Spring is here and so is gardening. You have to prepare the soil well so that everything grows and thrives well. After all, you can start planting the first vegetables as early as March.

In a nutshell

  • Various vegetable plants can be planted outdoors or in a greenhouse as early as March/April
  • Covering the plants prematurely harvests up to two weeks
  • we recommend 10 suitable vegetables for planting outdoors in early spring

dryer floor important

Early vegetables should only be planted when the soil has dried sufficiently. Digging up in autumn is advisable, since the soil then dries faster in spring. It must be so dry that it can be worked on easily. It is only superficially loosened up and, if possible, mixed with sieved compost. Various vegetables can then be planted in March/April. A list of that later. You can buy young plants for this in specialist shops or you can cultivate your own outdoors in a special cultivation bed or in a germination box on the windowsill, alternatively in a cold frame or greenhouse.

Notice: After planting the young plants, the soil should be pressed down firmly all around. Then they have to be poured carefully. form a hollow.

Harvest earlier due to flat coverage

As a rule, only frost-resistant vegetables are planted outdoors or in a greenhouse in March or April. A transparent flat cover is advisable for an earlier harvest and at the same time to protect against late frosts. The vegetables can ripen earlier. It can be used for:

  • Perforated or slit polyethylene film
  • Non-woven fabrics made of polyester threads or polypropylene

The advantage is that the flat film grows with it and does not have to be aired. Immediately after planting, the material is laid flat over the bed and buried at the side or weighted down with some earth. The ground underneath heats up more and the humidity is increased. At the same time there is protection against cold night temperatures, drying winds and snail infestation. Alternative options are also:

  • Planting in the greenhouse
  • Setting up a foil tunnel
  • Use of plant hats

Notice: In the case of early crops of vegetables, the flat cover should only be removed just before harvest, then the best results will be achieved.

List of early vegetables

Vegetables are normally planted outdoors in the month of May after the ice saints, when there are no more night frosts. However, largely frost-resistant vegetables can be planted out as early as March or April. Below we have compiled some early vegetables.

Types from A - J

flowercabbage (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis)

Source: DelwarHossain, Brassica oleracea var in pabna, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

You can start planting outdoors in April. The proven summer and autumn variety "Neckarperle" is particularly suitable.

  • Preculture February / March
  • Planting distance 50 x 50 cm
  • sunny to partially shaded location
  • nutritious soil
  • fertilize and water regularly
  • Harvest from June / July

Tip: Put the green bracts inside as soon as the flower shows. This keeps the heads nice and white and firm.

Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica)

Source: Kolforn (Wikimedia), -2018-12-10 Broccoli, Trimingham (1), edited from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Also known as asparagus cabbage or green cauliflower, they are great for growing in the garden. Young plants can be outdoors as early as April. Recommended varieties for early and late cultivation are "Sparco", "Greenia" and "Atlantic".

  • Preculture from February
  • Planting distance 40 x 40 cm
  • sunny to semi-shady
  • water and fertilize regularly
  • Harvest just before flowers open
  • after cutting the main umbel, secondary shoots appear
  • Harvest also possible

Green asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)

green asparagus

In contrast to white asparagus, this variety grows freely above the ground. No earth wall is necessary. Annual plants are planted in April. The harvest takes place at a length of 20 cm. The poles are cut off just above the ground.

  • warm sunny place
  • permeable soil
  • Row spacing 1 m
  • Distance in the row 35 cm
  • Dig a 25 cm deep planting hole
  • Put compost, decomposed manure or moist peat on the substrate
  • Spread roots in it like a fan
  • Cover with 5 cm thick layer of soil
  • Fill in the furrow after the asparagus has sprouted
  • Harvest in the third year
  • Harvest from April to June 24th
  • Cut off the asparagus weed in the fall
  • Cultivation period 10 to 15 years

Types of K - R

Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum)

You can plant the first early potatoes in the second week of April, when the soil is no longer so wet.

