What To Plant In March?

March is a bustling month for gardeners, marking the transition from winter dormancy to the active growing season. It's prime time to sow various vegetable seeds directly into the garden and indoors for later transplanting.
If you are in a colder zone, you might need to hold off on sowing seeds as part of your kitchen garden until later in the month. However, gardeners in warmer regions can get busy sowing directly in the soil. March is a great time to plant cool-weather vegetables that withstand the last few frosty days.

1. Broad Beans 

Broad beans are productive, easy-growing, developing tender beans in large pods. They are a cool season crop usually grown in the spring, from March to June, as they prefer colder conditions.
You can sow your broad bean seeds under cover in February and March and directly sow in the garden from March onwards. Sow directly, spacing the seeds 30 cm apart. You can also grow broad beans in pots and use young shoot tips in salads.

2. Peas

People typically plant peas in early spring, like March, February, or April. Plant peas as soon as you can work the ground, usually in March.

Sow peas in large pots for shoots or the ground for peas. You can choose hardy, early varieties for sowing in March. You can sow them in single or double lines, 5cm deep and 30 cm apart, and cover them with soil or compost.

3. Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts are a cool-season vegetable that benefits from being started early in the season to ensure they mature before colder months.

They mature best in cool and even in lightly frosty weather. Most gardeners sow their seeds indoors in March, allowing them to grow into seedlings before transplanting outdoors once the weather is suitable.

4. Potatoes 

March is a pleasant month for planting different potato varieties. By planting potatoes in March, you can benefit from harvesting before early summer, because the excess tropical climate can damage plants or cause certain diseases.

You can plant the first potatoes in early March. As they can deal with a light frost, since the soil insulates them, you can sow this vegetable two to four weeks before the last frost date.

5. Broccoli

March can be a good time to plant broccoli, depending on your local climate and whether you're starting seeds indoors or outdoors. It is better to plant broccoli seeds indoors in March or February. 

Starting seeds indoors in March allows you to get a head start on the growing season, especially in regions with shorter growing seasons. Use small pots with seedling compost and sow seedlings in small batches every few weeks. 

6. Sweet Pepper

Sweet peppers usually require warmth and sunlight and do best in pots, ideally in a greenhouse. It is best to plant if you start the seeds indoors to germinate, making March a suitable time to begin growing them for later outdoor planting, depending on the climate conditions.

You can start seeds indoors in early March or plant them precisely outdoors in late March or early April. You should ensure your indoor environment is warm enough, as peppers need warm soil to germinate.

7. Tomatoes

People consider March the perfect time to plant tomatoes and pepper seeds indoors so they can be ready for early spring planting. They can withstand those last frost days of March and April, making them preferable to plant easily indoors.

Begin tomatoes off in a heated glasshouse, or use a sunny windowsill, and then plant them out once all threats of frost pass out. Sowing in early spring will emerge as a tastier summer crop if provided with plenty of light and warmth.

March is a great time to start sowing flower seeds for a vibrant summer garden. There is a high scope to sow many flower seeds in March. Gardeners scatter many hardy annuals directly outdoors, while others benefit from being started gently under cover. 

Many options also thrive on being picked to be used in beautiful floral displays, filling your garden with color. Choosing the right ones for your conditions is key, but with a little planning, you can create a flourishing garden that will bring joy throughout the warmer months.

1. Sweet Peas

Sweet peas are perennial favorites among gardeners, and they come in huge varieties and colors. You can sow sweet peas under cover from October to March either indoors in cold climates or outdoors directly into flower beds in warmer zones.

While planting, the higher temperatures and light levels mean you do not need additional heat and grow lights to get strong and healthy plants. Sow seeds between late February and March and transplant them outside when the soil can get worked.

2. Pot Marigold

That's usually somewhere in the first half of March if you want to sow pot marigold seeds outside in early spring as soon as the snow melts and the soil thaws. 

The seeds take about two months to sprout. The plants then grow rapidly for two months, making it easy to plant out in May. People also sow them directly into the ground in March in milder climates because they are hardy annuals.

3. Cosmos

Cosmos are cheerful, daisy-like flowers, found in various colors, including pink, purple, white, and orange. Starting them in March gives them a good head start for a long blooming season.
You can start by growing them from seed undercover in March to April or buying cosmos seedlings. Space the seedings about 30 cm apart in good compost, keep them watered, and they will flower by early July.

4. Zinnia

Zinnia are half-hardy annuals and warm-seasonal flowers sown indoors from February to April. They are an excellent attraction for butterflies and other pollinators. They are also warm-season annuals and need warm soils to germinate. 

