The year in the garden - follow the growing seasons

March in the Garden

March is when I say "I am so ready for spring!"
March is when sowing seeds start getting serious around here. The garden outside may still be sleeping, but indoors, I'm ready to get growing. This is the month I start most of my seeds, set up the grow lights and begin looking forward to all those little green shoots that promise another gardening season is on its way.

I've had success growing seeds under lights, but I've also had good results using a sunny windowsill. You don't always need fancy equipment to get started — sometimes a little sunshine, a few seeds and a bit of patience are all it takes.

Of course, starting seeds is the easy part. The real challenge is finding room for all those little pots as they grow.
Sowing and Succession sowing dates - zones 2-9

“A gardener never runs out of seeds to start — only places to put them.”

Looking Out of My Window

March is one of those months that I start thinking that winter was long enough.
Calendar says it's "Spring"
However, compost and the ground are still frozen.

What I'm Growing or Watching

Growing I am starting and growing the basics this year.
Peppers and eggplants, I started those in February and maybe I'll harvest some before the first frost.
I started sweet potatoes for sweet potato slips and melon seeds have been sown. The rest of the seeds it will be direct sow.

I Also brought out my plants from dormancy like Geraniums, Calla lilies and Dahlias. Gladiolus, I don't dig up anymore it does fine in our cold winters. I just plant gladiolus deeper than the package suggests.

Watching I have to remember not to over-water my seedlings. More is not better. What works for me is every second day even if the surface looks dry. :) Watch for pests, lighting, heat and damping off.

On My Gardening List

Keeping track of what I'm sowing and succession sowing. Easy to forget when I'm so busy with planning and sowing.

There's no need to rush outdoor work when the ground is frozen or waterlogged. However, I'm known to put the fork through the compost to find out it's still frozen and then I say "why?" the calendar says it's spring.

This year I want to protect my beds and fruit trees from critters as soon as I can go outside. I usually plant or sow first and then after my stuff gets eaten I go "yes" now I'll go look for fencing.

Notes from My Garden

Last year I lost most of my young fruit trees, because I under estimated how deep our snow was and the bunnies got a little carried away with winter pruning. This year protecting my garden from critters will be first thing for me to do outdoors.

Every year the lady bunny decides to have her babies in the vegetable garden. Would you believe? It must be like living in a grocery store with all you can eat vegetables for free.

Looking Ahead

April is when the garden starts waking up. Little shoots appear, the first flowers begin to emerge, and suddenly the world is full of colour and fragrance.

Next month, we'll see what April brings and continue preparing for another month.