5 Tips for Starting a Spring Vegetable Garden

Start with a 4x4 raised bed A 4x4 raised bed is the ideal size for a beginner spring garden. Fill it with a mix of compost, vermiculite, and peat moss or coconut coir — not bagged topsoil.

Plant cool-weather crops first Lettuce, spinach, arugula, kale, and sugar snap peas germinate in soil as cold as 45°F. Save tomatoes and peppers for warmer weather.

Add root vegetables if you want variety Radishes and carrots also handle cool spring soil well. They grow underground and add easy variety to your garden.

Plant seeds shallow and keep soil moist Sow seeds about ¼ to ½ inch deep. Keep the soil moist but not soggy for best germination.

Protect from late frost with a bedsheet If a late frost is forecast, throw an old bedsheet over the bed overnight. It works better than worrying.