11 Plants Grandma Put in the Ground Every Spring
Take it from wise generations before you — these are the must-plant items for the start of the new season.
Our grandparents weren’t messing around when it came to their gardens. They didn’t have time to baby some finicky plant that needed watered twice a day or sprayed constantly for bugs. They planted what they knew would thrive and produce. Plants had to be tough and dependable to earn a spot in Grandma’s soil.
I grew up working in my grandparents’ garden, and some of my favorite memories with them are during spring planting time. My grandparents’ small yard was a riot of color, with plants tucked anywhere there was an inch of space—near the back door, alongside the garage. Still, there were always a few defining features of everything my grandmother planted in spring: every plant had to be reliable, beautiful and easy to grow.
While spring is too soon for much of the country to plant warm-weather lovers such as tomatoes and green beans, there are plenty of other plants that don’t mind the unpredictable weather. My grandma knew that she’d make the most of her limited garden space by planting cool-season flowers and crops in spring because their growing window would finish by early summer and could be pulled in time to make room for the next round of plantings that preferred warmer weather. Here are my grandmother's favorite flowers to plant each spring.
If you want to turn your garden into an efficient, gorgeous, seasonal space, follow my grandma’s lead and put the following plants in the ground this spring:
Pinks
These charming flowers, which are excellent at attracting pollinators, have fringed edges that appear to have been clipped by pinking shears. Despite the name, they come in every color from white to hot pink. Plus, their spicy scent makes them especially appealing. You can find both perennial and annual types, so read the plant description or label to make sure you know exactly what you’re buying.
Marigolds
Marigolds were a staple of my grandma’s garden because they’re tough plants that bloom from spring to frost. Gram always edged her vegetable garden in them to attract beneficial insects that are essential for pollinating crops such as squash and pumpkin. They’re also easy to grow from seed.
Peas
Peas are one of those delectable garden crops that taste so much better when picked fresh from the vine, rather than those rubbery things you get at the grocery store. Plant the seeds in early spring when the ground is thawed, but not too soggy, about 4 to 6 weeks before the last expected frost date in your region.
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Radishes
These fast-growing veggies are ready to harvest in as little as 25 days. The tiny seeds can be sown in early spring, about three to five weeks before the last expected frost date in your area.
Pansies and Violas
With their bright, funny faces and cheerful hues, pansies and violas add gorgeous color to any early spring garden. They can take a frost or two, so my grandma always planted these by mid-spring to enjoy a long season until the heat of summer caused them to fade. Bonus: The flowers are edible!
Snapdragons
Snapdragons don’t mind cool weather, so they’re some of the earliest flowers you can put in the ground. Plant seedlings about 2 to 3 weeks before the last expected frost date. Their growth tends to slow down when hot weather arrives, making them an ideal spring flower.
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Nasturtium
These deeply hued flowers are beautiful and edible. The rounded leaves and flowers add a spicy tang to salads and a pretty garnish to beverages. Gram planted these along the edges of her garden to tumble over the edges of planting beds with abandon. Sow the seeds a week or two after the last frost date in your area.
Calendula
Also called pot marigolds, these old-school favorites come in bright, cheery colors such as orange and yellow. They prefer cooler weather, so fill containers with them in early spring to enjoy them before warm weather arrives.
Sweet Peas
Like their edible vegetable cousin, flowering sweet peas prefer the chill of spring to the heat of summer. These charming, old-fashioned flowers are sweetly scented and look amazing clambering over a trellis. Plant the seeds about six to eight weeks before the last expected frost where you live.
Lobelia
Grandma loved the delicate purple-blue flowers of lobelia. This cool-season plant looks best tumoring over the edges of window boxes and containers, especially when paired with cheerful pansies and violas.
Sweet Alyssum
This low-growing annual has a honey scent, and it tolerates a frost, making it possible for it to last well into late fall. Plant it in containers or edge beds, and your pollinators will be happy, too. My grandmother always put these around the edges of the garden to boost the production of zucchini and other squashes, which require pollination to form fruit.
Arricca Elin SanSone is a writer, editor, and content creator who specializes in lifestyle and gardening. With a background in health reporting, she applies these same research skills when writing about the science of growing things. She trials new plants in her expansive garden, and her houseplant collection consists of 60+ varieties. Arricca has written thousands of articles for publications such as Country Living, House Beautiful, Good Housekeeping, Prevention, VERANDA, Southern Living, and more. She’s happiest when digging in the dirt, baking, or spending time with the people and dogs she loves.
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