Setting Up Your Spring Garden

Garden Tips

March 02, 2024•0 min read

Setting Up Your Spring Kitchen Garden: A Step-by-Step Guide As winter’s chill begins to soften and the promise of spring whispers in the air, it’s the perfect time to start planning your kitchen garden. There’s something incredibly satisfying about growing your own food, and with an intensively planted garden, you can maximize your space and harvest a bounty of fresh veggies, herbs, and flowers right from your backyard. Let’s dive into the steps to set up your garden for a thriving spring harvest. January: Build and Prepare Your Garden Beds The first step in creating a successful spring garden is setting up your garden beds. January is the perfect time to get this done, giving you a head start before planting season arrives. Whether you’re building new raised beds or refreshing existing ones, make sure they’re in a sunny spot—ideally, where they’ll get at least 6-8 hours of sunlight each day. Once your beds are built, it’s time to fill them with the right soil mix. A good base for your garden is a blend of topsoil, sand, and earthworm castings. This 101 mix provides the nutrients and drainage your plants need to thrive. Alternatively, you can opt for Fox Farm Ocean Floor mix, which is rich in organic matter and perfect for supporting vigorous plant growth. Whichever option you choose, fill your beds to the brim and let the soil settle in. Early March: Pick Your Plants and Start Sowing Seeds As March rolls around, it’s time to select your plants and get those seeds in the ground. For an intensively planted kitchen garden, choose a mix of quick-growing greens and cool-weather crops that will thrive in early spring. Radishes, kale, mustard greens, arugula, lettuces, snap peas, dill, and nasturtiums are all excellent choices to start from seed. These plants can handle the cool early spring temperatures and will give you a jumpstart on your harvest.

Garden In Minutes

When planting, keep Gardenary’s spacing rules in mind: give larger plants about one foot of space, and tuck smaller, quicker-growing plants around them. This method allows you to maximize your garden’s productivity without overcrowding. For example, plant your radishes and lettuces in the spaces between kale and mustard greens, so they can mature quickly before the larger plants fully spread out. Simplify Watering with the Garden in Minutes® Watering Grid One of the best tools for ensuring your garden stays hydrated and healthy is the Garden in Minutes® watering grid. This easy-to-use grid simplifies the watering process, ensuring that each plant receives the proper amount of water. The evenly spaced grid design also helps with plant spacing, making it a perfect companion for your intensively planted garden. You can find more information and purchase one for your garden on the Garden in Minutes® homepage. With this tool, you can spend less time worrying about watering and more time enjoying your thriving garden. Planting: Arrange Your Herbs and Flowers for Success The edges of your raised beds are prime spots for herbs and flowers. Planting herbs like basil, parsley, and cilantro along the borders not only adds flavor to your meals but also helps protect your veggies by attracting beneficial insects and deterring pests. Flowers like sweet alyssum, nasturtium, and marigolds are great companions too—they bring in pollinators and confuse those pesky bugs that might otherwise munch on your precious greens. In the center of the bed, place your taller, larger plants like kale, mustard greens, and snap peas. These plants need more space and sunlight, so keeping them in the middle ensures they won’t overshadow the smaller, quicker-growing crops around them. Ongoing Care: Nurture and Enjoy Your Garden Once everything is planted, your garden will need daily attention to flourish. Water your seeds twice a day to keep them moist and ensure they sprout on time. As your garden grows, take time each day to tend to it—whether it’s harvesting, weeding, or simply enjoying the sight of your thriving plants. Remember, an intensively planted garden benefits from regular care, and the time you invest will pay off in fresh, delicious produce. By following these steps, you’ll have a kitchen garden that’s ready to burst with life come spring. With careful planning, the right plants, and a little daily love, your garden will not only provide you with fresh food but also bring joy and peace to your everyday life. Happy gardening!

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Ryan Hewson

Backyard garden consultant, coach and founder of Trellised Kitchen Gardens. Helping local food growers establish kitchen gardens in Burbank, Toluca Lake, and North Hollywood, Ca.

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