Early spring

Early bloomers such as winter aconites, snowdrops and crocus send the first greetings of spring in the garden. They are an important source of food for the first wild bees and other “early starters” from the insect kingdom. Particularly practical: snowdrops are sometimes spread by ants, which fancy the seeds. Over time, this creates a first attractive carpet of flowers when the winter grey still prevails in nature.  

“Lasagna Primavera“ for balconies and terraces 

Early flowering bulbous plants such as grape hyacinths, crocuses and tulips can also be impressively displayed in pots. The preparation of a “flower bulb lasagna” begins in fall, when different types of bulbs are planted in layers in the pot. In a sheltered location, these will bloom in the first few months of the year and provide insects such as bumblebees and wild bees with a reliable food source. After flowering, the pot can be moved to a less conspicuous place to serve as an easy-care feast for the eyes and food again next year.  

Those who can't wait for spring can plant winter jasmine. From the turn of the year, the shrub offers nectar, a beguiling fragrance, delicate blossoms and slender climbing branches – perfect for balconies or terraces. 

Fresh vegetables – extra early from the garden 

With perennial vegetables such as rhubarb, a little trick becomes handy to harvest them earlier: as soon as the first shoots sprout from the ground, place a large, dark bucket over them – the spring sun warms the soil more intensively so that the plant sprouts faster. In addition, the aroma of the precious stalks becomes more delicate. 

A tasty start to spring can be made at the beginning of the year in the greenhouse or on the windowsill. This is not just a place to overwinter herbs or grow chilies and microgreens. It is also an ideal place to pre-grow plants such as eggplants, kohlrabi or lettuce for the vegetable patch. Pre-planting offers several advantages: 

• Enables the cultivation of thermophile plants with long development times   

• Enlarges the time window for harvesting 

• Gives the seedlings a head start over weeds  

• Faster growth thanks to constant light, temperature and water conditions 

• The anticipation of the new gardening season increases when you can watch plants grow 

Tips for pre-planting and planting in the bed 

Despite all the anticipation, pre-cultivation should not start too early. The plants should be pre-grown indoors at the earliestsix weeks before planting outdoors. As many of these plants are sensitive to frost, they should only be planted outdoors after the last night frosts. 

• Pre-growing vegetables and annual summer flowers works well in simple containers. If you want to save money and resources, mini greenhouses can be made from empty milk cartons, PET bottles or transparent fruit packaging.   

• Sowing small seeds such as carrots, lettuce or summer flowers is tricky. A simple solution is fixing the seeds in a seed tape at the appropriate planting distance. You can easily make your own seed tape from a roll of paper or newspaper using flour paste. Then place the tape in the soil and keep it evenly moist with a fine spray of water from the pump sprayer.  

• Lavender can be easily propagated by cuttings in spring. This quickly produces many plants that provide flowers for insects and people in summer. Use a soft sprayer to keep the cuttings moist until roots form. 

Once the plant favourites have been planted in the raised bed, they need to be supplied with water regularly so that they can thrive optimally. Automatic drip irrigation systems supply the plants with water as needed and ensure healthy plant development. 

Abstract: Calling spring a little earlier? It's possible with a little planning and clever watering. GARDENA shows what flower bulb lasagna and early risers from the animal kingdom have in common and how pre-planting works.