Get a jump-start on enjoying fresh harvests by planting these fast growing vegetables this spring.
Cool season vegetables are ones that grow and thrive during the shorter days and colder temperatures of early spring and fall. These cold tolerant vegetables also grow quickly so you can enjoy fresh harvests in no time!
After the long winter, most gardeners are eager to get crops growing so we can enjoy fresh harvests once again. It is great to get a bit of outside work accomplished once the snow melts and the days grow longer.
Even though the heat of summer is a ways away, there are still crops you can sow early as soon as the ground can be worked. Some can be harvested in as little as 30 days!
Spring Gardening Tips
A little research, garden preparation, and a collection of seeds are all you need. Here are some tips for planting an early spring vegetable garden:
Prepare the Garden Beds:
If you haven’t done so already, go ahead and clean up your gardening beds by pushing aside last year’s mulch to help the soil warm up, remove dead plants and weeds, and top dress with a few inches of finished compost.
Know Your Average Last Frost Date:
The key to planning your garden is to have an idea of when the average last frost date is for your growing area. Read on for tips for find your average last frost date and how to develop a seed starting and planting schedule:
Read the Seed Package:
Most seed packages will include information on how and when to start seeds, the number of days to seed germination, and days to harvest.
Some seeds can be started early indoors under lights and then transplanted to the garden, while some seeds can be directly sowed into your garden beds. The seed packet will explain when to sow seeds and transplant seedlings with phases similar to:
- Start seeds indoors under lights # weeks before your last frost date: Some crops need a head start and should be sowed indoors. Once you have found your average last frost date, count back the number of weeks stated on the seed package. Sow seeds in seedling trays under lights, and then refer to the seed package to figure out when to transplant hardened off seedlings into the garden.
- Sow seeds as soon as the ground can be worked: After the snow melts, soil needs a few weeks to warm up and dry out a bit. Squeeze the soil in your hands. If it stays together in a wet clump, it will need to dry out a little further. You can use a meat thermometer to check the soil temperature. Most cool season crops will germinate when the soil temperature is around 40˚F.
- Direct sow seeds # weeks before your last frost date: Find your last frost date and calculate back the number of weeks indicated on the seed package.
- Sow seeds after your last frost date: Wait about a week until your average last frost date is past before sowing seeds for these crops.
Packets will also note spacing requirements, height and spread at maturity, thinning instructions, growth habit, and other special considerations.
Decide How to Plant Your Seeds:
You can sow your seeds in a variety of ways. Some seeds will produce quicker if you start them indoors under lights and transplant to the garden in early spring. Indoor seedlings will need to adjust to outdoor weather before planting. This process is called, “Hardening Off.”
Most spring crops can be planted by seeds sowed right in the garden in furrows, mounds, or simply by poking holes in the soil and dropping in the seeds. Here are some common methods plus tips for direct sowing seeds:
Watch the Weather:
Even though these vegetables are cold tolerant, they can still be stunted or killed by a severe drop in temperature. Be ready to protect your plants if the weather threatens with an unanticipated freeze.
Keep the Soil Evenly Moist:
After sowing seeds, water the soil well and keep evenly moist until the seeds sprout. Take care not to over water, as seeds will rot in waterlogged soil. Once the plants begin to grow, let the soil dry slightly between watering.
Harvest Frequently:
Most cool season crops will begin bolting, or go to seed when the weather gets too warm. Bolting happens when the plants are triggered to go to seed. The plant switches from growing foliage to setting seeds. The plant will send up a flower stalk that will develop into seeds. Usually, the foliage turns bitter once the plant bolts. Either let the seeds mature so you can save them for next year, or pull the plants and sow something new.
15 Fast Growing Vegetables to Sow in Spring
These fast growing spring vegetables can tolerate light frosts and cool temperatures and most are ready to harvest in 30 to 60 days!
Arugula
Arugula, also known as Rocket adds a punch of peppery flavor to early spring salads and a great addition soups.
