For those of us on the west coast of the US and Canada we've been experiencing a very early spring which lends to a fantastic gardening opportunity! This unseasonably warm weather means we can get a head start on sowing our starters indoors, and also with March on its way in just a couple days, we can start setting out our direct seeds as well! In this post I wanted to give all my pals in zone 8 (coastal pacific northwest) a heads up on what to flowers, herbs, and vegetables can be planted in March. The types have been divided into direct sow (directly into the dirt), and those you need to start indoors (pretty dang self explanatory).
Before you start, there are a couple things to take into consideration. For your direct seeds please take the time to turn your beds and add your compost, this will wake up all of your lovely microbes and bring air back into the soil; adding the compost will also add any nutrients lost over the cold months.
March Direct Sow:
Direct Sew Vegetables:
Arugula
Also known as Rocket, Arugula will grow as long as the ground is not frozen. Its delicious and spicy and makes a great addition to an early spring salad, also makes an amazing pesto!
Broad Beans
Super tasty broad beans are excellent for falafal, I planted mine back in February and they started coming up withing two weeks.
Corn Salad
Also known as miners lettuce, this old variety wild lettuce is a lovely treat in the early spring. It grows quickly! Pick and replant as needed throughout the spring, summer, and fall.
Garlic
Planting these in the early spring means you will get a fall harvest, and planting them in the fall and overwintering them will mean you get a late summer harvest. If you have never had fresh garlic from the garden I highly recommend trying it.
Kale
Not everybody loves Kale, but its a fantastic cold weather crop that will germinate in March and takes only about 60 days to mature. There are numerous varieties of Kale so be sure you get a few of your favorites.
Collards
Don't mind the cooking time on these because the leaves taste absolutely delicious! Collards mature in 60 to 80 days and will need at least 9 inches between plants, 12 if you can spare it.
Pac Choi & Choi Sum
A few years back I planted 10 Pac choi and soon found my garden overrun and me having to go door to door to beg neighbors to take some of it off my hands. Pac choi are delicious when steamed or fantastic as young tenders, just keep in mind that they are amazingly prolific and mature in only 50 days.
Peas
Last year (2014) I planted a heritage variety called little marvel. The plant took about 60 days to mature but the production was amazing! The pea was more bushy than tall and produced enough delicious pods to both feed us and to supply me with seed for the next year. I would suggest this variety to anyone eager for peas who does not have room for a large trellis.
Radish
Deliciously spicy when the weather is cold. I generally plant the easter egg variety which is a mixed packet of colorful variations. Radish is one of the easiest cold weather crops to grow, germinates in just a few days, and matures in only 25 to 28 days.
Spinach
Direct Sow Herbs:
Cilantro
It wasn't until a couple years ago that I learned that cilantro was a cold weather plant. Fancy that!
I suggest growing this in a pot as it will reseed itself and everything else if you let it. Matures in 60 days.
I suggest growing this in a pot as it will reseed itself and everything else if you let it. Matures in 60 days.
Lavender
Lavender is such an amazing herb. It attracts pollinators,and smells amazing when the hot summer air warms its aromatic oils. Keep in mind that it is slow to mature, by year 2 or 3 you will have an amazing and bushy herb. We have 8 planted around our property, and now in their second year they are starting to look like actual lavender bushes instead of a few sticks with purple flowers.
Lavender is such an amazing herb. It attracts pollinators,and smells amazing when the hot summer air warms its aromatic oils. Keep in mind that it is slow to mature, by year 2 or 3 you will have an amazing and bushy herb. We have 8 planted around our property, and now in their second year they are starting to look like actual lavender bushes instead of a few sticks with purple flowers.
Parsley
Parsley loves the cool and damp of the pacific northwest. This is another herb that you might consider potting. I had two in the garden last year and now with the reseeding have had to weed out a million, trillion, and one shoots. Matures in about 80 days.
March Indoor Starters:
Vegetable Starters:
Asparagus - Transplant end of May or early June
Asparagus can be a little bit tricky. Starting it from seed is only the beginning of forming a decent Asparagus colony. Once in the ground it may take another two years to begin offering shoots but don't lose heart! Once established, a good asparagus colony can last you decades, it just takes some patience and planning. Matures....whenever its ready.
