What to sow and grow in March.

Now is the traditional month to start sowing almost any vegetables seeds. However, it does depend on where you are in the world and what your weather conditions are. The main thing we have to think about is our last frost date. Click HERE to go to a last frost date map. Keep in mind that these are only averages. So it's always best to keep an eye on your preferred weather app.

A lot of last months sowings can also be done this month as well. Spring Onions, Lettuce, Beetroot, Radish and Salad Leaves are all good to sow little and often through the spring and summer. I don't expect anyone wants 213 lettuces having to be planted out and then harvested all at the same time. 🥴

There are some things that can be sown directly into the ground like Broad Beans as long as your soil is not waterlogged. Carrots and Parsnips need to be sown direct and a lot of seed packets say you can plant them now in March. However, my experience is that the ground is still too cold and the slugs and snails are still very hungry this month. I've always had to do a second sowing or even a third sowing towards the middle to late April to get any to show. An alternative though would be to sow and grow Carrots in large pots and kept in a cold frame, poly tunnel or greenhouse. And then later on when the weather warms up a bit you can bring your pots out and then sow more direct into the soil.

Cucumbers, Kale, Pumpkin, Summer Cabbage, Chard, Spinach, Cauliflower, Brussel Sprouts, Broccoli and of course Tomatoes can all be sown in seed/plug trays or pots on a sunny windowsill now. Personally I would wait to start things like any sort of Dwarf or Climbing Beans, Summer Squash or Sweetcorn until next month.

5 Good companions

Companion planting is all about creating plant communities which have mutual benefits to each other. It can be an organic way to protect your crops from pests or it could help improve pollination of fruit and vegetable crops. 

I have to admit that when I look at companion planting charts I get a little overwhelmed. Plant Carrots with Peas and Lettuces, but not with Dill or Parsnips. Plant Onions with Carrots and Beetroots, but not with Beans and Peas. Plant Corn next to potatoes and Beans but not with Tomatoes and so on!

The jury is out on whether there is definite allelopathic properties in plants so I prefer to concentrate on flowers that I know will encourage pollinators. My favourite five are French Marigolds, Borage, Nasturtiums, Alyssum and Calendula. What companion plants will you be planting this summer?