- When to Sow Seeds: As soon as soil can be worked. For a continuous harvest, sow seeds every 2-weeks until temperatures warm.
- Germinates: About 7-10 days.
- Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.
- Harvest: About 20 days at baby stage and 40 days full size. Begin cutting outer leaves once they are at least 2-inches long and allow the plant to continue to produce harvests.
- Arugula Varieties to Consider: Salad Rocket, Wild Rocky, and Dragons Tongue.
Beets
Beets can be grown for fresh greens to enjoy in salads, soups, and sautéing, and tasty roots for canning, roasting, or boiling.
- When to Sow Seeds: As soon as soil can be worked. For a continuous harvest, sow seeds every 3-weeks until the temperatures begin to warm.
- Germinates: About 10-20 days.
- Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.
- Harvest: About 30 days for greens and 60 days full size. Pick beet greens when they are 5-inches tall. You can snip a stalk or two from each beet plant without compromising the root growth. Harvest the beetroot when they around 2- to 3-inches in diameter.
- Beet Varieties to Consider: Detroit Dark Red, Chioggia, and Touchstone Gold.
- Also see How to Grow Beets from Seed to Harvest for more tips.
Carrots
Carrots are a staple root vegetable in the garden. Choose early maturing varieties for a quick harvest. Carrots can be enjoyed in many ways from raw in salads, to boiled, roasted, and juiced.
- When to Sow Seeds: After danger of heavy frost is past. Can tolerate light frost. Succession sow a new crop every 2-weeks until mid-summer for a continuous supply of tender young carrots.
- Germinates: About 14-21 days.
- Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.
- Harvest: About 30 days as baby carrots and 60 days full size. Carrots are edible at any size. Toss thinnings into salads and stir-frys.
- Early Carrot Varieties to Consider: Little Finger, Napoli, Mokum, and Tonda di Parigi.
- Carrots can be difficult to germinate in early spring. Also see these 4 Tips for Growing Spring Carrots.
Collards
Collards are in the cabbage family, but are much easier to grow as they endure a wider range of temperatures and growing conditions. Collard greens can be used to flavor soups, stews, or boiled, steamed, or sautéed and serves as a side dish.
- When to Sow Seeds: Sow seeds outdoors as soon as soil can be worked in spring. Or start collards seeds indoors 6 weeks before last frost date and transplant hardened off seedlings to the garden as early as 2 weeks before your last frost date.
- Germinates: About 10-21 days.
- Light Requirements: Full sun.
- Harvest: About 30 days as young greens and 70 days full size. Harvest whole plants young when they are about 6-8 inches tall, or snip the bottom leaves and allow the plant to continue to grow and produce foliage. Harvest mature plants by cutting the stem at the soil surface.
- Collard Varieties to Consider: Georgia, Tiger, and Vates Champion.
1) Arugula, 2) Beets, 3) Carrots, 4) Collards
Kale
Kale is related to collards and cabbage, and also tolerates frost very well. The foliage is delicious tossed into salads, soups, and sautéed with olive oil and garlic.
- When to Sow Seeds: Sow seeds outdoors as soon as soil can be worked in spring, or start kale seeds indoors 8 weeks before last frost date. Transplant hardened off seedlings to the garden as early as 4 weeks before your last frost date.
- Germinates: About 10-21 days.
- Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.
- Harvest: About 30 days for baby greens, and 60 days at full size. Cut the bottom the outer leaves as needed once they reach 6-8 inches long. Let the plant continue to grow and produce more foliage.
- Kale Varieties to Consider: Dwarf Blue Curly, Nero di Tuscana Lacinato, Red Russian
Kohlrabi
Kohlrabi is an easy to grow cool season crop that forms a ball above the ground. It is in the Brassica family and tastes like a combination of cabbage with a mild spicy kick like a radish. The kohlrabi bulb can be enjoyed raw in salads or slaws, roasted with other vegetables, or added to soups and stews. Kohlrabi leaves are also edible and can be steamed, sautéed, and tossed in salads similar to collard greens and kale.