They need to wait a little longer, so, when we grow zinnias from seed, we should start them around the end of March. You can also set out larger plants by starting them in early March.

5. Achillea

Achillea has become popular and used widely in perennial and wildlife planting schemes. Gardeners value Achillea for their feathery foliage and beautiful flat-topped flowers.

The best time to plant this flower is in early spring, after the last frost, ideally from March to late June or early July. Planting it in spring gives the plant time to establish roots before the next flowering season. You should maintain free-draining soil in full sun to partial shade for growing Achillea.

6. Cornflowers

Cornflower is an herbaceous annual plant highly prized for its brilliant blue flowers, frilly double blossoms with fringed petals, and delicate gray-green feather foliage. People can grow its seeds all year round, however, the best time to sow lies in March to April.

It is a good time to plant cornflowers as long as the last frost passes. Choose a sunny location with well-drained soil and sow seeds thinly, about 1 cm deep, and 5 cm apart with periodic watering.

7. Nicotiana

Nicotiana is a half-hardy annual that produces highly fragrant trumpet-shaped flowers in various shades of white, pink, red, and more. Gardeners usually grow nicotianas in moist, well-drained soil, in full sun to partial shade.

For planting, you should sow the seeds thinly onto moist, light compost from February to March. The seeds should only be covered lightly and kept under glass or indoors at around 18-20 degrees Celsius. Planting nicotiana seeds indoors in March can help produce healthy plants that bloom in early summer.

March is the last chance to plant many bare-rooted fruit trees and the best time to sow and plant different varieties of berries.

As the soil thaws and temperatures rise, many fruit trees, bushes, and vines revive from inactivity, ready to establish roots and flourish in the coming months. It further marks the shift from winter's cold to spring's warmness, making it an ideal time to plant various fruit-bearing plants.

1. Strawberries

The best time to plant strawberries depends on their type, soil, and the weather. However, March seems to be a preferable time to plant these berries.
With potted ones, plant in mid-March outside for the best results. You can plant them in strawberry beds, pots, or hanging baskets, ensuring any plant pots have drainage holes. The bare-rooted ones can get planted earlier, while the potted ones can get planted in mid-March.

2. Figs

Planting a fig tree in early spring gives the tree ample time to develop a strong root system before winter. March provides mild temperatures that are ideal for young trees to establish themselves.
Usually, March month falls within the early spring period, allowing them to establish roots before the summer heat arrives. Most experienced gardeners plant figs in early spring after the last frost for the best results.

3. Pears

Bare-root pear trees are another excellent choice for what to plant in March, as this month is the last one of their dormant period.

Plant bare-root pear trees when dormant, between November and March, and potted pear trees at other times of year. Dig a square-shaped hole so the roots spread out evenly into the surrounding soil, then top-dress with a generous mulch of well-rotted manure.

4. Raspberries

As long as the ground isn't frozen, March can be a good time to plant raspberries, as it falls in between their dormant season. They usually prefer fertile, well-drained, moisture-retentive soil, which is slightly acidic.

They do best in a sunny location with sandy loam soil with a high organic matter content. Planting during this time focuses mainly on root development rather than top growth. Also, it gives raspberries a chance to establish roots before the major growing season begins.

5. Citrus

It is a good time to plant citrus trees in March as it falls within the early spring period, considered an optimal time for planting due to warmer temperatures and adequate moisture from winter rains.

Choose a spot with a higher elevation where it drains well. These trees need at least six hours of sunlight to fruit reliably. Dig a hole twice as wide as the spot the tree came in place, the tree in the hole, and fill it with soil after loosening the rootball or removing dead roots.

6. Blueberries

You can plant blueberries in March, especially those in milder climates. March is among the two ideal times to sow blueberries, allowing its bushes to establish their root systems before the summer heat.

To do this, plant your blueberry plant as deep in the ground as it was in the pot and water it well. It's best to remove the flowers from the bush the first year, so the plant has enough strength to establish itself.

Since they are sensitive to late frosts, ensure that the threat of frost passes away before planting. Otherwise, the yield will suffer late in the summer. 

7. Apples

People can plant bare-root apple trees between November and March when they are in their dormant phase. The early spring period is ideal for trees to establish their root systems during the warmer soil temperature and ample spring rain.

Choose a sunny spot with well-draining soil. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and deep enough so the swollen part at the base of the trunk is 2-4 inches above ground level. Carefully loosen the roots and place the tree in the hole. Refill with soil, firming gently. Water thoroughly and add a layer of mulch to maintain moisture.