March:

Sow
Once weeds begin to grow the soil is warm enough for outdoor seed sowing to begin. Broad beans, leeks, carrots, parsnips and oriental greens such as pak choi and Chinese cabbage are good to go at this time of year.

Warm your soil
Cover beds with black ground cover, horticultural fleece or cloches to help warm the soil underneath during the day and slow down heat loss at night. It will allow earlier seed sowing and germination.

Plant
First early potatoes cans start going in the ground towards the end of the month. Onion sets can also go out – planted with just the pointy tips showing out of the soil – make sure you protect them with netting otherwise the birds will have them out again. Asparagus crowns (1 year old dormant plants) can be planted this month. Prepare the ground well with lots of well-rotted organic matter. Last years potted strawberry runners can be planted out in ground prepared with plenty of organic matter.

Prune
Blueberries – you can remove up to a quarter of the oldest and thickest stems at the base, or to a strong young shoot lower down a branch. Figs – to maintain their shape and promote growth. Remove crossing or damaged branches and cut back and that are too long or bare to about 5cm.

Harvest
Chard, kale, spring cabbages – if you cut them leaving about 10cm of stem and then cut a 1cm deep cross in the stem you will get a second crop of tiny cabbages or ’spring greens’. Early forced rhubarb stems may be ready.

Mulch
Mulch and beds, especially around fruit trees and bushes with well-rotted manure or garden compost to suppress weeds and help reduce water loss.

Weeding
Pull up or hoe weed seedlings as they start to appear as the weather warms.

Divide
Perennial herbs such as chives, mint and lovage – to help maintain growth.

In the shed
If you’re looking to replace tools, don’t forget that any old ones can be donated to the shop. We often have new members who would rather start with second hand tools to get them going.

In the greenhouse
Tender vegetables can start to be sown – tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines, sweet peppers, celery, broccoli, early cauliflower, radish, coriander, melons and Cape Gooseberries. Remove winter insulation to allow in more light and heat, for seedlings. And ensure plenty of ventilation to avoid condensation.

Help wildlife
Put out food for hedgehogs emerging from hibernation, such as specialist hedgehog food or dog food and water. Keep bird feeders topped up as they head into breeding season, put up a bird box or two and make sure there’s fresh water available.

Conserve water
Start thinking about it before you actually need it. Do you have enough water butts to conserve rainfall where you can. Does your shed guttering need fixing?

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