- When to Sow Seeds: After danger of heavy frost is past, or start kohlrabi seeds indoors 8 weeks before last frost date. Transplant hardened off seedlings to the garden as early as 4 weeks before your last frost date.
- Germinates: About 7-14 days.
- Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.
- Harvest: About 55 days. Cut the bottom of the plant at the soil level once the bulb is about 2 to 3-inches in diameter.
- Kohlrabi Varieties to Consider: Early Purple Vienna, Grand Duke, Sweet Vienna
Lettuce
Lettuce is the foundation to all the fresh green salads we crave in spring. Looseleaf lettuce varieties don’t form heads. Instead, the foliage grows from the center outward forming a leafy mound. The eaves may be frilly, curly, serrated, or wrinkled depending on the variety. Butterhead lettuces form loose, soft heads. Romaine lettuce has an upright growth with long, loose leaves. All lettuce varieties can be harvested as baby greens, or left to mature fully.
- When to Sow Seeds: After danger of heavy frost is past, or start lettuce seeds indoors 4 weeks before last frost date. Transplant hardened off seedlings to the garden after your last frost date. Sow every two weeks to extend harvests.
- Germinates: About 7-10 days.
- Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.
- Harvest: About 30 days for baby greens. Pick leaves as needed from the outside and allow the plant to continue to grow and produce foliage. Looseleaf and butterhead lettuce matures in 45 to 50 days. Romain lettuce matures in 65 to 70 days. To harvest mature lettuce, cut entire heads at the soil level.
- Lettuce Varieties to Consider: Romaine, Simpson, and Freckles
- DIY Seed Mats: Sowing small seeds can be difficult. Instead of scattering seeds then thinning later, creating seed mats allows you to space out the seeds before planting. Visit for the full tutorial.
Pak Choi
Pak choi is a type of Chinese cabbage with a number of different names and spellings including pak choy, bok choy, and bok choi. It grows upright like celery, with white, short, stalks and green leaves. The flavor is between a mild cabbage and spinach. Young plants can be eaten raw in salads. Use mature pak choi in Asian style stir-fries, soups, braised, grilled, or roasted.
- When to Sow Seeds: As soon as soil can be worked. For a continuous harvest, sow seeds every 2-weeks until temperatures warm.
- Germinates: About 10-14 days.
- Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.
- Harvest: About 30 at baby stage. Snip outer leaves allowing the plants to continue to produce. Harvest full heads in around 60 days by cutting stalks at the soil level.
- Pak Choi Varieties to Consider: White Stem Bok Choy, Toy Choi.
5) Kale, 6) Kohlrabi, 7) Lettuce, 8) Pak Choi
Peas
Snow, snap, and garden peas are members of the legume family. Snow peas are grown for their crunchy flat pods, and are harvested young before the peas develop. Snap peas are a cross between snow peas and garden peas. The whole pod is eaten and has a crunchy texture and very sweet flavor. Garden peas, also known as English or sweet peas are grown for their mature seeds. The peas shelled, or removed from the inedible pod before using.
- When to Sow Seeds: As soon as soil can be worked.
- Germinates: About 7-14 days depending on soil temperature.
- Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.
- Harvest: About 30-65 days depending on the variety.
- Pea Varieties to Consider: Oregon Sugar Pod, Super Sugar Snap, Garden Sweet Shelling
Radish
Radishes are an extremely rewarding crop to grow. They don’t need a lot of care, not bothered by many pests, and provide a very quick harvest of colorful, peppery flavored roots that are delicious raw as a snack or in salads.
- When to Sow Seeds: As soon as soil can be worked. Succession sow every two weeks for a recurrent harvest until the weather warms.
- Germinates: About 5-10 days depending on soil temperature.
- Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.
- Harvest: About 20 days or when the radish is around 1-inch diameter. The greens are edible too!
