Starting a home spring garden is a beautiful way to nourish new life while feeding your own soul. All it takes is one bud to blossom or new leaf to sprout to experience the benefits of watching life grow right before your eyes. (Plus, if you ask us, the taste of fresh basil in a spring pasta dish is enough to turn anyone into a green thumb.)
And spring is a particularly good time to get your hands a little dirty in the name of fresh blooms and food. Between longer days and sunnier rays, the elements are aligned for gardening bliss! Here are some simple tips to help you get started on growing your own home spring garden. 🌼🌱🐝
Channel your inner green thumb: how to grow a home spring garden
1. Get creative with your planters
Even though we don’t all have acres of space or a group of gardeners to consult, we can all embrace gardening in our lives in one way or another. Got an extra egg/vegan egg carton? That’s perfect for growing little seedlings. Or if you have paint cans, jars, or even yogurt buckets — those make for perfect homes for plants.
Although, certain plants thrive in bigger containers. For example, Gardener’s Path recommends 12 inches of depth for tomatoes, beets, and sweet peppers. But some veggies do just fine in tight-ish spaces. For example, radishes need only a 5” deep tray full of well-draining soil. And garlic can be grown in a small cup (as you can see in this picture below from Katie, our Ambassador Program Manager!).
Of course, if you have a backyard — investing in a raised garden bed or creating your own pallet garden are fun options, too.
2. Build a spring floral oasis for pollinators
If you have space outdoors, planting flowers that help bees and butterflies will not only give them habitat and fuel, but it’ll also give your garden helpful pollination.
Here are some bee-friendly flowers for spring, according to our WC partner The Honeybee Conservancy:
- Crocus
- Hyacinth
- Borage
- Calendula
- Wild lilac
And as we get into the summer months, here are some options for what to plant as temperatures rise:
- Cosmos
- Echinacea
- Snapdragons
- Foxglove
- Hosta
Tip: Bees will be happiest when a variety of flowers are blooming during different seasons. Plus, it’s fun to experiment and switch things up! P.S. Get more tips on how to grow a pollinator-friendly garden!
3. Grow herbs
There’s nothing quite like having fresh herbs to mix in spring and summer dishes. Hello, asparagus risotto with parsley and fresh pesto pasta. And herbs are something that can easily be grown indoors or outdoors.
Here’s a list of our top herbs to grow in spring:
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Lemon Balm
- Sage
- Thyme
- Parsley
And check out our other blog post for step-by-step directions on how to grow your own herb garden.
4. Pick your produce
Of course, you should grow food you like to eat! But here’s a list of fruits and veggies that’ll thrive if you start growing them in springtime.
Vegetables:
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Lettuce
- Turnips
- Beets
- Potatoes
Fruits:
- Avocado
- Melons
- Berries
- Oranges
- Cherries
- Papaya
5. Embrace the light
As spring brings us longer days and more sunlight, plants are in their happy places. So embrace the natural light by putting your plants in a space near a window or in a sunny spot outside.
Don’t have a lot of windows or outdoor space? That’s ok! Lots of tools can help you bring light inside. We like grow lights, like this one from Soltech Solutions, or this LED Grow Set from West Elm.
6. Build a terrarium
Turn an extra mason jar or glass vase into a terrarium with this DIY guide. Or if you’re tight on space, you can make your terrarium function as a lamp with the help of this DIY Kit from The Urban Botanist. Pretty and practical.
The best part? Terrariums require very little (practically zero) maintenance. And it’s a really unique way to bring the outdoors in all year round, while creating an entire little universe!
Are you as excited for warmer weather as we are? Check out these posts!
- 10 Eco-friendly bathing suits to get you into the summer spirit
- 7 Yummy vegan versions of your favorite summer snacks
- Get the most out of summer with the best vegan “nice” cream
And for even more plant-love, don’t miss:
