March Garden and Allotment Jobs
March is one of my favourite months in the growing calendar. It’s a lovely time to spend in the garden with an abundance of things to enjoy.
Getting beds ready
Finish clearing winter debris and weeds before they get a head start.
If you don’t observe the No Dig method, lightly fork over beds where soil is workable, breaking up clods and removing stones.
Add compost to hungry beds, especially where brassicas, squash or potatoes will grow.
Warm soil under cloches or fleece for early direct sowings.
Planting and growing
Plant first early potatoes toward the end of the month (you can do this earlier if you live in a milder area).
Start planting onion sets, shallots and garlic if they’re not already in.
Support early peas and broad beans before they flop.
Care and maintenance
Mulch around fruit bushes and trees, keeping mulch clear of stems.
Finish pruning roses and summer-flowering shrubs.
Check ties and supports on climbers and soft fruit.
Watch for slugs as temperatures rise, especially around new growth. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot of these blighters with all the rain we’ve had this year.
Greenhouse and undercover
Clean pots and seed trays ready for busy sowing weeks ahead.
Increase ventilation on warm days to prevent damping off.
Pot on seedlings that are outgrowing their trays.
