What lovely weather it has become, both outside and in the greenhouse. It is truly full-blown spring now!
This year, we started giving a Starter Workshop for new gardeners at MOES in the No Dig Education Garden. By now, over 30 people have participated. Thank you for your enthusiasm and great questions!
What to sow in March?
A quick tip for success:
We sow throughout the summer and still start all the non-hardy seeds (e.g., tomatoes) listed below in seed trays to germinate indoors. For best results, keep them at room temperature while they germinate. Once they sprout, they need plenty of light, so place them on a sunny windowsill or, preferably, under grow lights (our absolute recommendation to prevent leggy plants and get strong seedlings).
Tomato, tomatillo & okra → It is time for the stars of the summer garden! Start them indoors from March 1st. We recommend using airy potting soil (mix your regular compost with vermiculite or use special seed starting mix) to promote germination. They must be repotted into larger pots before they can be planted out in the garden from mid-April.
Carrots & parsnips → These must be sown directly in the open ground. March is the perfect time to start. When sowing, ensure sufficient space and air between the seeds so that you are better protected against downy mildew later in the season when humidity is higher.
Non-hardy herbs and flowers → From mid-March to early April is the ideal time to start tomato companions such as basil and dwarf marigolds indoors. You can also sow most flowers now, including cosmos, zinnias, dahlias (pre-germinate tubers), nasturtiums, and sunflowers.
Legumes & grains → For pole beans, bush beans, soybeans, edamame, peanuts, chickpeas, and corn, we prefer to wait until the second half of March. If you start earlier, keep in mind that you must repot them into larger pots in mid-April before planting them out.
Cucumbers → We recommend waiting until the second half of March to sow cucumber, courgette, melon, pumpkin, and luffa. They grow very quickly and need to be repotted several times if you start too early. From mid-April, they can go into the garden, provided the temperatures allow it.
Summer leafy vegetables → Amaranth, bitawiri, and New Zealand spinach can be started indoors in March to be planted out after mid-April.
Leeks (summer, autumn, and winter leeks) → Start this in mid-March; April is also still suitable. We like to repot them twice before they finally go into the garden in May, June, or even July. They grow slowly, making them perfect for filling empty spaces created after harvesting spring lettuce or beets, for example.
What to plant out in March?
cold-tolerant crops → Anything that can withstand a bit of cold can go into the ground now! Think of lettuce, beets, radishes, onions, spring onions, peas, broad beans, and spinach. You can also plant out hardy herbs like dill and parsley, as well as flowers such as sea aster and licorice.
Wait until mid-April for heat-loving plants. → Wait until at least mid-April to plant out eggplants, peppers, ginger, and new seedlings such as tomatoes and okra. They require warmer night temperatures and warmer soil to grow well with increasing light intensity.
Chores for this month
Manage your fleece → Due to rising temperatures, it is time to remove the fleece during mild periods so that the plants can breathe. However, keep it within reach to protect vulnerable young seedlings when the cold returns.
Weed more often → As it gets warmer, the weeds are coming up again. By tackling them early now, you will save yourself hours of work in April.
Support your climbing vegetables → Provide sturdy support where necessary, especially for peas and broad beans during their growth spurt in the spring. Our trellises are now filling up with new pea shoots, and they will certainly appreciate the extra support.
Start watering → Start a regular and thorough watering routine now that the weather is becoming drier. Pay extra attention to new plantings that are still rooting. Deep watering (at least 3–5 minutes per bed, once a week) is better for plant health than shallow and more frequent watering.
Protect young plants against slugs (and aphids) → Keep a close eye on your young seedlings and protect them against slugs, which become much more active this month. Aphids are also increasing in number. Regularly check the young shoots and remove them by hand or spray them away with water. The most important thing is to keep the plant as healthy as possible (with sufficient water and compost) so that it remains strong enough until ladybugs and other insects eat the aphids en masse, and the problem often resolves itself.
Good luck and have fun in your vegetable garden this month!