- Radish Varieties to Consider: Cherry Belle, French Breakfast, Sparkler, and Watermelon Mantanghong.
Scallions
Scallions, also called bunching onions are grown for their green stalks and small bulb. They add a mild onion flavor to salads, cooked recipes, and stir-fries.
- When to Sow Seeds: As soon as soil can be worked, or start scallion seeds indoors 10 weeks before last frost date. Transplant hardened off seedlings to the garden after your last frost date. Sow every two weeks to extend harvests.
- Germinates: About 7-14 days.
- Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.
- Harvest: Ready to harvest at pencil size in 30 days or up to 120 days for mature plants. Pull 6-inch tall scallions at any stage and allow others to develop further. The onion flavor intensifies with age.
- Scallion Varieties to Consider: Crimson Forest, Evergreen Long White, and White Lisbon.
- Tips for Growing Onions from Seeds
Spinach
Spinach is grown for its dark-green leaves. Toss into a leafy green salad, sauté with olive oil and garlic, or chop and add to spring soups.
- When to Sow Seeds: Sow seeds outdoors as soon as soil can be worked in spring. Succession sow every 3 weeks for a continuous harvest until the weather warms.
- Germinates: About 7-14 days.
- Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.
- Harvest: About 30 days for baby greens, 45 days for mature leaves. Snip outer leaves and let the plants to continue to produce.
- Spinach Varieties to Consider: Bloomsdale, Butterflay, Space, and Tyee.
9) Peas, 10) Radish, 11) Scallions, 12) Spinach
Swiss Chard
Swiss chard is a wonderful leafy green that can grow and produce harvests from early spring, though the summer, and on to fall. Since chard is closely related to beets, the leafy foliage taste similar to beet greens and can be used interchangeably with spinach. Both the leaves and stalks are edible raw, steamed, and sautéed. Toss the foliage into salads, sauté with olive oil and garlic, and chop the stems and add to soups and salads.
- When to Sow Seeds: Sow seeds outdoors as soon as soil can be worked in spring.
- Germinates: About 7-14 days.
- Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.
- Harvest: About 45 days for baby greens. Harvest young leaves at 3 inches as needed and let more foliage grow from the center of the plant.
- Swiss Chard Varieties to Consider: Bright Lights, Fordhook Giant, and Celebration.
Tatsoi
As tatsoi grows, it forms a rosette of deep green leaves. The mild mustard flavor of Tatsoi mixes well in salads, stir-fries, and soups.
- When to Sow Seeds: Sow seeds outdoors as soon as soil can be worked in spring.
- Germinates: About 10-21 days.
- Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.
- Harvest: About 25 days for baby greens. The full sized plant can be harvested within 50 days. For baby leaves, cut outer leaves once they are about 4 inches or cut tatsoi at the stem when mature.
- Tatsoi Varieties to Consider: Tatsoi Rosette
Turnip
Grow turnips for both the greens and roots. Turnip greens can be enjoyed in salads, sautéed, steamed, or in soups. Turnip roots can be boiled and mashed, steamed, and oven roasted.
- When to Sow Seeds: Sow seeds outdoors as soon as soil can be worked in spring.
- Germinates: About 7-14 days.
- Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.
- Harvest: About 30 days for turnip greens or 50 days for mature roots. For greens, cut tops leaving at least 2-inches of foliage. The plant will continue to produce more foliage. Harvest small roots as they form or allow to size up to 2 to 3 inches in diameter.
- Turnip Varieties to Consider: Golden Ball, Purple Top White Globe, Red Round, and White Egg.
13) Bright Lights Chard, 14) Fordhook Giant Chard, 15) Tatsoi, 16) Turnip
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Are you eager for fresh spring harvests from your vegetable garden?
Good planning is key to a successful vegetable garden
Whether you are new to growing your own food or have been growing a vegetable garden for years, you will benefit from some planning each year. You will find everything you need to organize and plan your vegetable garden in my PDF eBook, Grow a Good Life Guide to Planning Your Vegetable Garden.
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