By John Monzingo, Assistant County Agent

The official start of spring is March 20. As daylight increases and temperatures begin to warm, many people feel encouraged to spend more time outdoors. Vegetable gardeners are no exception. They often begin the season by collecting soil samples to determine nutrient needs and by monitoring the weather for the optimal time to plant their crops.

Even though we are still about 30 days from the official start of spring, several vegetables can be planted earlier. 

Above are examples of crops suitable for planting before March 20.

You may be thinking that you don’t have room for a traditional in‑ground garden. A simple solution for limited space is to use raised beds, window boxes, or even 5‑gallon buckets. Many warm‑season crops, including those listed above, perform well in container gardens.

For more vegetable options and variety recommendations, please contact John Monzingo at 318‑927‑3110 or 318‑371‑1371.

It is the policy of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, or disability.