Flowers & Vegetables That Can Be Planted When The Snow Melts

Have you ever felt mildly depressed seeing the pictures of gardeners who live in a climate where things are green by the end of March/beginning of April? Have you ever seethed with envy seeing these same warm-climate gardeners start to do actual gardening or have the very first inklings of a harvest during this same time period? Do you look out your window at three feet of snow (minimum!) with above-freezing temperatures far off in the distance?

While we cold-climate gardeners will probably always experience the green-eyed monster during this time, take heart. You can actually start gardening as soon as the snow melts–especially if you have raised beds. Many cold-tolerant plants prefer to be seeded as soon as the soil can be worked. While you can’t just put any old plant outdoors and hope for the best, you can scratch that gardening itch and have an earlier harvest when everyone is still dreaming.

A woman with long brown hair smiles as she tends to a plant in a garden. She is wearing a pink blouse with a light striped shirt over it. The garden is lush and green, and she is surrounded by various flowers and plants. The sun is shining brightly.

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Figuring Out Spring Extension

When I first started out on this journey to extend my season, I was met with much hesitation. Most gardeners use the May Long Weekend (3rd weekend in May) as their safe-to-plant day, and no seed shall go out before then. But I had seen the occasional person use a cold frame and knew it was possible. I was also motivated by a severe lack of space under my grow lights and needed any plant that could handle it to get outdoors ASAP! As I started my experiments, I had three main questions:

What plants could survive the last frost?

How could I use cold frames & row covers effectively?

How much earlier would I need to start these plants?

I started by researching cold-tolerant plants and by trying anything that said it liked cooler temperatures on a seed packet. Anything with directions to plant as soon as the soil could be worked was fair game! I also used row covers like this one, as I found they were a bit more forgiving than cold frames.

Honestly, many plants were killed along the way–especially cut flowers! I needed to know how much I could push these plants, and the only way to find out was to take some risks.

Eventually, I would come up with four main rules to guide my early plantings.

My Working Rules

Aim to plant all plants as soon as the soil can be worked or shortly after
Start any plants that aren’t direct sown with an April 15-30 plant date in mind
Raised beds work best
Start hardening off outdoors as soon as the weather allows

A woman wearing a floral dress and a wide-brimmed hat stands at the open door of a small greenhouse surrounded by lush greenery and flowers. She holds a bouquet of flowers, smiling at the camera. Pathways bordered by raised garden beds lead to the greenhouse.

The Most Important Rule Before You Get Started

When you start experimenting with early season growing, one rule must be followed: don’t plant anything you aren’t willing to lose or replace! Living in a place like Saskatchewan, you must be prepared for the possibility of surprise -10 to -20 temperatures late into the season. So please don’t put all your hopes, dreams, and most precious plants into your cool-season garden!

A good rule of thumb with any precious starts you’re worried about, but want to plant anyway, is only to plant half of what you have early. That way, you’re still freeing up space in your grow room, but you won’t lose everything should the worst happen.

Don’t Forget to water!

The other thing that will kill your plants (besides the cold) is forgetting to water them. I don’t know why, but my brain doesn’t register that I need to water my plants until I send out mostly everything in late May. Check your plants every day, and water accordingly.

Since there are still freezing temperatures occasionally overnight, you likely can not use your hoses without risking them breaking. Unfortunately, this means many trips to the sink indoors with the watering can. However, the annoyance of making many trips is far less than having a burst hose (or worse, a burst pipe and an expensive plumbing bill).

Cool-Loving vs Heat-Loving Plants

Cool-loving plants can be planted out early once the snow melts and the soil is workable, whereas heat-loving plants need warmer soil temperatures and can’t tolerate frost. Tomatoes, peppers, and other heat-loving plants will suffer if you stick them out too early! If you want to push the boundaries of your garden, try it with cool-loving plants, not heat-loving plants. Doing this ensures you kill fewer plants!

A close-up view of pink statice flowers with slender green stems in the foreground. The background displays garden planters filled with lush greenery against a backdrop of trees and a bright sky, indicating a serene garden setting during sunset.

COOL-LOVING VEGETABLES FOR EARLY PLANTING

1. Arugula

Arugula is one of the quickest greens to grow and is delicious in salads and on top of your pizza.

