"March stirs the dancing daffodil"
What Seeds to Sow In March?
Spring is on its way, the days are getting longer and I'm gazing at my array of seeds still in their packets. Eager to start sowing I looked at the forecast for my area for the first week in March. Daytime temperatures are creeping up, 10 oC and rising BUT during the night the temperatures plummet to below freezing, low as -2oC. I don't have a greenhouse or polytunnel anymore, my indoor space is limited, so what choices do I have to start sowing now?
Which varieties can be sown direct outside?
Some hardier types such as peas, lettuce, broad beans, beetroot, brassicas, leeks, spring onions, radishes and turnips can be sown directly outdoors if the conditions are right, which does depend on where you live. My soil is heavy clay, cold and waterlogged so I shall start my kale and leeks (which I grow together as companions) in modules rather than outside in seed beds. Similarly you can start cabbages for summer / autumn harvest , brussels sprouts, purple sprouting broccoli and calabrese, cauliflowers and kalettes in modules and trays, harden off and plant out when big enough. Swiss chard and leaf beet like beetroot can be sown direct or spinach and rocket for some early leafy greens. If your garden is sheltered then an early sowing of dwarf green beans could be possible.
Which varieties are better sown indoors needing heat?
Peppers, both sweet and chilli types and aubergines need heat to germinate. Celeriac too has a long growing season and should be started off indoors. Also celery and globe artichokes and tomatoes for greenhouse growing. If like me you will be growing your tomatoes outdoors then delay sowing these until late March/April otherwise they will outgrow your indoor space. In my little propagator I have various herbs -basils, parsley and thyme. I don't like the taste of fresh coriander, though that can also be sown now to grow on a windowsill.
If you have space indoors then the flower garden opens up from agastache to zinnias.
Make your choice., so many to choose from.
Lacking space to grow them on, then the following varieties can be sown direct outdoors (depending on the weather of course). Campanula, candytuft, californian poppies, virginia stocks, rudbeckia, red clover, poppies, cornflowers, convolvulus, cranesbill (hardy geranium) evening primrose, gallardia, godetia, gypsophila, larkspur, lavatera, nigella. If only I had more borders! I have sown some calendula outside, I couldn't resist their sunny bright blooms. My autumn sown sweet peas have made it through the winter but I want to plant up a fragrant hanging basket so have sown Cupid, a semi-trailing mix to try.
Quote -
March brings breezes loud and shrill,
Stirs the dancing daffodil...
~Sara Coleridge (1802–1852), "The Months"