Early Spring Gardening: What to Plant Now

Early Spring Gardening: What to Plant Now

There’s something deeply reassuring about the return of gardening season. In early spring, the soil softens, the light lingers a bit longer, and the garden begins to stir beneath our feet. It is a time not of perfection, but of promise.

Even the smallest planting feels like a declaration of hope. Whether you tend a few pots on the terrace or a full cutting garden, the ritual begins now—with intention, gentle preparation, and a touch of patience.

Preparing the Ground

Before planting, I like to walk the garden slowly. I clear winter’s remnants with care and breathe in the scent of fresh earth. Then I begin, not all at once, but in stages.

• Loosen the soil in beds and planters.

• Add compost or organic matter where needed.

• Clean and sharpen your tools—every task is easier and more pleasurable when your implements are ready.

Even this initial tending is an act of devotion.

What to Plant Now

In early spring, the garden allows us a quiet beginning. Hardy flowers and cool-weather crops thrive now, often before other things dare to bloom.

Flowers to sow or plant in early spring:

• Sweet peas, for fragrance and charm

• Snapdragons and pansies, for cheerful color

• Calendula, hellebores, and violas, for a gentle, old-world beauty

• Paperwhites and amaryllis in containers, to bring the garden indoors

Vegetables and herbs to begin now:

• Lettuces, arugula, spinach, and radishes

• Peas and early carrots

• Parsley, chives, and thyme in kitchen planters

If the weather is still uncertain, start seedlings indoors and transfer them when the ground warms.

Container Gardening

For those in city apartments or smaller spaces, containers are the perfect solution for a spring garden.

• Use elegant planters in ceramic, terracotta, or zinc.

• Arrange herbs in tiers near the kitchen door.

• Place pots of violas or miniature daffodils by the entry for a cheerful welcome.

Even a single pot of blooming hyacinths can transform a window ledge into a small sanctuary.

Tools I Keep Close

I prefer to garden with tools that are as beautiful as they are functional.

• A hand-forged trowel

• Pruners with wooden handles

• A linen apron with deep pockets

• Ceramic or galvanized watering cans that age gracefully over time

Gardening becomes even more joyful when your tools feel like an extension of your own rhythm.

Reminders

-Begin slowly. The garden does not rush.
-Choose what delights you. Grow what you love.
-Keep your tools clean, your planters ready, and your mornings open for tending.
-Even a single planted bulb can lift the soul.
-The smallest patch of soil holds the greatest promise.

I Am Grateful for Today

-The scent of soil warmed by morning sun.
-The first bloom after a long winter.
-The peace that comes from planting something new.

From Our House to Yours,
Mrs. Mayfair