Fresh Ideas for the Family Garden

Spring is officially upon us. The wintry days are fewer and farther between, and it’s a great time to think about making your first family garden plantings of the season.

If you don’t already have a family garden, it’s not hard to start one. There are lots of resources out there to help you plan one to feed the family, get kids involved, and make the most of an urban space. Don’t feel you have to be overly ambitious the first year out. There are plenty of ways to start small.

If you have a family garden going, you’re probably already thinking of what to plant. Here are some great starts for an Indiana April.

Onions

Plant onion sets (tiny onion bulbs) or onion plants in April. Green onions should appear in May, and you can harvest mature onions in late July.

Broccoli

Plant baby plants in April in full or partial sun. Look for a harvest by the first weeks of June.

Cabbage

Start seeds indoors in March, and set out baby plants in April. Your first harvest should be ready by June.

Cauliflower

Plant baby plants in April. Keep cool and watered. Look for a harvest in the first weeks of June.

Radishes

Plant quick-growing spring seeds in April, about six inches down. Harvest as early as late May.

Kohlrabi

Plant seeds a quarter inch deep in April, 10 seeds per foot. Use young leaves in salads and stir-fries. Harvest in late June.

Turnips

Plant spring seeds in April, a quarter inch deep. Harvest greens when large enough to pick. Pull mature turnips in mid-June.

Lettuce & Spinach

Broadcast seeds in April, and thin baby seedlings to a space of six inches. Harvest when leaves are large enough, and in the morning if possible.

Asparagus

Asparagus, a perennial, comes up year after year, so if you’ve planted before, it’ll be coming back. Seeds take an extra year, so plant one-year-old crowns in April to get a head start. Don’t pick any spears for the first two years to help the plants put down roots. Harvest for four weeks in year three, and eight in year four.

Rhubarb

Another perennial plant like asparagus, rhubarb also grows best from crowns. Plant in April and harvest lightly the first year, increasing the number of stalks and harvests each year and making the first full harvest in year four.

Brussels Sprouts

Start baby plants in April with the lowest leaves just above the soil. Harvest as they mature from the bottom of the stalk upward.

Strawberries

Plant single plants about 18 inches apart, with three to four feet between rows. Everbearers will produce fruit in the spring and fall of the year. June bearers produce one big crop around the first part of June. Plants typically live around three years.

The guidelines above should help you start dreaming up your April plantings. When it comes time to turn over the soil, be sure to talk to other gardeners in your area for advice on soil, sun, timing, and other tips that may differ in your particular neighborhood.