What to Plant in Spring: A Month-by-Month Guide for Flowers, Veggies, and Herbs

Spring is a gardener’s paradise—full of fresh air, longer days, and the perfect conditions to bring your garden back to life. But knowing what to plant and when can make all the difference in creating a thriving space. Whether you’re growing bright blooms, homegrown vegetables, or fragrant herbs, a little planning goes a long way. This month-by-month planting guide will help you make the most of spring, one seedling at a time.

March: Start Indoors and Prep Outdoors

As the last frost looms, March is all about preparation. It’s the time to begin sowing seeds indoors and getting your garden beds ready for action.

• Vegetables: Start hardy vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and leeks indoors. You can also begin onions, lettuce, and spinach under cover.
• Flowers: Sow annuals like marigolds, cosmos, and snapdragons indoors.
• Herbs: Start basil, chives, and parsley on a sunny windowsill.

Outdoors, begin cleaning up debris, pruning dormant shrubs, and testing your soil to see if any amendments are needed. You can also plant bare-root fruit trees and bushes before their buds break.

April: Plant Cool-Weather Crops

As temperatures begin to rise, you can start sowing cool-season crops directly outdoors. April is the bridge between indoor planning and outdoor action.

• Vegetables: Sow carrots, peas, radishes, beets, and potatoes outside. Transplant your indoor-grown lettuce and brassicas.
• Flowers: Begin direct sowing hardy annuals like calendula, larkspur, and nigella.
• Herbs: Plant hardier herbs like thyme, oregano, and mint outdoors. Continue growing tender herbs like basil inside until the weather is more stable.

Now is also the perfect time to mulch your beds, especially around newly planted seedlings, to keep weeds at bay and retain soil moisture.

May: Go Full Bloom with Warm-Season Favourites

By May, the last frost date has usually passed in most regions. It’s planting time! The soil is warming up, and your garden is ready for the season’s stars.

• Vegetables: Plant tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, courgette, beans, and corn. These crops love heat and won’t tolerate frost.
• Flowers: Add warm-season blooms like sunflowers, zinnias, nasturtiums, and petunias to your beds or containers.
• Herbs: Start planting basil, dill, coriander, and summer savoury outdoors. These fast-growing herbs thrive in the warmer weather.

This is also a good time to fertilize your plants, especially heavy feeders like tomatoes. Keep an eye on early pests, and start training vines or staking taller crops before they get too large.

Tools and Support for Spring Planting

Midway through your spring planting, having the right tools and equipment becomes essential for productivity and plant health. Suppliers like Ron Smith offer a wide range of professional garden tools, lawn care equipment, and expert guidance to help both beginner and seasoned gardeners keep their spring plans on track. From cultivating soil to trimming back overgrowth, using quality equipment can make your gardening efforts more efficient and enjoyable.

Tips for Success Across All Months

No matter the month, these tips will help you stay on top of your spring gardening goals:

• Check your frost dates: Always double-check your local frost calendar before planting outdoors.
• Harden off seedlings: Gradually introduce indoor-grown plants to outdoor conditions over 7–10 days.
• Water deeply and early: Give plants a strong start by watering deeply in the morning to avoid stress.
• Keep records: Track what you plant and when. This helps with crop rotation and future planning.
• Feed your soil: Add compost or slow-release fertilizer to give your garden a healthy foundation.

Spring offers a season full of potential for gardeners who time their planting wisely. By following this month-by-month guide and staying flexible to local weather patterns, you’ll enjoy a vibrant garden bursting with colour, flavour, and fragrance. Whether it’s your first year planting or your fiftieth, the magic of spring never gets old—especially when the fruits (and flowers) of your labour begin to bloom.