March Planting Guide
Zone 9
Direct Sow Outside
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Alyssum
3/4 - 3/25
Direct sow in full sun to part shade; Can be grown in a pot or ground cover; Attracts beneficial insects.
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Amaranthus
3/11 - 3/25
Likes 60 degree soil; Full sun; Makes a great hedge plant.
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Ammi Majus
3/11 - 3/25
Direct sow in full sun; thin to 15-18” apart; Blooms in late spring to early summer; Doesn’t handle wind may need to be staked; Wear gloves can cause a rash.
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Aster
3/11 - 3/25
Plant in full sun; Plant 18-36 inches apart; Only use a mild fertilizer; Late summer bloom; Great cut flower plant.
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Balsam
3/11 - 4/1
Full sun or shade plant; Doesn’t like afternoon sun; Sprouts in 4-5 days.
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Basil
3/11 - 3/25
6-8 weeks before the frost; Warm weather crop; Plant outside once soil is 50 degrees but prefers 70 degree soil; Direct sow or transplant.
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Beans
3/11 - 4/8
Sow after frost; Doesn’t like it’s roots disturbed, add supports before planting; Direct sow only; Succession-plant for easier harvest.
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Beets
2/4 - 3/11
Direct sow 4 weeks before the last frost; Soak seeds for 24 hour before planting; Will bolt once temps reach 75°F; Grown in spring & fall.
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Bells of Ireland
2/25 - 3/25
Prechill seeds before planting; Direct sow; 1 inch of rain per week; Stake plants when they are young.
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Borage
3/11 - 3/25
Direct sow in full or partial sun; Annual plant will self sow; Morning harvest; Used in tea, salads, or the flowers can be candied.
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Broccoli
2/4 - 3/11
2-4 weeks before the last frost; Cold weather crop germinates as low as 40 degrees; Bolts once over 75 degrees; Can be transplanted.
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Carrots
2/4 - 3/11
Direct sow 4 weeks before the last frost; Succession-plant weekly; Grown in spring & fall.
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Chamomile
3/11 - 3/25
Sow indoor 6-8 weeks before last frost date, or direct sow after frost; Like 70 degree soil; Needs full sun with good drainage.
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Cilantro
3/4 - 4/1
Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost; Likes 70 degree soil; Can also be direct sown after frost.
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Collards
2/18 -3/18
Best direct sown; Plant in full sun; Keep well watered, best done early in day; Harvest at 6-8 inches tall.
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Corn
3/4 - 3/25
Best direct sown after frost; Easy to grow, likes a lot of sun.
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Cucumber
3/11 - 4/1
Direct sow; Likes soil temps above 60 degrees; Hates to be transplanted.
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Dill
2/4 - 4/1
Plant after frost; Annual plant that will self seed; Pinch off flowers to stop spread and promote leaf production.
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Fennel
3/11 - 3/25
Sow indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost or direct sow after frost; Like soil 70 degrees; Keep well watered.
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Garlic
1/28 - 3/11
Can be started in late fall but Jan is better if space is an issue; Plant in well drained soil; Full sun; Harvest when tops start to yellow; Dry for storage.
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Gourds
3/11 - 4/8
Direct sow in rich well drained soil; Plant in full sun; Once inch of water per week.
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Horseradish
1/28 - 3/11
1 inch of rain per week; Prune some of the smaller weaker sprouts; When leaves reach 10” dig up remove side roots & almost all leaves and replant.
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Kale
2/4 - 3/4
Can be started indoor; Sow 3-5 weeks before the last frost; Spring or fall crop; Tastes better in the fall.
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Kohlrabi
2/4 - 3/11
Direct sow after danger of frost has past; Keep moist; Full sun.
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Lemon Balm
3/11 - 3/25
Sow indoor 6-8 weeks before spring frost; likes 70 degree soil temps; After bloom cut back by 2/3.
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Lemongrass
3/11 - 3/25
Plant in full sun; Harvest when leafy top is 10-12 inches; Repels mosquitoes; Not cold hardy.
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Marjoram
3/11 - 3/25
Plant in full sun; Best sown indoor 8-10 weeks before last spring frost; Likes 70 degree soil temps; Pinch stems to encourage bushy growth.
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Morning Glory
2/25 - 3/18
Direct sow 2 week after last frost; Nic or sand seed before planting and soak overnight; Hates containers.
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Okra
3/11 - 4/1
Full sun; 1-1.5” of rain per week; Water early in the day; Pick pods continuously to encourage new growth.
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Parsley
3/4 - 4/1
Best be started indoor 8-10 weeks before last spring frost; Keep soil 70 degrees; Full sun; Sometimes self sows.
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Peas
2/4 - 3/11
4-6 weeks before the last frost; Frost hardy; Spring or fall crop; Crop rotation is important; Can be transplanted but hates it.
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Poppies
2/25 - 3/18
Needs some cold stratification; part sun - full sun; Direct sow is best; Has tap root and will get transplant shock easily.
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Potato
1/28 - 3/11
Easy to grow; Protect from frost; Mound plants; Well drained soil.
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Pumpkin
3/11 - 3/25
Direct sow after frost danger has past; Plant in mounds.
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Radicchio
2/4 - 3/11
Plant in full sun; Spring & fall crop; Can harvest leaves as you go and harvest whole head after first frost.
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Radish
2/4 - 3/4
4-6 weeks before last frost; Spring or fall crop; Best to directly sow; protect from frost.
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Spinach
2/25 - 3/18
Sow as soon as soil is 40 degrees in the spring or no warmer than 70 degrees in the fall; Direct sow only; Sow with radishes.
