Nothing reflects our impatience with winter quite like our eagerness to plant an early spring garden, but success lies in timing, knowledge, and preparation. We love nothing more than helping gardeners grow their best plants, so we're outlining our advice on early spring gardening so that you'll know just what to grow and when.

Soil preparation is key to successful spring planting. Make sure your soil is tilled and mixed with organic matter (compost) at a ratio of two inches of matter per six inches of soil.

Group Vegetables and Knowing When and Where to Plant

In order to know what will and will not thrive in your area, it’s crucial to first understand your area’s climate. This is especially important when living in a climate where there is a danger of frost. Starting specific seeds indoors during the winter and then moving them outside for the warmer months can save your gardening efforts. If you have plants that have to remain outside, gardening with raised beds, adding extra mulch to the base of the plant, building a cold frame or greenhouse, or covering your plants with a sheet or cloth can be simple ways to protect your gardening efforts during the colder months.

During spring planting, vegetables can be divided into two groups. Vegetables in Group 1 can be planted around Valentine's Day and have two subgroups: those to be started outdoors and those to be started indoors. Vegetables in Group 2 should be planted two to three weeks later and are all started outdoors. All these vegetables are planted from seeds.

• Group 1 : Outdoor Vegetables : Kale, Collards, Radishes, Peas, Onions, Spinach, Lettuce, and Turnips
• Group 1 : Indoor Vegetables : Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower, and Brussel Sprouts
• Group 2 : Later Planted Vegetables : Beets, Carrots, Beans, Swiss Chard, Arugula

You May Still Have to Protect Those Tender Shoots

Although all these vegetables perform best in cool to warm weather, they don't tolerate frost well, so you will have to cover them once they sprout if the temperature dips or harsh conditions are in the forecast. Severe winds will also destroy tender sprouts. Be especially mindful of this until Memorial Day, by which point you should be in the clear.

Trust Bentley Seed Company to Supply Your Seeds

At Bentley Seed Company, we've been in the business of growing good things since 1975, and we would love to help you grow a successful garden this year. Our seeds are non-GMO and come from the very best sources. New users have used Google, Amazon, and our product reviews to explain how easy our growing process is. Our growing instructions on each packet are easy to follow so you can jump right in. Check out our guide for planting indoors and outdoors, or contact our team of experts today!