4 Vegetables to Plant in Your Backyard Garden Next Spring

Fall is not too early to look forward to planting a spring garden. Many vegetables not only thrive in cooler weather but are among the most delicious and nutritious. Read on for more information about vegetables to plant in your spring garden.

Snow Peas

Given their name because they can be grown in the winter in many areas, snow peas are best planted when the ground is workable, which in many places is in the earliest spring. They differ just slightly from garden peas because their pods are eaten before the peas inside mature, whereas the pods of garden peas are too tough to eat. According to Better Hens and Gardens, snow peas thrive in temperatures between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit and are ready to pick in 60 days. They do best in soil that has a pH between 6.0 and 75, and they don't need much feeding. Peas fix nitrogen in their roots and are great companions for leafy green vegetables.

Kale

One of the leafy green vegetables, kale is famous for its high nutritional value. Like snow peas, kale can be planted when it's as cool as 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and it needs temperatures of about 60 to 65 degrees F to grow. It's a heavy feeder and does best when given lots of compost. It also needs lots of water. Though kale is more disease-resistant than its brassica cousins, it's vulnerable to weeds. According to Turf Fox, weed species contain several different plants that you should learn to identify.

Broccoli

Many gardeners find broccoli to be a bit challenging to grow, especially if they live in warmer climates. Gardening experts recommend starting the plant indoors, then transplanting it outdoors after four to six weeks. Broccoli does best in the later spring. It's a heavy feeder, and compost should be added to the soil before it's transplanted. Soil should stay evenly moist and alkaline to discourage clubroot.

Celeriac

According to Quickcrop, celeriac is a root ball that is full of bumps and gnarls that trap garden soil, but when it is washed off, peeled and cooked, it has a delicate flavor that recalls celery. Celeriac prefers acid soil and is a heavy feeder. The soil should be amended with compost before the seedlings are transplanted. Though it does not need to be watered frequently, celeriac does need to be watered deeply. Celeriac is basically a pest-free and disease-free crop.

These are only four of the vegetables that thrive in the spring. Few things are more pleasurable for a gardener than to go out in the garden in the cool weather, pick some vegetables, bring them inside and use them to create a delicious and healthful meal.