By Benedict Vanheems, 27 April 2024
As spring takes full swing, the days are longer, the weather warmer, and plant growth seems to be accelerating week by week. If you feel like you’re falling behind in your gardening tasks, don’t worry! There’s still plenty of time to sow a variety of seeds. Whether it’s summer staples, beneficial vegetable garden flowers, or my personal favorite leafy green (which is not just green but a cheerful rainbow of colors), there’s no need to panic!
Sowing Sweet Corn
For many gardeners, the highlight of the growing season is enjoying that first bite of sweet corn—crisp, juicy, and bursting with flavor. Sowing sweet corn directly in the garden is simple: no pots, no fuss. All it takes is sowing seeds in warm, fertile soil with good sun exposure. Aim for a spot with plenty of afternoon sunlight as corn thrives in warmth.
To sow, dig a hole about an inch deep in loose soil, place two seeds per hole, and thin out the weaker seedling once they sprout. Space the seeds about 12-16 inches apart in a grid pattern. Planting in blocks (rather than rows) improves pollination, as corn relies on the wind for fertilization.
In cooler climates, I recommend starting corn indoors in deeper plug trays with a light, well-draining mix. This ensures healthy root growth, and the seedlings can later be moved to the garden once nighttime temperatures consistently stay above 50°F (10°C).
Growing Climbing Beans
Climbing beans—such as runner beans and snap beans—are fast-growing and perfect for adding vertical interest to your garden. These beans prefer warm conditions, so sowing them in pots or directly in the garden once the soil is warm works best. Beans are a bit more forgiving than corn when sown directly in the garden, but I still recommend starting them in containers if you’re looking to get a jump start.
Plant beans about 4-5 cm deep in well-drained soil, and space them around 6-8 inches apart. As the plants grow, provide support, such as poles or trellises, and mulch the soil to retain moisture—beans are thirsty plants!
Growing Self-Blanching Celery
Celery can be a tricky plant to grow, often plagued by pests like leaf miners. To avoid this, rotate your planting locations and consider growing celery under insect mesh for extra protection. I recommend growing self-blanching varieties, which don’t require the traditional practice of mounding soil around the stems. Varieties like ‘Golden Self Blanching’ and ‘Green Utah’ are great choices for a hassle-free crop.
Sow celery seeds in a pot of pre-moistened, light seed-starting mix, and keep them in a warm, humid environment. Once seedlings are large enough, transfer them to individual plugs and ensure they’re kept in moist, well-drained soil. Celery thrives in damp areas, making it an excellent choice for moist, enriched soil in your garden.
Edible Blooms: Borage and Nasturtiums
Two easy-to-grow, pollinator-friendly flowers to add to your garden are borage and nasturtiums. Borage’s sky-blue flowers are irresistible to bees, and the leaves and flowers are edible, adding a refreshing flavor to summer drinks. This hardy plant thrives in sun or light shade and is very self-reliant, needing minimal feeding and doing well in slightly poor soil.
Nasturtiums, with their vibrant, peppery flowers and leaves, are another great choice. They’re perfect for attracting pollinators and are entirely edible, making them a wonderful addition to salads. Nasturtiums are known for self-seeding, so once established, they’ll pop up year after year. They can also trail or climb, adding both color and practicality to your garden.
Colorful Swiss Chard
Swiss chard is one of my favorite leafy greens, known for its striking, colorful stems. It’s easy to grow, and you can harvest its beautiful leaves throughout the summer and into the fall. For best results, sow chard in spring for a summer harvest, then again in midsummer for plants that will overwinter and produce early the following spring.
Plant chard in rich, well-drained soil, spacing the seeds 8-10 inches apart. Choose colorful varieties like ‘Bright Lights’ for a stunning visual display in the garden. Swiss chard is perfect for adding a pop of color to your vegetable garden while providing nutritious greens for your meals.
Conclusion
Now is the ideal time to sow a wide variety of seeds for a bountiful garden this year. From sweet corn and beans to self-blanching celery and colorful Swiss chard, there are plenty of options to suit your garden’s needs. Don’t forget to also plant some cheerful edible flowers like borage and nasturtiums to support pollinators and brighten up your space. Gardening can be an immensely rewarding experience, and with these tips, you’re sure to enjoy a beautiful and productive growing season!