Spring is here, and it’s the perfect time to get your garden ready for a bountiful season. Whether you’re growing summer staples, colorful flowers, or delicious leafy greens, now is the time to sow many of your favorite plants. Let’s take a look at some of the essential crops to sow this time of year!
1. Sweet Corn
Sweet corn is one of the highlights of summer gardening, and it’s best sown directly into warm, fertile soil. If temperatures aren’t quite warm enough yet, start your corn in plugs or pots indoors to give it a head start.
- How to sow: Place seeds 1 inch deep and space them about 30-40cm apart in a grid pattern to encourage better pollination.
- Tip: If planting outdoors, use a row cover to trap warmth for the young seedlings until the weather warms up.
2. Climbing Beans
Both snap beans and runner beans are great options for early sowing. Beans grow quickly and thrive in cozy, warm conditions, making them perfect for direct sowing once the soil is warm enough.
- How to sow: Plant seeds 4-5cm deep in pots or directly in the garden. Space about 15-20cm apart.
- Tip: Beans grow quickly, so once they’re up, mulch the soil to keep their roots cool and moist.
3. Self-Blanching Celery
Celery can be tricky but rewarding. To avoid the challenges of pests like leaf miners, grow your celery in a new spot and under insect mesh to protect it. Self-blanching varieties are easier to grow as they naturally develop tender, crunchy stalks without the need for extra work.
- How to sow: Sprinkle seeds on moist soil and cover with clear plastic to maintain humidity. Once seedlings are big enough, transplant them into individual pots.
- Tip: Keep celery well-watered, especially since it thrives in consistently moist soil.
4. Edible Blooms: Borage and Nasturtiums
These two flowers not only add beauty to your garden, but they are also incredibly attractive to pollinators. Borage’s bright blue flowers are great for attracting bees, while nasturtiums bring a pop of color and have edible flowers and leaves with a peppery flavor.
- How to sow: Scatter borage seeds across well-fluffed soil and rake them in lightly. Nasturtiums can be sown directly in the garden in sunny spots.
- Tip: Nasturtiums are self-seeding, so once they’re in your garden, they’ll likely return every year!
5. Colorful Swiss Chard
Swiss chard is a versatile and attractive leafy green with vibrant stems. Sow now for summer leaves, or sow in midsummer for plants that will overwinter and produce a spring crop. There are many varieties with brilliant colors, so you can enjoy both beauty and nutrition.
- How to sow: Plant chard seeds 20cm apart, either directly or in pots. Water gently as they grow.
- Tip: Choose a colorful variety like ‘Bright Lights’ or ‘Rainbow Mix’ for a garden full of color.
More to Sow This is also a great time to sow squash-family crops, broccoli, beets, and many other essential vegetables. If you missed last month’s sowing tips, you can still get those seeds in the ground now!
Get out there and enjoy the gardening season! You’re not behind—there’s still plenty of time to sow and grow these wonderful crops.
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