COLUMN: Gardening in March - growing your February sowing into spring success
March is when the garden truly begins to stir, and all those seeds you sowed in February are ready for their next stage of growth. With longer days and milder weather ahead, it’s a great time to keep the momentum going, without stretching the budget.
If you started tomatoes, peppers or chillies last month, you’ll notice they now have their first proper set of leaves. This is your cue to pot them on. Reused yoghurt pots or other small containers are perfect; just add drainage holes. Giving seedlings a little more space helps them grow into strong, productive plants that will reward you all summer.
Your February-sown salads and herbs should also be coming along well. Keep harvesting lightly to encourage new leaves, and if you have any spare compost, consider sowing another round of cut-and-come-again greens to keep your supply steady.
Outside, March often tempts us into a big garden tidy, but try to resist clearing everything too quickly. Last year’s dried stems, leaves and seedheads still offer valuable protection – both for wildlife and for tender new shoots that can be damaged by sudden late frosts. Holding off for just a few more weeks gives the garden a natural buffer while temperatures settle.
If you’re looking to sow hardy annual flowers this month, there are plenty of budget-friendly options. Nigella (Love-in-a-Mist) is a beautifully delicate choice that germinates easily and self-seeds freely. Ammi Majus, with its airy white umbels, (looks like a delicate version of cow parsley) adds cottage-garden charm and works beautifully as a cut flower. Another great value pick is Eschscholzia (Californian poppy), which thrives in poor soil and brings months of bright colour for very little effort. These can all be sown directly into the ground in March or started in small pots under cover if the weather is still unsettled.
Vegetable growers can begin sowing beetroot, lettuce, radishes, carrots, peas and broad beans outdoors now too. Seeds remain the most economical way to fill your garden, often producing dozens of plants for the cost of a single seedling.
With a gentle approach, mindful tidying and a few well-chosen sowings, March sets the whole garden up for a vibrant and budget-friendly spring.
This column is provided by resident gardener Kate Giffen