A white plate with a blue rim sits on a blue and white checkered cloth, topped with a cooked egg, melted cheese, and fresh arugula. To the right of the plate are a knife and fork with wooden handles.

2. Asian Greens

I love growing bok choi, as it’s quick to grow and delicious in stir fry or as a baby green in salads.

A close-up of a single fresh bok choy with white stalks and dark green leaves placed on a light-colored surface, against a plain background. The vegetable is shown from the side, highlighting its crisp texture and leafy greens.

3. Beets

Beets are a bit less cold-tolerant than some of the others listed here and can be used for both the roots and the greens.

Freshly harvested beetroots with vibrant pink stems and roots, laid out on a concrete surface. The beetroots are partially covered in soil, suggesting they were recently pulled from the ground.

4. Broccoli

You can direct sow broccoli or put your starts out.

A fresh head of broccoli with tightly packed florets surrounded by green leaves grows in a garden. The vibrant green foliage contrasts with the broccoli's slightly lighter hue. The garden soil and mulch are visible around the plant.

5. Brussels Sprouts

Close-up image of Brussels sprouts growing on a stalk. The small, green, round vegetables are clustered along the length of the thick, light green stem. The background includes green leaves and a blurred garden setting.

6. Cabbage

A close-up image of a purple cabbage head surrounded by large green leaves. The purple leaves of the cabbage are tightly packed, with some outer leaves showing hints of green and purple. The cabbage appears fresh with natural texture and color variations.

7. Carrots

Carrots are tricky to germinate. Cover with a board or cloth to help keep the moisture in.

An assortment of colorful carrots, including yellow, orange, and purple varieties, lays side by side on a rustic wooden surface. Each carrot has its green tops still attached, showcasing slight differences in size and shape.

8. Cauliflower

A woman wearing a floral dress joyfully throws cauliflower plants into the air while standing in a lush garden. Behind her is a white shed and tall greenery. A basket and various plants are visible around her. — This cauliflower was ready for the compost, so I didn’t feel bad about tossing it in the air. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower are always a little hit-and-miss for me as a gardener.

9. Kale

Kale is very cold tolerant and a good vegetable to start with in your cold-tolerant garden.

Close-up of lush green curly kale leaves with purple stems growing in a garden. The leaves have a ruffled texture and are densely packed together, creating a vibrant and healthy appearance.

10. Lettuce

I like to plant lettuce in many different colours so that my patch is both good to eat and beautiful.

A lush vegetable garden with a variety of leafy greens, including kale, lettuce, and herbs. The plants are vibrant and healthy, surrounded by natural greenery and small flowers in the background.

11. Parsnips

12. Peas

Peas are very cold tolerant and do better planted early than at the usual time in late May.

Close-up of several green pea pods growing on a plant, surrounded by green leaves and other greenery in a garden setting. The pea pods are plump and ready for harvest.

13. Radishes

Another quick to grow crop that is more successful if planted immediately after the snow melts.

Freshly harvested radishes with green leaves still attached, covered in soil, are placed on a rustic wooden surface. The radishes are bright red with white roots, indicating they have just been pulled from a garden bed.

14. Russian Tarragon

Russian tarragon is an extremely tough herb and can handle cold temperatures up to -10°C/50°F.

Close-up of green Russian tarragon plants with slender leaves in a garden, set against a background of lush trees and a grassy area. The sky is mostly clear with patches of clouds visible through the trees.

15. Spinach

The only time I have grown successful spinach was when I started it very early. Whenever I plant it during the May Long Weekend, it bolts before I can eat it.

Close-up of a spinach plant with large, healthy green leaves growing in a garden. Bright orange marigold flowers are visible in the background, adding a splash of color to the lush foliage. The soil appears dark and moist, indicating a well-maintained garden bed.

16. Swiss Chard

My favourite green! Plant the bright lights variety for maximum prettiness.

Close-up of a garden with Swiss chard plants growing. The Swiss chard has vibrant green leaves with red stalks. The surrounding environment shows more leafy greens and some soil. The overall vibe is fresh and healthy.

COOL-LOVING FLOWERS FOR EARLY PLANTING

1. Ammi

Ammi is considered invasive in some areas, so please check your areas invasive plant list before planting!

