This early spring garden planning list will help you figure out what you need to plant first in your garden in early spring. “Early Spring” is a different time of year for different parts of the world, but basically, as soon as your soil is thawed enough to work with, you should be starting these seeds/plants or direct sowing them!

Early Spring Garden Planning

The term “Early Spring” is a different time of year for every garden zone and part of the world. Early spring is a loose term for that time of the year when you are experiencing thaws, the temperatures are staying mainly over freezing, and the soil is thawed enough to work with again.

Since early spring is different for everyone, I am not going to be specific about the months and I’ll focus instead on the ‘before last frost date’ numbers. For example, if you live in a colder zone, perhaps your”early spring” isn’t until Late March. Here in South Carolina, “early spring” is usually February. In Europe, or other northern hemisphere countries, you should already have a basic concept of “early spring” in your area as well. 

If you live in USA and you do not know your garden zones and last frost dates, click here to figure that out. If you live in Europe, click here to learn more about European garden zones. If you live in another part of the world and you need help figuring out your gardening zone, simply comment below!

This post is full of links with both how-to-grow and general information from my site to help make gardening less stressful for you. If you have other herbs/spices, vegetables, and/or fruit that you think that I missed for this EARLY SPRING post, please add them to the comment section below, and I will mostly likely add them! 

To prepare even more for spring in your garden, make sure to check out these articles:

• How to Plan Your Garden
• High Quality Seed Companies for the Organic Gardener
• Early Spring Gardening Chores
• Spring Garden Planning (what to plant later in spring)
• The Ultimate Gardening Guide

Early Spring Crops to Start Planning and Planting:

For the most part, early spring crops are either vegetables that are sensitive to summer heat or certain fruits that need to be planted as early as possible. There are also a few herbs to consider as well.

Not all of the following crops are able to be planted in every garden zone, so make sure you click on the links to learn more about each crop! 

Some of these Early Spring crops still need to be started as seeds indoors, though, which is why I am posting this list now so that you still have time to get these Early Spring Crops ready in time!

Early Spring Vegetables:

1. Peas: Direct sow peas 4-6 weeks before your last spring frost date. Click here to learn more about growing peas.
2. Arugula: Direct sow arugula seeds as soon as the soil is thawed. They can withstand cold temperatures and light frosts with protection. Click here to read more about how to grow arugula.
3. Spinach: Direct sow spinach as soon as the soil is thawed. They can withstand cold temperatures and light frosts with protection. Read more about growing spinach here.
4. Leeks: Start leeks indoors 8-12 weeks before your last frost date. Transplant outdoors when temperatures are staying over 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Click here to learn about growing leeks.
5. Asparagus: In warm climates, plant asparagus crowns in winter or as early as possible in spring. In cooler climates, plant the crowns 4 weeks before your last frost date. Click here to read more about growing asparagus.
6. Carrots: Direct sow your first carrots 3-4 weeks before your last frost date. Click here to read more about growing carrots.
7. Parsnips: Direct sow your parsnip seeds once the soil is thawed and averaging at a temperature around 52 degrees Fahrenheit. You can use cold frames or other tactics to get the soil warm enough for even early sowing. Learn about growing parsnips here.
8. Celery: Start celery seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before your last frost date. Transplant to outdoors around your last frost date. A hard frost can kill the plants. Read more about growing celery.
9. Sweet Potatoes: Start your slips indoors about 6-8 weeks before your last frost date. Don’t plant outside until after your last frost date and when the soil is warm enough. Click here to read more about growing sweet potatoes.
10. Lettuce and other greens: direct sow 2-4 weeks before your last frost date. Click here to learn about growing lettuce.
11. Peppers: start pepper seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before your last frost date. Click here to read more about growing peppers.
12. Tomatoes: start tomato seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date. Read more about growing tomatoes.
13. Rhubarb: plant rhubarb divisions as soon as the soil is thawed in early spring. Click here to read more about how to grow rhubarb.

Early Spring Fruits:

These fruits need to be planted in early spring as soon as the soil is thawed and can be dug to make deep holes for the plants. Click on the names to learn more details on how to grow your own fruits.

1. Blackberries
2. Blueberries
3. Raspberries
4. Cherries
5. Pears
6. Plums

Early Spring Herbs:

**The Early Spring Herbs include both ones to plant in Early Spring and ones that you should propagate in the Early Spring.

1. Mustard Seeds
2. Valerian
3. Yarrow
4. Catnip
5. Skullcap
6. Bergamot/Bee Balm
7. Chamomile

I hope this list helps you prepare for Early Spring Garden Planning!

If you think I left any important crops out on this early spring garden planning list, please leave them in the comment section below, and I will research them and most likely add them. 

Are there any crops from this list that you are going to grow for the first time this year?

For further reading: see my Ultimate Gardening Guide for tips on how to have a successful garden this year. Don’t forget to do your Early Spring Gardening Chores, too!

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