12 Vegetables and Flowers You Can Plant Outside Right Now—Even Before the Last Frost
March 19, 2021
Finally, at last, the Longest Winter Ever will soon be in our rear-view mirror—which means it’s a great time to kick-start your spring garden (or victory garden part deux).
“In most of the country, late March and early April signify the start to the gardening season,” says Amy Enfield, a horticulturalist for Miracle-Gro.
Worried that temperatures may plunge below freezing again and kill your young greenery in a last-gasp frost? It turns out your concerns are unfounded since, Enfield points out, “certain hardy plants and vegetables can withstand chilly nights and late-season frosts.”
In fact, certain vegetables and herbs actually do best when planted in early spring, says Sandra Steineke, director of merchandising at Gurney’s Seed & Nursery. The early planting gives the plants a chance to mature, leading to higher yields and better quality produce.
More good news: Vegetables aren’t the only plants that flourish when planted in March and April. Many flowers also perform best in the cooler weather of early spring, since they tend to wither in the hot, dry temperatures of summer.
Worried that temperatures may plunge below freezing again and kill your young greenery in a last-gasp frost? It turns out your concerns are unfounded since, Enfield points out, “certain hardy plants and vegetables can withstand chilly nights and late-season frosts.”