Many people consider March to be the first month of spring. The weather begins to get milder, green shoots start appearing, and there are more daylight hours to spend outside.
This is when a lot of gardeners start to prepare their garden ready for planting and the seasons ahead.
But what should you be planting in March? There are plenty of plants you can choose to use in your garden that should be going in the ground during the month of March.
We have put together this helpful guide to give you some suggestions. If you are looking for gardening inspiration then keep reading.
General Tips
Once you get that first taste of spring you will no doubt be keen to get out and start working in your garden. Here are a few things that you should keep in mind:
Mud – February and March can be quite rainy months, so there may be a lot of mud in your garden.
Seedlings– If you have already started some seedlings off indoors or in a greenhouse, these should be suitable to plant in March. Once you can see the roots coming out of the bottom of the pot they have grown big enough to be planted in the ground.
Mail Order Plants – If you order your plants online then make sure you unwrap them as soon as they are delivered. They will need a bit of perking up after their journey. Make sure the roots stay damp and don’t dry out, and keep them in a protected area until the soil conditions are right for planting.
Trees – If you have trees that need to be transplanted, some of them work best when they are transplanted in the Spring months. However, if the soil is too wet then the tree will not grow well so you might need to wait a few weeks. Remember that woody plants prefer wider holes to deeper holes.
Shrubs – As soon as the soil is no longer frozen you can begin to plant shrubs as soon as they begin to be sold at your local garden centers and nurseries.
Temperature – If you aren’t sure whether to plant certain seeds, use a soil thermometer to check the temperature of the ground. If you plant seeds when the soil is still too cold then you could end up killing them or stunning their growth.
Vegetables To Plant In March
Whilst March is the beginning of spring, the weather can still be quite cold. It is best to plant vegetables that are able to tolerate some colder temperatures. Here are some ideas for what you can plant in March.
Peas
Peas are a great vegetable to plant in March because they grow well in cooler temperatures. If you want to stagger the cropping of your peas then plant a row every two weeks.
This means you will have less waste if you can’t use them all at once. You should plant the peas about 1.5 inches deep, leaving 2 inches between each plant and 6 inches between each row.
Brussel Sprouts take around 35 weeks from planting to harvesting, so getting them in the ground in March will allow you to enjoy eating them in the fall months.
You will need to keep the seeds warm initially with fleece or cold frames, so it is best to start them off in a seed bed.
Once they have sprouted they can handle cold weather and even a bit of frost without their growth being stunted.
Asparagus
As soon as the ground is workable and no longer frozen, you can start planting asparagus. Remember not to harvest the asparagus in the first year – you have to plan quite far ahead if you want to enjoy home grown asparagus.
Potatoes
At the start of March, plant some potato seeds and keep the seedlings in a warm bright spot such as a windowsill. As soon as they are ready to be planted you can get them in the ground.
Carrots make another good choice for a root vegetable to plant in early spring.
Broccoli, Cauliflower & Cabbage
These types of vegetables do well planted outside in March if you use a cold weather cover or frame to start them off. Try and choose a protected spot in the garden.
You can start them off indoors if you prefer, but indoor conditions can sometimes be too warm for these plants and cause their stalks to grow too long.
Indoor Planting
There are plenty of vegetables that you can start off as indoor seedlings during the month of March- squash, sweet potato, peppers and eggplant.
If you have already started some onion and leek seedlings then check to see if they are ready to be moved outside.
Fruits To Plant In March
If you want to enjoy some sweet, tasty homegrown fruit in the summer months then you need to start planting them in Spring. There are several kinds of fruit that you can start to plant in March.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes can be started off in a greenhouse and then moved outside as soon as there is no more frost.
The earlier you can safely get them outside, the better the flavor and color of the tomatoes will be when it comes time to harvest them.
Strawberries
If you are growing strawberries from the seed rather than from a semi-grown plant, then you need to get the seed in the ground early in Spring.
Remember not to harvest the strawberry plant in its first year if you are growing it from a seed – it is similar to asparagus in this way.
You will need to choose a spot that gets a lot of sunlight to ensure that when your strawberries are ready to eat they are red and sweet.
Raspberries
Raspberries are best planted in early Spring, especially if you are planting them from a bare root bush. The soil needs to be fertile and regularly watered, but water logging can cause issues so it also needs to be free-draining soil.
They can handle a bit of cool weather without it affecting their growth.
Flowers To Plant In March
If you want your garden to be a beautiful display of blooming flowers in the summer then you need to start your planting in the early Spring. There are plenty of flowers that you can plant in March.
Pot Marigold
Pot marigolds are stunning flowers with orange and crimson coloring. They can be planted undercover in March and then uncovered in May.
They flower from June to August and are perfect for adding a splash of color to your garden, a bouquet of flowers, or even a salad as the petals are edible. As the name suggests, they grow well in a pot.
Cornflowers
Cornflowers make a beautiful addition to any garden, with various shades of blue and lilac flowers that stand out against green grass and shrubbery.
You can plant the seeds under cover or in the garden during March and expect to see flowers blooming between June and August.
Birds love cornflower seeds, so if you enjoy bird watching you can collect the seeds as you deadhead the flowers and use them on your bird table.
Bishops Weed
This stunning plant flowers from the seed head, giving it an interesting structure and shape in the garden. The delicate white flowers stand out against dark colors or green bushes.
If you sew the seeds in March you will see flowers from June right through to September. The seedlings should be at least 12 inches apart in the ground.
Annuals
If you want to sew some seeds for annual flowers directly into the ground during March, you could go for poppies, sweet peas, nasturtium, or mignonette.
Other annuals like petunias and alyssum can be planted indoors under a lamp. Snapdragon and pansy seedlings can be planted outside under a cold frame from late March onwards.
Dividing Perennials
March is a good time to carry out some maintenance on your flower beds. The perennial plants that bloom in summer and fall can be divided in March. Loosen the soil with a fork, lifting clumps up.
Use a knife or the sharp edge of a shovel to chop the plants. The outer portion is the younger bit that needs to be kept, and the inner portion can be discarded.
Herbs like basil, parsley, thyme and oregano can be started off indoors under a light during March, ready to be moved outside during the warmer weather.
Outdoor Planting
If you want to sow herb seeds directly outside in March then you could try some cilantro, chervil, dill, and lemon balm.
Summary
There are plenty of things you can do in March if you want to get started in the garden and prepare some crops for the months ahead.
These plants can all be planted in March to make your garden a rich variety of exciting fruit, vegetables, flowers and herbs.
