SPRING VEGETABLES A-O

Green Globe

Cynara scolymus

Bold, deeply lobed silvery-green leaves grow in a giant rosette.  The fleshy flower buds 2 to 5 inches in diameter borne on a tall stem from the center of the plant are the edible portion.  Cut in late summer before fruits open.  Trim spent stalks back to base for new shoots.

cool season / plant in full sun

Roquette

Eruca vesicaria

Long popular in France and Italy, the leaves of arugula provide a spicy zap when added to a salad (young leaves test best).  You can also saute or stem them like spinach or other leafy greens.  Plants look a little like a dandelion, but more open.  Leaves grow best in cool weather.

cool season / plant in part to full sun

Jersey Knight

Asparagus

Asparagus demands its own bed in the garden because it lives for years.  Once the plants are established, the bed will produce every year for fifteen years or more.  Plant asparagus seedlings in early spring.  Apply a thick layer of mulch at planting time and keep weed-free.

cool season / plant in full sun

Legumes

An ancient staple crop grown throughout North and South America.  Provide support for pole types.  Harvest for snaps when pods are good-sized, keep snaps well-picked as production slows as seed matures.  Strings will develop in over-mature pods in any variety.

warm season / plant in full sun

Detroit Dark Red

Beta vulgaris

Beets have been cultivated for thousands of years, originally grown mainly for their tasty greens.  This classic variety produces early, very dark red and extremely sweet roots up to 3 inches across.  They are good fresh, canned or frozen.

cool season / plant in full sun to partial shade

Destiny

Brassica oleracea

This mid-early, compact, heat-tolerant broccoli variety features medium-small green beads, a smooth dome and a round shape.  A flavorful source of Vitamins A and C.  Suited for fall harvest when planted in summer.

cool season / plant in full sun

Long Island

Brassica oleracea gemmifera

The semi-dwarf plants are stocky with leaves closely spaced, so there are lots of tasty sprouts on the short, self-supporting stems.  Introduced at the end of the 19th century, this was once one of the most important commercial varieties.  It's still a great pick today.

cool season / plant in full sun

Brassica oleracea capitata

This longtime garden staple is popular and dependable.  Cabbage can vary in color from green to red and purple, and the leaves can be smooth or crinkled.  The humble cabbage may not seem like a superfood in the classic sense, but this everyday vegetable is packed with vitamins C and K, probiotics and fiber.

cool season / plant in full sun

Cucumis

Legend has it that cantaloupe seed was brought to America on one of Christopher Columbus's voyages.  Melons need to ripen fully on the vine.  They do not ripen well after they are harvested.  Cantaloupes develop a wonderful fragrance when they are ready to pick.

warm season / plant in full sun

Scarlet Nantes

Daucus carota

Finely-flavored carrot does well as a bunching or storage carrot.  It grows 6-8" long and is practically coreless.  Deep, consistent watering and soil well-enriched with compost helps carrots form high quality roots by encouraging lush, leafy tops that shade the roots.

cool season / plant in full sun

Snow Queen

Brassica oleracea botrytis

Always sweet . . . always mild!  A gardener favorite for 35 years, All-America Selections winner Snow Crown is one of the easiest to grow, thanks to its quick growth and strong vigor.  The plants produce big yields of fully domed, white heads.

cool season / plant in full sun

Giant Pascal

Apium graveolens

This crunchy staple tastes best when harvested fresh from the garden.  Early maturing stalks are crisp and flavorful.  Plants grow well in most regions of the country, but no matter where you grow them, be sure to water regularly for best results.

cool season / plant in full sun

Georgia

Brassica oleracea acephala

Tender, blue-green leaves that will withstand light frost, the mild cabbage-like flavor actually improves with a light frost.  Plant in spring and again in late summer for a fall to winter harvest.  Avoid areas where any of the cabbage family members were grown the previous year.

cool season / plant in full sun

Cucumis sativus

Delightfully crisp texture with a tasty and refreshing flavor.  May be peeled, or leave skin on for increased nutritional value.  Cucumbers belong to the same botanical family as melons and squashes.  "Slicing cucumbers" are usually larger and have thicker skins.  "Pickling cucumbers" are usually smaller and have thinner skins.

warm season / plant in full sun

Solanum melongena

Eggplants grow in a manner much like tomatoes, hanging from the vines of a plant that grows several feet in height. Bushy, spreading plants produce high quality fruit with firm, pure white flesh.  Delicate flavor is delicious fried, grilled or in pastas and salads.  May be grown in containers.  Disease resistance varies with variety.

warm season/ plant in full sun

Vates Blue Curled Scotch

Brassica oleracea acephala

One of the most attractive of all vegetables in the fall garden.  Low, compact plants with finely curled, bluish-green leaves.  Usually stands winter weather with some protection.  Good cooked or fresh in salads.  Grows best in cool weather.  Can be grown as a spring or fall crop.

cool season / plant in full sun

Lactuca sativa

Lettuce and other greens thrive in cold weather.  Pick individual leaves or wait and harvest full heads.  Offered in loose-leaf and romaine-type of red or green leaves with unique edges.  Pick often in the morning to encourage new leaf growth.  Leaves are edible at any stage of growth.

cool season / plant in full sun to partial shade

Clemson Spineless

Abelmoschus esculentus

This 1939 All-America Selections winner is still the most popular variety on the market.  The vigorous, 4-foot high plants produce an abundance of dark green, grooved pods without spines.  Best picked when 2.5 to 3" long.  Pods are excellent for use in soups, stews and relishes.

warm season / plant in full sun

Allium cepa

This plant is grown for its edible, enlarged, bulbous, underground portion which may be white, red or yellow in color.  The narrow foliage is light green and strong smelling.  Harvest the bulbs when the leaves begin to fall over and the bulbs are easily pulled from the ground.

cool season / plant in full sun