In March and April, I’m inpatient. I want to plant seedlings, and watch the plants germinate and grow. I want to get my hands in the soil. The temperatures can be unpredictable in early and mid-spring. Some years, we have our furnaces on until May. Other times, we have the windows open in March. This year, April has been wet and cool where I live. Despite the coolness,  today I counted twelve vegetables and herbs growing in our garden. Here’s what’s growing in our vegetable garden in April:

Celery

Celery is biennial (it will grow again in its second year), so our celery has come back, and its tops are 3 to 4 inches above the soil. I’m fortunate enough to live in an area where celery overwinters well. 

Kale

The kale survived the winter, too, and doubled in size in the past month. Kale self-seeds easily, so it won’t be a big surprise to find more kale plants sprouting in the vegetable beds. I prefer to harvest kale when the plants are young. We are already harvesting and eating kale.

Spinach And Lettuce

The spinach and lettuce seedlings in our vegetable garden in April are 4 to 5 inches high. I started them inside in early February and transplanted them outdoors in mid-March. We are harvesting and eating the spinach now. I struggle every year to grow enough spinach for us. Just when we have enough for a 2 or 3 spinach salads each week, the plants bolt when the warmer spring temperatures arrive. 

Cilantro

I’m happy to see the cilantro seedlings are a couple inches high already. I planted a slow-bolting variety, hoping to get a good harvest before it heats up. If I harvest enough, I plan to chop and freeze some in ice cube trays. I’ll toss them in stir fries and curry dishes in the fall and winter.

Broccoli

Before we know it, we’ll be harvesting broccoli. I am growing two varieties this year. The plants are about a foot high and look healthy, likely because the cooler spring temperatures have been ideal for them. 

Peas

The pea vines are now between 3 and 6 inches tall and beginning to climb our arched trellis. I mixed some sweet peas with them, and I can’t wait for the vines, pods, and flowers to cover the archway.

Onions And Leeks

The onions are thriving, and so are the leeks. After starting leeks from seed indoors in January, I transplanted them outside in early March. I always get nervous after transplanting the onions and leeks outdoors because they’re small and tender-looking. But they seem hardy and within a few short weeks, they are taller and stronger. 

Rhubarb

We’re harvesting the rhubarb now and will soon be enjoying rhubarb apple crisp. Rhubarb is always one of the first signs of spring in our garden. 

Herbs

The herbs have started to grow again in our vegetable garden in April. Our oregano, chives, and thyme plants are showing new growth, and we have a billion baby borage plants—the result of last year’s borage plants self-seeding—that I’ve been pulling out and transplanting. Today I moved about a dozen borage plants along the borders of our beds to help with pollination. The bees will love them. 

If you’re eager to get your hands in the soil, depending on where you live, it might be possible for you, too, to grow some food in early spring. And eat it, too. If you’re wondering where to start, read my post 5 Vegetables You Should Plant In March.