CookingLight_Hi-Contrast_Reg_WEB CookingLight_Hi-Contrast_Reg_WEB
Spring Garden-to-Table Planting Guide
  • Subscribe
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Finder
    • In Season
    • Everyday Menus
    • Quick & Healthy
    • Vegetarian
    • Cooking 101
  • Nutrition
    • Nutrition 101
    • Smart Choices
    • Recipe Makeovers
    • Diabetic Recipes
  • News
    • Weight Loss
    • Fitness
    • Travel
    • Healthy Habits
    • Beauty
    • Home
    • Healthy Living Videos
  • Good.Food.Fast.
  • Shop
  • CL Diet
  • Subscribe
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Finder
    • In Season
    • Everyday Menus
    • Quick & Healthy
    • Vegetarian
    • Cooking 101
  • Nutrition
    • Nutrition 101
    • Smart Choices
    • Recipe Makeovers
    • Diabetic Recipes
  • News
    • Weight Loss
    • Fitness
    • Travel
    • Healthy Habits
    • Beauty
    • Home
    • Healthy Living Videos
  • Good.Food.Fast.
  • Shop
  • CL Diet
  • Subscription
  • Give a Gift
  • Advertising
  • Magazine Customer Service
CookingLight diet CookingLight diet
  1. Home
  2. Recipes
  3. Spring Garden-to-Table Planting Guide

Spring Garden-to-Table Planting Guide

No matter the size of your yard, plan now to fill your kitchen with fresh produce this year.

More
Mary Beth Shaddix
February 26, 2015
1 of 16 Photo: Randy Mayor

Garden to Table

You don't need acres of land to bring garden-to-table freshness to your recipes. In fact, with our garden plans, you don't even need a yard. Try our supereasy, DIY options—perfect for small plots and petite porches—and you'll have delicious, hyperlocal produce at your fingertips all year long.

It doesn't matter whether you're a beginner or a green-thumbed veteran: These season-specific plans—tested in the Cooking Light Garden—will help you get started and introduce you to new varieties that will up your growing game. Flexible raised-bed and container-based plans will also fit your space and taste buds, making it easy for fresh food lovers from Boise to Brooklyn to grow a green patch.

Advertisement
2 of 16 Photo: Randy Mayor

Supply List: Containers

First, you need the right supplies. There's a variety of materials to suit your space and style; just ensure they have drainage holes and that you're not over-crowding plants.

3 of 16 Photo: Oxmoor House

Supply List: Soil

The health of your plant starts here. For containers, use fresh potting soil that's lightweight and drains well. Replace after one or two seasons.
Advertisement
4 of 16 Photo: Oxmoor House

Supply List: Plant Food

Plants require nutritious food to thrive. Choose an organic liquid or granular feed, and apply regularly, per instructions.
Advertisement
5 of 16 Photo: Oxmoor House

Supply List: Water and Irrigation

Water is a key component to any thriving garden. Unless you relish hand-watering every few days, install a simple drip irrigation system to do the work for you. Delivering hydration at the base of plants near the roots conserves water and looks clean at the soil surface. Kits found at garden centers make it a snap to connect tubes to an outdoor spigot, while adding a timer makes it worry-free for forgetful folks. 

Advertisement
6 of 16 Photo: Oxmoor House

Supply List: Sun

Aim for at least six hours of direct sun each day. Less light? Grow plants harvested for foliage (vs. fruit), such as lettuces.
Advertisement
7 of 16 Photo: Oxmoor House

Supply List: Seeds & Plants

Sprouted plants give a healthy head start. Browse seed catalogs for unique varieties.
Advertisement
8 of 16 Photo: Caleb Chancey

When to Plant

Weather almanacs and years of data help predict two important dates: the last freeze of spring and the first freeze in fall. Plants, like recipes, yield ideal results at varying temperatures. Most instructions will reference this (e.g., "start seeds six weeks before last spring frost" or "plant after danger of frost has passed"). We like the data at davesgarden.com. For example, according to the site, if you live in Austin, it's almost guaranteed that you won't get a frost after March 15, so it's safe to plant cold-sensitive plants after that date.

Advertisement
9 of 16 Illustration: Felicita Sala

Garden Designs: Cole Crops

Choose plants based on your taste and space. Plant raised beds for a well-rounded harvest, or pick pots from 14 to 24 inches in diameter (large enough for the type of plant) for the patio. 

Planting together keeps it all in the family, as these cole crops all love cool weather and frequently applied high-nitrogen fertilizer. 

Advertisement
10 of 16 Illustration: Felicita Sala

Potted: Cole Crops

Maximize space: Sow lettuce seeds around young transplants and harvest within 40 days, before broccoli or kale grows taller.

Advertisement
11 of 16 Illustration: Felicita Sala

Garden Designs: Greens & Peas

For the freshest, most flavorful salads, grow your own greens.

Advertisement
12 of 16 Illustration: Felicita Sala

Potted: Greens & Peas

By sowing many varieties of lettuces and arugula at 2-week intervals, you'll be eating better than the Easter bunny. Add a 6-foot twig or iron trellis for climbing peas. 

Advertisement
13 of 16 Illustration: Felicita Sala

Garden Designs: Herbs

Using a tree-form or standard bay laurel saves space and looks elegant.

Advertisement
14 of 16 Illustration: Felicita Sala

Potted: Herbs

Many of these herbs produce month after month, but you'll want to switch out annual favorites like cool-loving cilantro and parsley later on.

Advertisement
15 of 16 Illustration: Felicita Sala

Garden Designs: Roots and Shoots

The beet family (Swiss chard, beets, spinach) grows well with other underground dwellers. Sow radish seeds between carrots. For style, use dwarf blueberry plants as evergreen corner shrubs and a colorful 18-inch container in the middle for chard.

Advertisement
16 of 16 Illustration: Felicita Sala

Potted: Fruit

Plant now for fresh fruit to nibble on this summer. The "Raspberry Shortcake" thornless raspberry is a good variety for containers, as is the "Sunshine Blue" blueberry. Dot strawberry plants at the border, and the fruit will cascade down.

You May Like

Spring Recipes

Vegetable Garden Designs

Produce Buyer's Guide

Read More

Sign Up for our Newsletter

Join our newsletter for free recipes, healthy living inspiration, and special offers.
Sign up

Get a Personalized Meal Plan

As Low as $1.52 a Week
GET STARTED

Sign Up for our Newsletter

Join our newsletter for free recipes, healthy living inspiration, and special offers.
Sign up
CookingLight_Hi-Contrast_Reg_WEB
HOME
  • Slow Cooker Favorites
  • Healthy Snack Ideas
  • Dinner Tonight
  • Cooking Techniques
  • Summer
  • Diet
RECIPES
  • Healthy Chicken Recipes
  • Top Rated Recipes
  • Birthday Cake Recipes
  • Casserole Recipes
  • Baking Recipes
NEWS
  • Fitness
  • Travel
  • Healthy Habits
  • Beauty
  • Home
SPECIAL
  • ThePrep
  • Weight Loss
  • Meal Planner
  • Videos
  • Delicious Deals
COOKINGLIGHT
  • Site Map
  • Subscribe
  • Advertising
  • Give a Gift
  • Customer Service
© 2018 CookingLight.com is part of the Allrecipes Food Group. CookingLight may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use Privacy Policy (Your California Privacy Rights).Ad Choices | EU Data Subject Requests
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.