15 Best Fruits and Vegetables to Plant During the Spring

Peas generally don’t travel well and tend to lose their snap if they’re not kept cold. Find them at farmers' markets this time of year, or plant them yourself about six weeks before the last frost date. Most types need a trellis to climb, but they’ll be fresher and more delicious than anything you can buy at the market.

Try a recipe: Spring Crudités Board with White Bean-and-Pea Dip

Technically a veggie, rhubarb has a tart kick that works well in both sweet and savory dishes. Although you can find it frozen year-round, spring is typically the only time you’ll find it fresh. It’s easy to grow, but you’ll need a dedicated space in the garden because it’s one of the few perennial vegetables.

Try a recipe: Mini Strawberry-Rhubarb Galettes

Baby lettuce is one of the true delights of spring! Sure, you can find it year-round in supermarkets, but farmers' markets have more varieties. Plus, it’s ridiculously easy-to-grow. Sprinkle seeds in window boxes or garden beds every few weeks, keeping the soil moist, for a steady harvest throughout the spring.

Try a recipe: Simple Locally Grown Green Salad

Strawberries are often picked before they’re fully ripe so they can survive the trip from growers. That means they’re not as sweet as those you’ll find locally at farmers' markets from May to early July. Strawberries also grow well in raised beds or containers on your patio. (Here's more about How to Grow Strawberries.)

Read more: 48 Best Strawberry Recipes to Make the Season's Bounty Last

Ramps are wild leeks with a flavor that’s somewhere between an onion and garlic. The season is short, and you usually can only find these at farmers' markets. Use them in any dish where you would leeks or sweet onions.

Try a recipe: Buttered Leek and Gruyere Galette

If you try only one new vegetable this season, make it asparagus! The most tender spears are harvested in early to mid spring. They’re another perennial vegetable you can grow in garden beds, although it can take a few seasons to establish enough of a crop to get a good harvest.

Try a recipe: Asparagus Frittata with Burrata and Herb Pesto

You’ll find avocados at the market year-round, but the most popular type, Hass, is at peak season from May through August. They’re typically the silkiest and most creamy to eat fresh or in dishes such as guacamole.

Try a recipe: Creamy Avocado Dip with Scallions

This heirloom green, which is laced with pretty red veins, isn’t very well-known. But its lemony kick makes it a great addition to salads. It’s a perennial that’s easy to grow from seed, and it’s one of the first plants to appear in your garden in the spring. It lasts until hot weather kicks in, then revives again when cool temperatures appear in fall.

Try a recipe: 36 Summer Salads that Make the Most of Produce Season

Mango is a fruit you can always buy at the store, but they’re best during Florida's peak harvest season from May to October. They make a great accompaniment to both sweet and savory dishes.

Try a recipe: Grilled Pork Chops with Mango Sauce

Blueberries are harvested locally from late spring to early summer. These tend to be sweeter than those you can buy the rest of the year, so look for local pick-your-own farms.

Try a recipe: Blueberry Buckle Muffins

Spring onions have a bulb-shaped end, not the more uniform shape of scallions. You’ll find them at specialty grocers and farmers' markets in the spring.

Try a recipe: Sweet-and-Sour Onions

Like most citrus fruits, you’ll find grapefruits year-round at the market. But peak season is midwinter to early spring. Pick those that feel heavy when comparing fruits, which indicates they’re extra-juicy.

Try a recipe: Pink Grapefruit Margaritas

This peppery-tasting green is outstanding for spicing up salads, pizzas or frittatas. Like most greens, it prefers the cooler weather of spring (or fall), but it’s an easy crop to grow in your garden alongside other salad greens.

Try a recipe: Pear, Prosciutto, and Goat Cheese Pizza with Arugula

Shallots have a mild onion flavor but with more of a rich, buttery taste. You’ll find them year-round but they’re especially delicious in spring. They’re easy to grow, too (learn more about How to Grow Onions).

Try a recipe: Citrus Salad with Shallot Vinaigrette

Apricots have tender flesh that doesn’t travel long-distances well because they bruise easily. But peak season is from May to September, so grab them while you can.

Try a recipe: Apricot-Prosciutto Focaccia