If you live in Missouri and want to plan your vegetable garden for this year, choosing the right plants and correctly timing them is essential. There are many delicious options to pick so that you can have a supply of fresh foods at home. Below are a few to include this year.

Vegetables for Your Missouri Garden This Spring

1. Tomatoes

A staple in most gardens, there are many varieties of tomatoes, so finding your favorite is easy. From “big beef” to cherry tomatoes like the “Juliet,” these colorful vegetables are versatile and can be eaten raw in salads, or cooked in sauces.

Whichever you select, start them indoors in March and April, and transition them after the frost in late May and early June. Make sure they are at least four to six inches in height before you transfer them to your outside garden.

2. Spinach

Spinach, particularly the Melody variety, works well in spring and fall. It also features a longer growing season so that you can have a garden filled with delicious greens. Begin your seeds inside at the beginning of April and start moving them at the end of the month or in early May to their outside spot.

3. Carrots

Carrots are cooler season plants, but knowing your soil type will determine which variety you should pick. Most do well in sandier soil, but if your garden is more clay, opt for the Scarlet Nantes.  Seed them indoors at the beginning of April and transition them outside in mid-May. Since these are root vegetables, you can harvest them early as baby carrots, or wait until they are fully mature.

4. Cucumbers

Cucumbers are a refreshing addition to any salad, especially in the hot summer. When adding cucumbers to your vegetable garden, start your seeds inside in mid-May, but don’t move them out until late June. This will ensure they are healthy enough to survive the summer.

5. Leaf Lettuce

The spectrum of colors and flavors for leaf lettuce is extensive, from Buttercrunch to Black Seeded Simpson. You should sow the seeds in lower temperatures, however, since lettuce won’t germinate if the soil is higher than 80 degrees. Mid-April is a desirable time to start so that you can move them in the middle of May. Lettuce is also ready to harvest in about two months, giving you fresh leaves for summer salads.

When it comes to local produce, Growing Food Growing People is the organization to trust for farm-to-table donations to schools, restaurants, and more in the St. Louis, MO, region. Their services help promote appreciation and understanding of how healthy eating is crucial for people of all ages. Their fresh produce has helped the community find nutritious, all-natural ways to incorporate organic farming into their lives. To get involved, call (314) 518-2048. Visit their website for more on their services.