Do you enjoy fresh, nutritious vegetables? Experience the joy of gardening by growing your own vegetable garden! With spring approaching and March upon us, now is the ideal time to plant your edible garden. Start with cool-season vegetables and get ready to enjoy warm-weather harvests later. Not sure what to plant or when? Check out this gardening guide featuring our favorite Chef Jeff’s® Vegetables. Discover what’s arriving now, the best times to plant, and helpful tips for a successful vegetable garden!
CHEF JEFF’S® VEGETABLES
Chef Jeff’s® Vegetables offer top-quality, flavorful varieties to inspire your culinary creations. These trusted, GMO-free selections are designed for gardening success! With the right care, they can produce abundant harvests and exceptional produce.
COOL SEASON VEGETABLES
Now is the perfect time to plant cool-season vegetables like broccoli and lettuce. For an early harvest, aim to plant between early and late March, once the risk of the last freeze has passed.
Lettuce, such as Chef Jeff’s® Red Salad Bowl, thrives in temperatures ranging from 40 to 85 degrees, while broccoli flourishes in temperatures up to 75 degrees. Under optimal conditions, these cool-season varieties grow rapidly, providing a delicious and rewarding harvest.
WARM SEASON VEGETABLES
Tomatoes
Did you know that tomatoes are the most popular vegetable crop in Texas? They’re packed with essential vitamins like Vitamin A and Vitamin C and are incredibly versatile—perfect for salads, sandwiches, sauces, or simply sliced with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Delicious! For the best results, plant tomatoes in mid to late March, after the last frost. Some gardeners also choose to get their tomatoes planted in containers early, that way if there is a chance of cold weather, they are easy to move indoors!
One reason tomatoes are a top choice in Texas gardens is the wide variety of options available. Exploring new varieties is a fun way to discover different flavors! Classic favorites like Roma Plum, Better Boy, Beefy Boy, and Beef Master are well-loved for their large, juicy red fruits.
Have you ever tried heirloom tomatoes? Explore our selection of Chef Jeff’s® heirloom varieties, including Caspian Pink, San Marzano, and Black Krim. These tomatoes are cherished for their vibrant colors, diverse textures, unique sizes, and rich flavors. Passed down through generations, their seeds come from plants that yield the best fruit. Since they are open-pollinated, they rely on natural pollinators like birds, insects, and the wind. Add a burst of color and flavor to any dish with these exceptional heirloom tomatoes!
Want to add a pop of color to your tomato garden? Go yellow! Try unique varieties like Yellow Pear, Lemon Boy, and Sungold for a vibrant and delicious harvest!
Peppers
As Texans, it’s no secret that we love peppers! From sweet and crunchy varieties to fiery jalapeños, peppers are a flavorful addition to many of our favorite dishes. Plus, they’re packed with Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and essential minerals for a nutritious boost!
Peppers are incredibly versatile—you can enjoy them raw, tossed in salads, blended into salsas, or even stuffed with a delicious filling. These warm-weather plants thrive when planted in mid-March, after the last freeze. Add flavor to your vegetable garden with mild, sweet varieties like Red Beauty Bell Peppers from Chef Jeff’s®.
Looking for some heat? Turn up the spice with bold choices like Serrano, Tabasco, and Jalapeño peppers!
Cucumbers
Cucumbers are an incredibly versatile vegetable, easy to grow with plenty of sun and warmth. Plant them in late March when the weather and soil start to warm up. They grow quickly and can be enjoyed fresh or preserved as pickles. As a vining crop, cucumbers need space to thrive, with vines that can reach 6 to 8 feet in length.
Explore different cucumber varieties like Bush Pickle and Burpless. Chef Jeff’s® Burpless Cucumbers are perfect for slicing and snacking, great for salads, sandwiches, and dipping. Bush Pickles are ideal for, you guessed it, pickling! If you’re looking to make homemade pickles and have limited space, Bush Pickles are a perfect choice.
Visit your local Calloway’s or Cornelius to discover our wide selection of vegetable varieties, including watermelon plants, sugar snap peas, and much more—fresh deliveries all spring long!
PLANTING TIPS FOR YOUR VEGETABLE GARDEN
- Clear the planting area of weeds and rocks.
- Enrich the soil with Calloway’s Organic Garden Compost and Expanded Shale, or use Calloway’s Organic Container Potting Soil for containers.
- Choose a spot with at least 6 hours of sunlight daily.
- Apply Calloway’s Premium Organic Hardwood Mulch to protect roots and retain moisture.
- Water deeply and regularly for strong root growth.
- Support fruiting plants with tomato cages, a trellis, or stakes.
- Feed as directed with Calloway’s Natural & Organic Lawn & Garden Food or Espoma® Organic® Garden-tone®.
SHOP FOR EDIBLE PLANTS WITH EASE
At Calloway’s Nursery and Cornelius Nursery, we have everything you need to kickstart your vegetable garden! Visit our local stores or shop online!
Come by today and explore our wide selection of premium vegetable plants, soils, garden tools, and more! Have questions? Our Texas Certified Nursery Professionals are here to assist you every step of the way!