The best time of year is upon us. The warm air, the sunny days, the relief that the cold winter days are behind us. Spring has finally sprung, and we could not be happier about it. With the start of the warmer weather comes the start of one of our favorite seasons: gardening season!
The only thing better than growing your own vegetables is eating your own vegetables... And sharing them with friends and family, of course. There are quite a few fruits and veggies you can plant now in your backyard garden so it’s ready to eat this summer.
Just imagine homegrown onions that will make the perfect topping for burgers, spinach to make the freshest salads, strawberries to make some fresh strawberry shortcake. The possibilities are endless.
While you’re perusing those seedling aisles, it’s always a good idea to ask your local botanist (or the internet) what works best in your area of the country. You may need to adjust your watering schedule or even wait a month or two before planting, depending on the soil and climate in your neighborhood.
Today, we’re going to go over the best fruits and veggies to start planting now that will be ready for your summer barbeques. Ah, barbeques, we’ve missed you so. One of the most anticipated events of the year. Safely gathering with loved ones, grilling up some burgers and hot dogs, sipping some cold ones. We can almost taste it. These vegetable garden ideas are sure to be a hit at your next BBQ!
What to Plant Now That’ll Be Ready in Summer
Veggies
- Broccoli
- Onions
- Spinach
- Carrots
- Garlic
Fruits
- Honeydew
- Cucumbers
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Strawberries
Before we go, we wanted to go back to gardening 101 and answer some commonly asked questions regarding gardening and vegetable garden ideas for small yards.
What vegetables grow best together?
The good news is that all veggies on our list above can be planted in the same soil and grow well together! Broccoli, onions, spinach, carrots, and garlic are companion plants that complement each other in terms of growth and production.1 Growing these vegetables together is great for the plant’s health and for optimizing the soil. Want a bonus tip? Plant some rosemary alongside these veggies. Rosemary helps naturally deter flies that can be detrimental to some of these crops!
How do you arrange your vegetable garden?
This is actually a pretty common question! It is actually recommended to plant your crops in a triangle pattern, rather than in squares or rows.2 Who would have thought? The triangle pattern helps to get the maximum yield from each garden bed, just be sure not to overcrowd it. Different vegetables require a difference in space between each other, so it’s best to do some research to figure out exactly how far apart you should be planting each crop.
Where do you start?
If you are a beginner, we suggest starting out small by just growing veggies you love. Being passionate about your homegrown veggies is encouraging and will help you want to keep on going. Start out with a few veggies you love, and gradually add more and more until you have your own produce aisle in your backyard. Starting a garden requires a decent amount of research, but the end result when serving up homemade veggies for dinner is always worth it.
What can you do with a small space?
You can still have a fulfilling garden even if you don’t have a large space to work in. Some of the best fruits, veggies, and herbs to grow in small spaces include tomatoes, basil, strawberries, snap peas, and shallots.3 These plants can be grown in tiny yards, patios, or even balconies if you are living that apartment life. No matter where you live, or how much outdoor space you have, you can grow and enjoy your own veggies!
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