Kitchen Garden Tasks for March
While February brings us cold and snow it also ushers in longer days bringing hope for warmer weather. And boy, is March delivering! Did it really reach 71 degrees on March 1st? March in Indiana can be full of ups and downs in temperatures but this week’s weather is exceptionally mild. We’ll take it!
March outdoor tasks include weeding and–when the soil is no longer frozen and is workable–blending in new compost and amendments, all while turning it over well. The last week of March you might even sow some seeds outdoors such as peas and beets and any onion and shallot seedlings that you got started last month (but be ready to cover if late frosts threaten). The end of March is also a great time for getting your seed potatoes going. See this post for an easy way to grow potatoes this season!
You’ll want to start vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, swiss chard, kale, cabbage and tomatoes indoors from seed–or any vegetables that have a long maturity rate. This allows you to get a head start on long-season vegetables and flowers so that they have plenty of time to mature before frost. Starting plants from seeds indoors will require a heat mat for germinating and some type of growing lights as the shoots will not get enough light to make them strong and healthy from your windows. Here are two videos that are helpful and informative in getting set up to grow from seeds by Garden Answer’s Laura LeBoutillier. The first one is on Seed Starting Basics and the second, Starting Tomato and Pepper seeds.
If you’re a newbie at gardening–not gonna lie, indoor sowing can be complicated–you can also buy healthy, organic nursery starts for vegetables and flowers. If you plan to add flowers along with your edibles, be careful you purchase flowers and plants that have not been treated with neonicotinoid insecticides. Many big box stores use these and you don’t want to mix them with your vegetables. These plants will also kill or injure pollinators which defeats the purpose of establishing a pollinator habitat in your kitchen garden.
Indoor tasks include finalizing your planting plan and garden layout. It doesn’t need to be perfect, you can just sketch out your area while thinking about what you want to grow. How many square feet do you have to work with? Do you want to try raised garden beds? Which part of your garden area gets the most sun? There are many things to consider while planning out your garden.
If it sounds overwhelming and you’re not sure where to begin or if you just don’t have the time to figure it all out, we can help! Book a consultation today and we will make sure you have a head start for gardening success this spring.