A close-up of delicate, white ammi flowers on tall green stems in a garden, with blurred raised garden beds and lush green trees visible in the background. The sunlight filters through the trees, creating a warm and serene outdoor atmosphere.

2. Anemones

Anemones are an incredibly tough flower and are good to start with when you’re new to planting early-season cut flowers.

Close-up of a vibrant purple anemone flower with layered petals and a dark center, set against a backdrop of lush greenery. Other flowers, including red ones, are blurred in the background, enhancing the focus on the central purple bloom.

3. Calendula

I love calendula because it is so easy to save seeds from! Plant it in a spot that you want it for years to come, and it will easily reseed itself.

A close-up of a blooming calendula flower with pale pink petals and a dark brown center, surrounded by green leaves and foliage. Another flower bud in the background is partially visible. The petals have a subtle gradient from white to pink at the tips.

4. Cress

Cress is one of my favourite cut flowers, and I was overjoyed to learn that it can handle the cold.

A bundle of fresh green cress with slender stems and small white buds is placed on a rustic wooden surface. The plants appear vibrant and healthy against the weathered grey wood.

5. Dara

Close-up view of a flowering dara plant. The intricate flower head displays numerous small white blossoms arranged in a delicate, umbrella-like cluster against a backdrop of lush green foliage.

6. Forget-Me-Nots

Close-up of a cluster of blue forget-me-nots, with green stems and leaves, against a lush garden background. The sky is partly cloudy, and trees are visible in the distance, creating a serene outdoor setting.

7. Frosted Explosion Grass

Close-up of a patch of green frosted explosion grass with fine, delicate stalks and tiny seed heads. The grass is lush and dense, surrounded by other greenery. The intricate details of the seed heads are prominent, with small seeds extending from thin, wiry stems.

8. Larkspur

Larkspur are happiest direct sown.

A meadow of tall, colorful larkspur flowers under an overcast sky. The flowers, in shades of purple, pink, and blue, stand vibrant against a blurred background of greenery and distant trees.

9. Ranunculus

Because of our short growing season, I always have to start my ranunculus indoors and they are quite sizeable by the time I get them outside.

A hand holding a small bouquet of flowers consisting of a white ranunculus, pink flowers, and some greenery. The background features a garden with lush greenery and a greenhouse under a sunny sky.

10. Saponaria

Close-up of delicate white saponaria flowers with thin, branching stems emerging from a green, leafy background. The image captures the small blossoms in a natural setting, showcasing their intricate details and serene beauty.

11. Snapdragons

Snapdragons are very cold-tolerant in the fall but a bit more tender in the spring.

Tall stalks of snapdragon flowers with vibrant orange and pink petals stand in a garden. The flowers are surrounded by green foliage, and a greenhouse structure can be seen in the background. The scene is bathed in natural sunlight.

12. Statice

Statice is one of my favourite flowers to use, dried or fresh.

Close-up of various statice flowers in a garden. The photo captures pale pink, yellow, and purple flowers with green stems and leaves, all slightly blurred in the background, showcasing a natural, outdoor setting.

13. Stock

Stock has the most delicious scent, and even though it’s a one-and-done flower, it still gets a place in my garden.

A garden bed filled with blooming pastel yellow and peach stock flowers. In the background, a wooden trellis supports green climbing plants, leading up to a beige house with a white-framed window and a small chimney. The scene is bathed in sunlight.

14. Strawflowers

Strawflowers are a little less cold-tolerant than others on this list but can still be planted out early.

Close-up of a blooming pink strawflower with green leaves on a blurred green background. The flower has multiple layers of petals and a smaller bud below it on the same stem. The background consists of various out-of-focus greenery.

15. Sweet Peas

This is my first time starting sweet peas indoors to send out early, and I’m very pleased by how cold-tolerant they are.

Close-up of a delicate purple sweet pea flower with ruffled petals blooming on a stem amidst a garden background. The out-of-focus background features greenery and a soft bokeh effect from sunlight filtering through trees.

There you have it! Growing an early garden can be rewarding and fun!

If you liked this blog post, follow me on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram for more cold-climate gardening tips, delicious recipes, and cut flower goodness! I also make weekly videos over on my YouTube channel. I hope to see you there!

NEED MORE HELP IN THE GARDEN?

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Happy gardening!