There is no better feeling than sitting down to a meal that has been cooked with fresh, home grown ingredients. You will never taste anything more fresh than something you have grown yourself and the sense of accomplishment that accompanies that is unbeatable.
There are plants for every season, and as we’ve already covered summer and winter it is time for spring. So, here’s a list of 5 of the best varieties of produce that you can grow in spring.
Lettuce
We all know the price of lettuce right now and the lack of availability, so I want to start with that. There are many varieties of lettuce, so there is at least one for every season, but most lettuce prefer cooler weather.
If you planted any lettuces during winter they should continue to thrive throughout early spring before the warmer weather kicks in. However, if you’re looking to plant some in spring then the best varieties are:
- Leaf Lettuces
- Romaine
- Butterhead
These varieties thrive in temperatures between 4 and 30 degrees celsius so depending on where you live, they should flourish throughout the whole season. So, you can enjoy fresh, delicious lettuce in your salads without it costing you a fortune.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a little temperamental to grow, they don’t like temperatures that are too hot or too cold, this makes spring the perfect season to grow them. Their ideal growing temperature is between 21 and 24 degrees celsius, so early spring planting will give them the best chance of survival.
Heavy rains can also cause tomatoes to split, so you want to get your planting and harvesting in before the wet season, or grow them undercover.
With the Salad Table, cherry tomatoes are the best and will taste delicious - the hydroponic method of growing your plants in nutrient rich water instead of soil gives them a better flavour.
Parsley
If you’re looking for some herbs to add a beautiful hint of flavour to your culinary creations then, one of the perfect spring options is parsley. It really hates frost, so you may want to wait until a little later in the season to plant it, however its ideal temperature is 21 degrees celsius.
Parsley grows perfectly from both seed and cuttings, making it super easy to grow. Hydroponically grown parsley have also been found to be better quality and more flavorful than parsley grown in soil, making them the perfect addition to your Salad Table.
Cucumber
Another great spring plant to grow is cucumbers, as they prefer the warming temperatures from 13 degrees celsius and above. They grow best in temperatures 18 degrees and above, so it is best to start planting them midway through the season, once there are minimal chances of frost or cold snaps.
Cucumbers also love lots of sunlight, so they will thrive best during the sunny months before the wet season kicks in. They are also perfect for hydroponic systems as they are fast growing plants that love moisture and nutrients. They are one of the highest producing plants in hydroponic systems.
Strawberries
Strawberries are a fruit that will grow well all year round in an indoor hydroponic set up, however seedlings will only start to become available in late winter and early spring. Therefore, if you’re wanting to grow them from a seedling then spring is the best time to start.
Strawberries are generally a cool weather plant, so when grown outside where you have little control over the temperature, spring is the best season for them. Like many of these plants, you want to wait until after the last winter frost and then plant them in mid-to-late spring for the best chances of success.
These are just five of the best varieties of produce to grow during winter in your Salad Table or in your garden. Happy growing, and we hope you enjoy your delicious home grown fresh produce this spring.
Learn more about how to get started with your Salad Table here to get your gardening journey started today.
