it's time to plant your cold weather vegetables in the western suburbs of chicago

if you live in naperville, plainfield, batavia, geneva, wheaton, downers grove, lisle, or anywhere else in the western suburbs of chicago, now is the perfect time to get your cold weather seeds and plants into the ground. early spring is the best window to grow hardy vegetables that actually love a little chill in the air. trust me, your future self will thank you when you’re harvesting all those fresh greens and delicious, healthy veggies before the summer heat rolls in.

cold-loving veggies you can plant right now include spinach, kale, lettuce, radishes, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, turnips, onions, beets, and peas. these plants are tough enough to handle our cooler temperatures and even a light frost here and there. getting them in early gives them a strong head start before pests and hot temps become an issue later on.

good soil is absolutely key when it comes to a thriving vegetable garden. you’ll want to mix in plenty of compost to feed your plants with the nutrients they need. adding a little sand to your soil blend can also help with drainage, which is so important with all the spring rains we get in the western suburbs. healthy, loose soil means strong roots, better yields, and fewer headaches for you.

thinking about making gardening even easier this year? raised garden beds are a game changer. first, they offer great rabbit resistance—those little guys love a free buffet, and a raised bed helps keep your hard work protected. second, the extra height saves your back and knees, making it so much more comfortable to plant, weed, and harvest. third, raised beds let you start fresh with the perfect soil mix, rather than trying to work with whatever heavy clay or rocky mess you might have in your yard.

if you’re ready to build your dream vegetable garden, rooted outdoor living is here to help you design and install beautiful raised beds built for our chicagoland climate. let’s get those seeds in the ground and kick off an amazing growing season together!