March Garden To-Do List
What a glorious week! In March, the garden is shaking off winter’s quiet and stretching toward the sun. The days are longer (we gain 50 minutes of daylight over the course of the month!), the air carries hints of warmth, and we finally get to put seeds in the ground. While the weather can still be unpredictable—hello, surprise frosts—there’s plenty to do this month to set up for a thriving spring and summer.
Dream and Plan
Make final adjustments to your planting plan – This is your last chance to tweak the map before things start going in the ground. Need help? Now’s the time to schedule a garden coaching session.
Prep for succession planting – If you want a steady supply of greens, radishes, and carrots instead of one big harvest, plan your staggered planting schedule now.
Order your last-minute seeds – If you forgot to order something, don’t panic. Many crops can still be planted in April or May.
Indoor Growing Projects
Start warm-season seeds indoors – Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and basil can all be started under grow lights now.
Keep an eye on early seedlings – Check for signs of legginess (lights too far away) or damping off (too much moisture).
Continue growing microgreens and sprouts – A fresh boost of greens is still welcome while you wait for outdoor crops.
Prep the Garden
Top off beds with compost – Healthy soil = healthy plants. If you didn’t add compost in February, do it now before planting begins.
Set up trellises and support structures – Peas, beans, and vining flowers will be reaching for something to climb soon.
Check irrigation systems – Test hoses, drip lines, and timers before the weather heats up.
Weed early and often – Weeds wake up fast in March. Stay ahead of them now, and your future self will thank you.
It’s Time to Plant!
March is a huge planting month in Middle Tennessee. Here’s what you can direct sow or transplant outdoors:
🥬 Cool-Season Vegetables:
Direct sow: Lettuce, spinach, radishes, carrots, beets, peas, turnips, arugula, mustard greens, dill, cilantro
Transplant: Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, kohlrabi, Swiss chard, onions, leeks, parsley, fennel
🌸 Cold-Hardy Flowers:
Direct sow: Poppies, larkspur, bachelor’s buttons, love-in-a-mist, calendula, sweet peas
Transplant: Snapdragons, violas, dianthus
🍓 Perennials & Fruiting Plants:
Strawberries, asparagus, rhubarb – Get these in the ground now for a harvest in future seasons.
Fruit trees & berry bushes – Blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and fruit trees should be planted before they break dormancy.
Harvest and Enjoy
If you’ve been growing all winter, March harvests might include:
Overwintered kale, spinach, Swiss chard, and carrots
The first tender leaves of lettuce and arugula
Chives, parsley, and cilantro from last year’s plantings
Daffodils and hellebores make lovely cut flowers for the table this month.