Asparagus can be a little bit tricky. Starting it from seed is only the beginning of forming a decent Asparagus colony. Once in the ground it may take another two years to begin offering shoots but don't lose heart! Once established, a good asparagus colony can last you decades, it just takes some patience and planning. Matures....whenever its ready.
Broccoli - Transplant April
I love broccoli out of the garden. I planted some last year from plugs and by early April I was eating fresh broccoli heads and leaves. A good variety for our area is Gypsy, which matures in about 60 days.
I love broccoli out of the garden. I planted some last year from plugs and by early April I was eating fresh broccoli heads and leaves. A good variety for our area is Gypsy, which matures in about 60 days.
Cabbage - Transplant mid April
I had amazing luck with cabbage last year, but also forgot (because I am still a beginner) that I can get two crops in the same growing season. Cabbages put out in April will be ready in early July, which means start another few inside in May to plant in mid July for a second fall crop. Sometimes you and sneak one more in there if you transplant in August/September for a November/December harvest, take care to alter your variety as the later plantings need to be hardy like January King.
I had amazing luck with cabbage last year, but also forgot (because I am still a beginner) that I can get two crops in the same growing season. Cabbages put out in April will be ready in early July, which means start another few inside in May to plant in mid July for a second fall crop. Sometimes you and sneak one more in there if you transplant in August/September for a November/December harvest, take care to alter your variety as the later plantings need to be hardy like January King.
Cauliflower - Transplant end of April
I've never actually tried cauliflower, I hear its a bit finicky in our climate. Give it a try though, would love to hear any input! Matures in 60 to 70 days.
I've never actually tried cauliflower, I hear its a bit finicky in our climate. Give it a try though, would love to hear any input! Matures in 60 to 70 days.
Celery - Transplant June and July (Slow Grower)
I've grown celery a few times now, but because its such a slow grower and producer I came to the conclusion that I would rather just by the organic stalks at the store or farmers market. Matures in 100 days. Or really, when it feels like it.
I've grown celery a few times now, but because its such a slow grower and producer I came to the conclusion that I would rather just by the organic stalks at the store or farmers market. Matures in 100 days. Or really, when it feels like it.
Fennel - Transplant end of April
I love fennel, both for its taste and its healing qualities. Its excellent for upset stomach, flatulence, and cramping. Matures in 80 days and some varieties (non bulbing) are perennials (comes back the next year).
I love fennel, both for its taste and its healing qualities. Its excellent for upset stomach, flatulence, and cramping. Matures in 80 days and some varieties (non bulbing) are perennials (comes back the next year).
Leeks - Transplant April-June
Leeks are so amazingly hardy. I plant them out in the spring, let them grow over summer, harvest some and let the rest remain over fall and winter. They are pretty slow to mature, some only need 60 days, but the more classic heirloom varieties take anywhere from 130 to 160 days to mature. Just remember, if you leave them out over January and February, cover them.
Leeks are so amazingly hardy. I plant them out in the spring, let them grow over summer, harvest some and let the rest remain over fall and winter. They are pretty slow to mature, some only need 60 days, but the more classic heirloom varieties take anywhere from 130 to 160 days to mature. Just remember, if you leave them out over January and February, cover them.
Lettuce - Transplant April-June
The delicious staple for many a garden. Try a variety of various heirloom breeds such as Miner's Lettuce, Amish Deer Tongue, or Heirloom Butter. These mature quick, anywhere from 30 to 60 days depending on variety.
The delicious staple for many a garden. Try a variety of various heirloom breeds such as Miner's Lettuce, Amish Deer Tongue, or Heirloom Butter. These mature quick, anywhere from 30 to 60 days depending on variety.
Peppers - Transplant in June
We had amazing luck with peppers last year! We planted Cayenne, Hungarian, Standard Red, Yellow, and Bell Greens. Put out in June, we had peppers daring to grow in October. Depending on the variety, they take 60 to 80 days to mature.
We had amazing luck with peppers last year! We planted Cayenne, Hungarian, Standard Red, Yellow, and Bell Greens. Put out in June, we had peppers daring to grow in October. Depending on the variety, they take 60 to 80 days to mature.
