March is the month when everything starts to shift. The light changes, buds swell, and the garden feels alive again. After the stillness of winter, this is the moment to roll up your sleeves and ease yourself back into growing — calmly, steadily, and with a sense of possibility. There’s plenty you can do, but nothing you need to rush.

Jobs for the Garden

  • Cut back any remaining dead growth on perennials.
  • Weed beds and borders — small weeds are easier to remove now.
  • Add compost or mulch to improve soil structure.
  • Clean and sharpen tools before the busy months begin.
  • Edge lawns for an instant lift.
  • Check supports, trellises, and ties before plants start growing fast.

These small jobs make the whole garden feel ready for spring.

Seeds to sow this month

There's so so much you can sow in March, in fact it'd probably be easier to list what you can't, but here's just a few for you to consider.

Vegetables

  • Carrots, beetroot, parsnips — Direct sow once the soil warms a little.
  • Radishes, spinach, salad leaves — Fast, reliable, and great for beginners.
  • Peas & broad beans — Indoors or directly outside in mild areas.
  • Tomatoes, peppers, aubergines — Indoors with warmth and good light.
  • Potatoes — Start chitting now; early varieties can be planted later in the month.

Flowers

  • Sweet peas — Keep sowing for staggered blooms.
  • Cosmos, marigolds, zinnias — Indoors for planting out later.
  • Hardy annuals (cornflowers, calendula, nigella) — Direct sow in mild spells.
  • Sunflowers — Indoors for strong early plants.

Herbs

  • Basil — Indoors with warmth.
  • Coriander, parsley, chives — Indoors or in a sheltered spot.
  • Mint — Plant into pots to contain it.
View all

Seedlings & Young Plants

  • Give seedlings plenty of light — a bright windowsill or grow light.
  • Keep compost lightly moist, not soggy.
  • Pot on seedlings once they have true leaves.
  • Harden off indoor-grown plants gradually later in the month.
  • Rotate trays so seedlings grow straight and strong.

This is the month when seedlings really start to take off.

Indoors, Greenhouse & Windowsill Growing

  • Start tomatoes, chillies, and tender annuals indoors.
  • Ventilate greenhouses on mild days to prevent damping off.
  • Use fleece on cold nights to protect young plants.
  • Keep an eye on slugs — they wake up early in sheltered spaces.

A little attention now prevents problems later.

a basket of mixed vegetables, freshly harvested

Harvesting in February

Depending on what you planted last year, you may still be picking:

  • Kale
  • Leeks
  • Winter salads
  • Sprouting broccoli (early varieties)

It’s the tail end of winter harvests — enjoy the last of them.

Wildlife & Garden Care

  • Birds are nesting — keep feeders topped up.
  • Put up nest boxes if you haven’t already.
  • Leave some early flowers (like dandelions) for pollinators.
  • Avoid heavy pruning of hedges now that nesting season has begun.

A wildlife-friendly garden is a healthier garden.

Nic's Tip Of The Month

Sow little and often. A few trays each week keep things manageable and prevent that overwhelming “everything needs potting on at once” moment later.

Looking Ahead

March is full of promise. Every seed you sow and every small job you do now sets the stage for the colour, growth, and abundance to come. Take it steadily, enjoy the fresh air, and let the season unfold at its own pace — spring is only just beginning.