  • Germination from February
  • Enrich the soil with rotted manure or manure peat
  • Row spacing 70 cm
  • within the row 30 cm
  • Press bulb flat into soil
  • Germs pointing upwards
  • Cover the potatoes with a 10 cm layer of soil
  • mound at a height of 10 to 15 cm
  • Faster growth when covered with foil

Kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea Gongylodes Group)

The vegetable has a short cultivation time. It is therefore advisable to plant out at intervals of three to four weeks. A flat cover can lead to an early harvest.

  • Preculture from February / March
  • April outdoors
  • Row spacing 30 cm
  • within the row 25 cm
  • sunny
  • constant soil moisture
  • adequate nutrient supply
  • Harvest when tuber diameter is 8 to 10 cm
  • annual change of location

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. capitata)

Lactuca sativa, lettuce

You can plant young plants of the popular vegetable outdoors or in a greenhouse from mid-March to early April. A flat cover in the field immediately after planting can bring the harvest forward by two to three weeks. The “Reskia”, “Blondine” and “King” varieties are recommended.

  • Preculture from the end of February / March
  • Planting distance 25 x 30 cm
  • sunny to semi-shady
  • humic, evenly moist soil
  • salt sensitive
  • don't plant too deep
  • reacts sensitively to high doses of mineral fertiliser
  • Harvest fully developed, firm and closed heads

Red cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. rubra)

If you plant early, you can bring the harvest forward with a flat cover. Foil covering can remain on the bed until mid-May, but then sufficient moisture must be ensured. A proven variety is "Early Red".

  • Preculture in March
  • sunny to semi-shady
  • nutritious, well-fertilized soil
  • Planting distance 40 x 35 cm

Types from S - Z

Onion sets (Allium cepa)

You can grow nice, large onions from the onion sets. These are easy to store. Recommended variety is "Stuttgarter Riesen".

  • Interpretation end of March to April
  • in rows
  • Row spacing 20 to 25 cm
  • within the row 6 cm
  • Onion sets should be 0.5 to 1.5 cm in diameter

White cabbage (Brassica oleracea convar. Capitata var. Alba)

If the young plants are planted early and then covered flat with foil, the harvest can take place earlier. With a sufficient supply of moisture, the film can remain on the bed until mid-May. Recommended varieties are "Erstling", "Dithmarscher formerly" and "Allfrüh".

  • Preculture from February
  • outdoors at the end of March
  • sunny
  • nutritious, well-fertilized soil
  • Water regularly, especially when dry
  • Planting distance 50 x 50 cm

Savoy cabbage (Brassica oleracea convar. capitata var. sabauda L.)

Even with this type of cabbage, a flat cover when planted early can speed up the ripening. In mid-May you should remove the cover. Recommended varieties are "Famosa" and "Praeco".

  • Preculture in February
  • March outdoors
  • sunny to semi-shady
  • deep, well-fertilized soil
  • chop and fertilize more often
  • water well when dry
  • Planting distance 50 x 50 cm
  • annual change of location

frequently asked Questions

What must be considered when planting early?

The soil must be dry and frost-free. It should only be loosened superficially with a cultivator. It may be enriched with some sifted compost. Only frost-sensitive vegetables should be planted in March/April.

Which cover is better after planting?

Fleeces are more air permeable than foils. They can therefore remain longer on the cultures without being damaged. However, the "growing foils" have proven their worth. They are placed immediately after planting in March/April and a greenhouse climate quickly develops underneath. When the outside temperature is cooler, the slots are closed. As the growth and temperature increases, the slits expand. This keeps the work with watering and airing to a minimum.

Why do early planted vegetables need to be covered?

Covering immediately after planting has various reasons. On the one hand, this protects the young plants from night frosts and cold winds that are still to be expected. Depending on the material, there is protection down to minus seven degrees. Furthermore, the harvest can take place up to two weeks earlier by covering. There is also protection against pests. The plants are a popular food for snails in particular.

Category:

Vegetable garden