Spring is the most active time to be in the garden. March is the month gardeners get ready to take full advantage of the growing season ahead. During the winter, garden plans are made, and seeds are ordered. By the time spring comes around, we are more than ready for action.
Here is what you can do to get your garden ready for the season:
- Conduct a spring inspection to see if any cold, ice, or snow damaged plants and/or if any hardscaping elements such as walls, fences, benches and trellises, have shifted or rotted
- Take stock of any vegetables that you have overwintered
- Free up garden space by harvesting the last of the leafy winter greens such as kale
- Clear out any debris from your pond or water feature and scrub and sterilize your bird bath and containers
- Test your garden soil – it is recommended to test your garden soil every 3-5 years to see what nutrients or materials it needs
- Be ready to take cover in areas where late spring frosts and freezes are a possibility – be prepared to cover up plants that have tender emerging buds
Many seeds can be started indoors such as cabbage, cauliflower, chives, leeks, lettuce, onions and peppers then are transplanted into the ground. Seeds to direct sow in March include:
Keep in mind your climate, space, tastes and level of expertise when choosing which seeds to sow. It is important to know the last average frost date in your region to help determine when to direct sow, when to transplant, cover and how long to stretch the growing season before harvest.
Be sure to check ‘Regional Planting Charts’ from West Coast Seeds to see a vegetable planting chart of the most common average frost dates for your given area: https://www.westcoastseeds.com/pages/regional-planting-charts