The Ultimate Early Spring Harvest Guide

Happy May—our favorite season, spring, is here! We love this time of year because for many people, it’s time to uncover your Garden Tower® and get your hands back in the dirt. That’s why we’ve created this in depth guide for gardeners of all experience levels on how to harvest seeds planted in spring. In this blog, you’ll learn all about popular vegetables and herbs harvested during this time of year and how to get the most out of them.

Get the Most Out of Your Garden With “Cut and Come Again” Kale

Add a Healthy Crunch to Your Meals

Kale is incredibly versatile—with the ability to be made into chips or put into salad, this delicious green is hardy and grows quickly, too. Because of its resistance to cold temperatures, you can transplant kale seedlings anywhere from early spring to early winter and expect ready-to-harvest greens in 30 to 40 days. During this time, baby kale leaves can also be harvested for smaller, tasty treats.

The best part? These plants can grow all summer long if harvested in the “cut and come again” way. To get the most out of your kale, remove the largest, outermost leaves first and leave the smaller, central leaves and bud alone. This way, you’ll be digging into a bag of fresh kale chips from spring to winter! It’s important to harvest kale quick enough in the summers, however, as leaves can get bitter during the hotter months if left in the soil for too long.

How to Harvest Broccoli and Their Seeds

Prep For Next Season’s Delicious Vegetables

Not only is broccoli a delicious side dish that goes with any meal, but it’s also a very hardy vegetable that can grow in fairly cold conditions. Our favorite part about growing our own broccoli is that you can harvest both the vegetable AND it’s seeds. If you’re looking for a completely organic garden, this is the best way to stay all natural! Plus, newcomers and veteran gardeners alike can easily harvest these seeds.

When the broccoli’s head is firm and tight and around 4-7 inches wide, you can begin harvesting. Cut the stem around 5 inches below the head but avoid sawing it, as this can damage the plant. After this, it’s time to wait for the plant to bolt—once the flowers are pollinated and completely dried out, you can break off the pods that have grown and collect any seeds that fall out for next season’s broccoli.

Enjoy Fresh Salads During the Entire Gardening Season

How to Harvest Homegrown Salads Multiple Times a Week

There’s nothing better than fresh salads straight from your garden during the spring and summer. Some of our favorite leafy greens that thrive in the Garden Tower® systems include:

• Spinach
• Buttercrunch
• Romaine
• Arugula

Similarly to kale, these salad greens can be harvested with the same “cut and come again” method, meaning you can have an entire summer’s worth of salads available right outside your door (or even in your house, if you’re growing inside!). While these greens have a longer growing time than kale, they can be harvested when leaves reach around 4 inches long. Additionally, harvested greens can last around 1-2 weeks when refrigerated. Whether you love wraps or soups are more your style, you can incorporate an earthy taste into any meal.

Freshen Up Your Cooking With Crisp Herbs

How to Harvest: From Seed to Full-Grown Green

Everyone can agree that herbs take any dish to the next level. The best part about these flavorful greens is that many of them can be planted in your Garden Tower® during the early spring and do well in cooler temperatures, including:

• Cilantro
• Basil
• Dill

As soon as the plant is strong, it’s time to start snipping. It’s important to harvest certain herbs before their flowers bloom, such as basil, because it will give them a bitter taste, so keep an eye out! Additionally, cutting herbs with sharp, clean scissors or clippers will ensure that you don’t damage the plant and will receive bountiful harvests all throughout the gardening season. We recommend our Precision Titanium Straight Blade Pruners for the BEST herb harvesting experience, as their lightweight design allows for extreme precision and ease of use.

What are you waiting for? No matter your veggie tastes and preferences, there’s something for everyone to grow in their Garden Tower® this spring. If you’re interested in vertical vegetable gardening but aren’t sure where to start, we’re the people for you. Visit our website today to learn more about how our Garden Tower® can transform your life.