Grow Your Own - March Jobs

What to Sow & Plant

Vegetables

Plant Out:

• Onions Sets
• Shallots Sets
• Garlic Sets
• Jerusalem Artichoke tubers
• Asparagus Crowns

Sow / Prepare

Potatoes: Chit early and maincrop potatoes

Sow Seed Outdoors (in mild areas with light soil)

• Broad Beans
• Carrots
• Parsnips
• Beetroot
• Onions
• Lettuces
• Radish
• Peas
• Spinach
• Summer Cabbage
• Salad Leaves
• Leeks
• Swiss Chard
• Kohl Rabi
• Turnip
• Summer Cauliflower
• NOTE only plant outside if conditions are suitable. Most can also be sown undercover except Carrots and Parsnips which need to be sown in the place they will grow

Sow Indoors

• Sweet Peppers
• Tomatoes
• Cucumbers
• Aubergines
• Celery
• Salads
• Globe Artichokes

Fruit

Bare Root Fruit Trees:  It is the last chance to plant out bare rooted fruit trees.  It is also the perfect time to plant out those grown in pots

Strawberry Runners:  Plant out cold-stored strawberry runners

Alpine Strawberries: Sow alpine varieties of strawberries

What is ready to harvest in March?

Vegetables

• Broccoli (Sprouting)
• Brussel Sprouts
• Spring Cabbage
• Spring Cauliflower
• Chicory
• Jerusalem Artichoke
• Leeks
• Parsnips
• Salad Onions
• Winter Salads

Fruit

• Forced Rhubarb

Plants to Prune and Train

Fruit Trees:  perform formative pruning of newly planted fruit tress if there is a period of dry weather.

Blueberries: Prune out old wood and crossing branches.

Blackberries and Hybrid Berries:  Train into arches before the bus open

Grapes: Prune vines after late winter, before the sap starts to rise to avoid sap bleeding.  If done to late it can cause the vines to become weakened or die

Garden Problems, Pests & Diseases

Mice: Ensure stored vegetables are protected

Slugs: Protect early sowings from slugs

Pigeons:  Protect Brassicas from hungry pigeons

Fungus:  Check for Grey Mould and Brassica Downy Mildew

Insects: take measures against aphids, but do not spray any plants in bloom

Weeds:  Control weeds early and it will be easier throughout the year.

General care

Vegetables

Seedbeds:  If you are using seedbeds, now is the itme to prepare them.  Once ready cove with clear polythene or fleece to warm the soil prior to sowing.

Early Outdoor Sowings:  Protect from frost damage with horticultural fleece or cloches.

Plant Feed:  Feed those crops that have been standing all winter as they will start to grow again.

Chicory:  Continue to force chicory

Peas:  Put supports for new pea plants in place

Runner Beans:  Get trenches and supports ready for later sowing and planting

Celery: Prepare Celery trenches

NOTE: AVOID DIGGING IN WET WEATHER AND AVOID STANDING ON WET SOIL TO MINIMISE COMPACTION.

Fruit

Frost Protection:  If possible protect fruit blossom from the frost whilst allowing insects access for pollination. Or alternatively hand pollinate them

Feed:  Give Nitrogen feed to plums, cherries, cooking apples, pears, and blackcurrants

Citrus Trees:  Swap your citrus trees onto summer feed and increase watering as growth starts again.

Mulch: 

• Put a good mulch on Raspberries, Blueberries, and Lingonberries.  (DO NOT use Mushroom compost as it is too alkaline). 
• Apply a mulch around fruit trees and bushes
• Add Sulphur Chips to Blueberries and Lingonberries if needed.

Re-Pot:  Re-pot or top dress container grown fruit if needed.