The climate in the Midwest is perfect for growing different vegetables throughout the year. While many believe fall to be the harvest season, did you know there are plenty of early spring vegetables you can grow in Kansas City so you can enjoy the fruit of your labor as soon as possible?

When to Plant Early Spring Vegetables in Kansas City

You can only plant after the last spring frost. Otherwise, your seeds will freeze to death. The average last frost days in Kansas City this year is April 11 to 20. However, keep in mind these dates are estimated based on historic data. Therefore, there is still a 10% chance for frost damage right after this window. However, frost kills are nearly impossible.

Tools and Supplies You Need

Depending on your garden setup, you don’t always need extensive farm tools to get things going. Here are the basic tools and supplies you need to grow early spring vegetables in Kansas City:

• Shovels
• Rakes (small, hand-held rakes work for small gardens)
• Hoes (hand-held hoes, again, work for small gardens)
• Protective gloves
• Garden hose
• Bamboo or metal sticks for plants to grow upright
• Wire cages for certain plants, such as tomatoes
• Pruning shears

If you have a big garden, investing in a battery or gas-powered tiller could save you lots of time and effort. Garden carts and wheelbarrows also come in handy. Depending on your situation, a weeder might also be necessary to prepare your garden for spring.

Early Spring Vegetables to Plant in Kansas City

Kansas City’s spring is generally mild and abundant in rainfall. The temperature differences between day and night can be challenging for some crops and the heavy storms mean you’d want to have well-draining soils to prevent water damage to the seeds. Therefore, cool, shady vegetables are your best bet when it comes to planting early.

Here is a list of the best early spring vegetables to plant in Kansas City:

• Asparagus
• Beans
• Beets
• Broccoli
• Brussel Sprouts
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Collards
• Kale
• Lettuce
• Mustard
• Onions
• Parsley
• Peas
• Potatoes
• Radish
• Spinach
• Swiss Chard
• Turnips

Many of these crops, such as radishes, have a very short maturity time. Therefore, they can be succession planted all the way through summertime. Others, such as kale and lettuce, don’t do well in hot weather at all. Knowing the characteristics of each early spring vegetable to plant in Kansas City can help you plan ahead of time and maximize your harvest throughout the year.

Garden Boxes vs. Direct Planting

There are many options for backyard vegetable gardens, one of them being garden boxes. These boxes are easy to build and not too expensive to buy, and sit slightly above the ground like a raised garden bed. They help create a neat grid system that keeps your gardening soil contained.

Or, you can simply choose an area in the backyard as the vegetable garden and directly plant into the soil. This method works best if you have a small backyard that makes garden boxes unfeasible.

Adding a Garden to Your Existing Landscape

The easiest way for you to add a garden to your existing landscape is by working with a professional landscaping company because the task is not as simple as it sounds.

Adding a new garden to your existing landscape can take some planning. If you are digging into the soil instead of using boxes, you must call the city to mark the utilities before digging. You must also consider accessibility (paths), tool storage, fencing and separation, and decorative elements.

Leave all the tasks to us and schedule a consultation today. We will take care of everything so you can enjoy the fun of growing your own vegetables in the backyard!