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Squash
3/11 - 4/1
Direct sow after frost danger has pasted; Keep moist; Mound plant for better drainage.
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Tomatillo
3/11 - 3/25
6-8 weeks before last spring frost; Likes 75 degree soil; Likes full sun.
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Turnip
2/4 - 3/4
Direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost; Cold weather crop plant early; Doesn’t transplant well; Easy to bolt.
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Watermelon
3/11 - 3/25
Direct sow only; Like 70 degree soil temp; Mount plant; Keep moist.
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Zinnia
3/11 - 3/25
Start indoors 5-7 weeks before transplanting, or direct sow after frost; Likes soil 70-75 degrees; Full sun.
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Zucchini
3/11 - 4/1
Direct sow after frost danger has pasted; Keep moist; Mound plant for better drainage.
Transplant Starts
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Angelonia
3/11 - 3/25
Sow indoor 6-8 weeks before last frost; Likes 70-75 degree soil temp; Plant 18” apart; When 6” pinch tips to encourage branching.
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Arugula
2/4 - 3/25
Best flavor if grown in the winter; Full sun to partial shade; Keep well water likes 1 inch of rain a week.
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Aster
3/11 - 3/25
Plant in full sun; Plant 18-36 inches apart; Only use a mild fertilizer; Late summer bloom; Great cut flower plant.
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Basil
3/11 - 3/25
6-8 weeks before the frost; Warm weather crop; Plant outside once soil is 50 degrees but prefers 70 degree soil; Direct sow or transplant.
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Begonia
3/11 - 4/8
Part sun to full shade; Great potted plant otherwise start indoor early then transplant outside; Like 70-75 degree soil.
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Blackberry
1/14 - 3/11
Best planted from cutting; Plant 100’ from red raspberries; Fruits in the summer; Harvest 2x a week.
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Blueberry
1/14 - 3/11
Best planted bare root; Sunny to partial shade; Plant at least 2 so they cross pollinate; Prune while the plant is dormant.
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Broccoli
2/4 - 3/11
2-4 weeks before the last frost; Cold weather crop germinates as low as 40 degrees; Bolts once over 75 degrees; Can be transplanted.
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Cabbage
2/4 - 3/4
Start indoors 8 weeks before frost & transplant 3-5 weeks before the last frost. Harden off before planting; Likes to be 70 degrees.
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Cauliflower
2/4 - 3/4
Needs temps to be constant temperatures around 60 degrees; Likes consistent care; Difficult to grow.
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Chamomile
3/11 - 3/25
Sow indoor 6-8 weeks before last frost date, or direct sow after frost; Like 70 degree soil; Needs full sun with good drainage.
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Chives
1/28 - 3/11
Must be started indoors and then transplanted after frost; Start indoor 8-10 weeks before frost date; Likes 70 degree soil.
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Cilantro
3/4 - 4/1
Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost; Likes 70 degree soil; Can also be direct sown after frost.
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Echinacea
1/28 - 3/11
Spring or Fall crop; Start indoors 8-10 weeks before transplanting; Like soil temps 65-70 degrees; Protect from frost.
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Eggplant
3/11 - 4/1
Start 8 weeks before the last frost; Likes 75 degree soil temp; Not recommended for direct sow.
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Fennel
3/11 - 3/25
Sow indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost or direct sow after frost; Like soil 70 degrees; Keep well watered.
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Hops
1/14 - 3/11
Planted from a cutting; Needs full sun; Requires 120 frost free days to bloom; Dies back to ground each fall.
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Kale
2/4 - 3/4
Can be started indoor; Sow 3-5 weeks before the last frost; Spring or fall crop; Tastes better in the fall.
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Lavender
1/28 - 3/11
Sow indoors 6-10 weeks before last frost; Keep soil moist; Likes soil temps 70-80 degrees.
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Lemon Balm
3/11 - 3/25
Sow indoor 6-8 weeks before spring frost; likes 70 degree soil temps; After bloom cut back by 2/3.
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Lemongrass
3/11 - 3/25
Plant in full sun; Harvest when leafy top is 10-12 inches; Repels mosquitoes; Not cold hardy.
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Lettuce
2/4 - 3/18
4-6 weeks before the last frost; Once soil temps are 40 degrees; Cold season crop; Can be transplanted but best directly sown; Succession-plant weekly.
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Marjoram
3/11 - 3/25
Plant in full sun; Best sown indoor 8-10 weeks before last spring frost; Likes 70 degree soil temps; Pinch stems to encourage bushy growth.
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Mint
2/4 - 3/25
Alway plant in containers, very invasive; Likes to be moist; Full sun or partial shade.
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Onion
1/28 - 3/4
Best started indoors; Likes soil temps 50+ degrees; Protect from frost; Light sensitive check variety for duration requirements.
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Parsley
3/4 - 4/1
Best be started indoor 8-10 weeks before last spring frost; Keep soil 70 degrees; Full sun; Sometimes self sows.
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Rosemary
2/25 - 3/25
Started indoor 10 weeks before last spring frost or propagated; Likes 70 degree soil temp; Best harvested in the morning.
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Strawberry
1/28 - 3/11
Likes 6 weeks of cold; Plant with crown out of soil; Wait until second year to harvest.
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Thyme
2/25 - 3/25
Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last spring frost; Hard to start from seed; Likes 70 degree soil temp; Lasts about 5-6 years, prune back hard to add life.
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Tomatillo
3/11 - 3/25
6-8 weeks before last spring frost; Likes 75 degree soil; Likes full sun.
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Zinnia
3/11 - 3/25
Start indoors 5-7 weeks before transplanting, or direct sow after frost; Likes soil 70-75 degrees; Full sun.
“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.”
Charles Dickens