Spring Vegetable Gardening in the East Bay

The final weeks of winter are prime time for revving up East Bay vegetable gardens. This is when we transition from quiet dormancy into the quickening pace of spring planting. Whether you're a seasoned gardener, or someone who is new to growing vegetables, spring is an ideal time to discover the joys of cool-season edible gardening.

The Best Vegetables to Plant This Spring

The crisp air of early spring is ideal for veggies that not only thrive in cooler temperatures but also promise to liven up your meals with fresh, homegrown flavors. Here are some of our top picks:

1. Leafy Greens: Think all kinds of Lettuces, Arugula, Spinach, Kale, and Swiss Chard. These leafy wonders are not just nutritious powerhouses but also incredibly forgiving if you're still honing your gardening skills. Plus, these greens grow quickly from seed, or you can use seedling “starts” to get a jump on your season. Pretty soon you'll be making nutritious smoothies, hearty salads, and tender sauteed greens for dinner.
   
   
2. Root Vegetables: Carrots and Beets are often preferred to plant as starts because of their fussy germination patterns, while Radishes and Turnips grow quickly from seed. They all love the cooler soil and will give you plenty to eat before summer veggies start to even sprout. As the warm weather rolls in, they will need extra watering and heat spells may cause them to bolt. At that point the flowers they produce will make these veggies food for your pollinators, rather than for your table.
   
   
3. Brassicas: Broccoli, Cauliflower, and Cabbage are reliable performers in spring gardens. Because of their size they require more space between plants and will take several weeks longer to mature than other spring veggies. For this reason we recommend planting healthy starts–-unless you started a tray of your own seedlings several weeks ago. Either way, the robust flavors of Brassicas are worth every effort.
   
   
4. Legumes: Peas, especially the Sugar Snap varieties, are the most delightful addition to your spring garden. They thrive in cooler weather which is why they’re so popular at this time of year. Pea seeds are easy to plant, grow fast, and are a satisfying snack straight from the garden. Remember to set up your trellis system when you plant them so their tendrils can grab on and your peas can grow happily undisturbed.
   
   
5. Herbs: Don’t forget about herbs like Cilantro, Parsley, and Chives, which can all be grown from seed or from seedling starts. Many herb plants relish the cooler temperatures and will add bright, zesty flavors to all your kitchen creations.

Adapting to Smaller Growing Spaces

Not everyone has a sprawling backyard or time to tend a large vegetable garden. Smaller spaces and suitable containers can still yield big rewards. Here’s how you can maximize your harvest, even in limited spaces:

• Choose the Right Containers for Your Space: The best part about container gardening is its flexibility. Use pots, window boxes, wine barrel planters, or even repurpose old buckets. Just make sure they have really good drainage holes to prevent waterlogging.
  
  
• Use Quality Potting Soil For Containers: If you’re growing in containers, invest in a good-quality potting soil such as Fox Farm's Ocean Harvest that is designed for the job. It’s essential for retaining moisture and providing the necessary nutrients your plants need.
   
• Use Quality Soil Mixes for Beds: If you need to revitalize your beds for spring planting, start by adding organic compost to help replace soil nutrients. If you’re starting a brand new bed, or need to fluff up the soil volume in an existing one, we recommend E.B. Stone’s Raised Bed Mix.
  
  
• Companion Planting: Pair plants that grow well together. For instance, plant radishes alongside carrots; by the time the carrots need more space, the radishes will have been harvested and eaten. Also, interplant herbs among your slower growing veggies. They help with pest control and will brighten up your cooking.

Caring for Your Spring Garden

Keeping your garden healthy and productive without resorting to highly toxic chemicals is vital for you and the pollinators we all cherish. Here are some tips:

• Feeding Your Plants: Depending on what your potting mix or raised bed amendments contain, your plants might still need some extra nutrition so they’re strong enough to fend off attacks. One easy technique is to add a watery drench of fish emulsion and liquid kelp to perk up your starts right after transplant; it does wonders to reduce transplant shock. If your veggies are not growing vigorously with deep green leaves, they probably need more nutrition. Side-dress them gently with a granular fertilizer like E.B. Stone’s Vegetable Food and water it in.
  
  
• Regular Watering: Spring can be deceptive with its cooler days, but your plants will still need consistent hydration. If temperatures begin to soar, protect your seedlings and seed beds by keeping the soil moist so the baby plants don’t fry. You can also rig up a makeshift shade cloth if the weather becomes unseasonably hot.
  
  
• Natural Pest Control: As the weather warms up you can begin to introduce beneficial insects like Ladybugs. They’re natural predators to pests such as aphids that may begin to take up residence in your garden. In general, pest pressure will increase as daily temperatures rise, so monitor your plants closely. Use this handy reference from our Master Gardener friends to identify and treat both pest and disease problems.
  
  
• Mulching: Organic mulch will help your new veggies retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and gradually add nutrients back into the soil as the mulch components break down. But be very careful to not crowd or overwhelm your seedlings with wood chip mulches. Veggies prefer smaller, finer textured mulches such as dried grass clippings, chopped straw, or crushed dry leaves. Save your valuable wood chips for your trees, shrubs, perennials, and pathways.
  
  

Embrace the Edible Spring Season

Spring vegetable gardening allows you to enjoy nurturing edible plants at a time of year when everything wants to grow. Whether you're cultivating in containers or growing in garden beds, you can produce homegrown vegetables to savor with all your spring meals.

If you need advice about Spring Vegetables or any of your garden plants, please come visit us at the nursery. Our friendly staff of plant lovers will be happy to help you out. Happy Spring Gardening from all of us at Evergreen Nursery!