession: Single planting sufficient

Begonias (Begonia tuberhybrida)

• Colors: Red, pink, yellow, white, orange
• Planting: Start tubers indoors, plant outside after frost
• Spacing: 8-12 inches apart
• Bloom time: 12-14 weeks from planting
• Care: Partial shade, rich soil, consistent moisture
• Succession: Single planting sufficient

Trees and Shrubs for Spring Planting

Flowering Trees

Cherry Trees (Prunus species)

• Varieties: Ornamental and fruiting types
• Planting: Plant bare root in early spring, containers anytime
• Spacing: 15-25 feet apart depending on variety
• Bloom time: Early to mid-spring
• Care: Full sun, well-draining soil
• Maintenance: Annual pruning, pest management

Dogwood (Cornus florida)

• Varieties: White, pink flowering types
• Planting: Spring or fall, partial shade preferred
• Spacing: 20-25 feet apart
• Bloom time: Mid to late spring
• Care: Moist, well-draining soil, mulching
• Maintenance: Minimal pruning, disease monitoring

Redbud (Cercis canadensis)

• Varieties: Eastern redbud, forest pansy
• Planting: Spring or fall, adaptable
• Spacing: 20-30 feet apart
• Bloom time: Early spring before leaves
• Care: Adaptable to various soils
• Maintenance: Minimal pruning needed

Flowering Shrubs

Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)

• Varieties: Common, French hybrid types
• Planting: Spring or fall, full sun
• Spacing: 6-12 feet apart
• Bloom time: Late spring
• Care: Well-draining soil, cold hardiness
• Maintenance: Prune after flowering

Azalea (Rhododendron species)

• Varieties: Deciduous and evergreen types
• Planting: Spring or fall, partial shade
• Spacing: 3-8 feet apart depending on variety
• Bloom time: Spring
• Care: Acidic soil, consistent moisture
• Maintenance: Light pruning after flowering

Forsythia (Forsythia × intermedia)

• Varieties: Various sizes and flower forms
• Planting: Spring or fall, full sun to partial shade
• Spacing: 4-8 feet apart
• Bloom time: Early spring
• Care: Adaptable, minimal care
• Maintenance: Prune after flowering

Planting Timeline by Month

March Planting

Cold-Hardy Crops

• Vegetables: Onions, garlic, asparagus, rhubarb
• Flowers: Pansies, primroses if soil workable
• Herbs: Chives, parsley in mild climates
• Trees/Shrubs: Bare-root plantings
• Tasks: Soil preparation, bed cleanup

April Planting

Cool-Season Crops

• Vegetables: Peas, lettuce, spinach, radishes, carrots
• Flowers: Sweet peas, calendula, snapdragons
• Herbs: Cilantro, dill, parsley
• Bulbs: Summer bulbs in mild climates
• Tasks: Continue soil preparation, start warm-season seeds indoors

May Planting

Transition Month

• Vegetables: Continue cool-season, prepare for warm-season
• Flowers: Plant remaining cool-season annuals
• Herbs: Plant remaining cool-season herbs
• Trees/Shrubs: Container plantings
• Tasks: Harden off transplants, prepare for warm-season planting

June Planting

Warm-Season Crops

• Vegetables: Tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash, cucumbers
• Flowers: Marigolds, zinnias, sunflowers, cosmos
• Herbs: Basil, oregano, thyme
• Bulbs: Gladiolus, dahlias, caladiums
• Tasks: Full planting season, establishment care

Care and Maintenance

Soil Preparation

Testing and Amendments

• Soil test: Check pH, nutrients, organic matter
• Organic matter: Add compost, aged manure
• pH adjustment: Lime for acidic soil, sulfur for alkaline
• Drainage: Improve heavy clay soils
• Fertilization: Add appropriate fertilizers
• Timing: Prepare 2-4 weeks before planting

Watering Guidelines

Seed Germination

• Consistent moisture: Keep soil evenly moist
• Gentle watering: Avoid washing seeds away
• Daily attention: May need watering 1-2 times daily
• Mulching: Light mulch to retain moisture
• Monitoring: Check soil moisture frequently

Established Plants

• Deep watering: Encourage deep root growth
• Less frequent: Water deeply but less often
• Morning watering: Reduce disease risk
• Mulching: 2-3 inches around plants
• Seasonal adjustment: Modify for changing weather

Fertilization

Pre-Planting

• Soil amendments: Work in compost and fertilizers
• Balanced fertilizers: N-P-K appropriate for crops
• Organic options: Compost, aged manure, fish emulsion
• Timing: Apply 2-4 weeks before planting

Growing Season

• Regular feeding: Monthly applications during active growth
• Side-dressing: Additional fertilizer during season
• Organic feeding: Compost tea, liquid fertilizers
• Plant-specific: Use fertilizers appropriate for each crop
• Reduced feeding: Taper off in late season

Conclusion

Spring planting offers gardeners the exciting opportunity to establish the foundation for a year of beautiful flowers, productive harvests, and thriving landscapes. Success depends on understanding your local climate, timing plantings appropriately, and selecting varieties suited to your conditions. By following this comprehensive guide to what to plant in spring, you can create gardens that provide months of color, fragrance, and fresh food. Remember to start with soil preparation, choose appropriate varieties for your climate, and provide consistent care during establishment. Whether you're growing vegetables for the table, flowers for cutting, or herbs for cooking, spring planting sets the stage for gardening success throughout the growing season.