March in the Garden

Written by Shauna Daly MVB.

March is often a busy month in the garden. Although the weather is very changeable, the days are getting longer and the clocks change at the end of the month, allowing plant growth to really get going. Bulbs are starting to flower in earnest, brightening up the garden.

There are many seeds that can be sown in March. Tomato, cucumber, lettuce and flower seeds such as pot marigold, cosmos, globe-thistle, primrose, scabious, tree mallow and sunflowers can be sown inside. A warm sunny windowsill gives these seeds the best chance of germination. Some vegetable seeds can also be sown outside- radish, parsnip, carrots, spinach, peas, brussels sprouts, beetroot and broad beans.

It is also time to get your first early potatoes in the ground. This is traditionally done on St. Patrick’s Day. These will be ready to eat in June or July.

Onion and shallot sets can be planted straight into the ground now. Onions can also be grown from seed, though these are usually sown earlier in the year.

Summer flowering bulbs, such as lilies, gladioli and galtonias can be planted now. These make a beautiful statement in big pots in gardens or outside the front of practices.

If you have any perennial plants you want to move or divide, now is the time to do it. The plants are hibernating, so moving them will not stunt their growth. Some gardeners recommend cutting back the dead foliage of these plants- however this is often an excellent habitat for overwintering insects. If possible, wait until April or May to cut it back, allowing the insects to wake up and escape.

Keep an eye out for wildlife this month- Queen bees emerge to forage on warm days and frogs will be mating and spawning in ponds. Birds will be starting to gather material for nesting and singing to declare their territories.