Veg Seeds To Sow In March

As we move into March, there are more and more seeds you can sow.

Here are some to sow this month – both indoors and out.

Indoor

If you have the proper setup (grow lights, seed mats, propagators etc.), you can get many seeds indoors now.

These are usually plants from warmer climates that need a long growing season.

Aubergines

Sow indoors in a module tray before potting on when the first true leaves appear.

Aubergines are a warm climate plant and have a long growing season, as such, starting them early can lead to better harvests.

Peppers

Peppers, both sweet and spicy, can be sown now.

Sow into a module tray and cover to help aid germination. A propagator is advised as pepper seeds need high humidity to germinate.

Move into pots as the seeds develop true leaves.

You want to keep peppers indoors until all risk of frost has passed.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes require a long growing season, so starting them off early indoors is advised. This way, you will get a bigger crop before autumn frosts arrive and kill the plants.

Use a module tray to sow your tomatoes.

Move them on into pots when the first true leaves start to form on the seedlings.

Cucumbers

Again like all the plants above, cucumbers benefit from a longer growing season and starting them off early indoors is one way to achieve this.

Cucumbers have big seeds that form big seedlings, so don't start them off in module trays.

Instead, start them off straight away in small pots.

You will need to pot them on as they grow before moving them to their final growing spot once the risk of frost has passed.

Outdoor Undercover

By outdoor undercover, I mean sowing in an unheated greenhouse, polytunnel or cold frame.

Peas

Peas can be started in a greenhouse, cold frame or polytunnel right now.

I sow mine into a root trainer in the greenhouse. This allows for easy transplantation and also allows large roots to develop.

Carrots

Again like the peas above, I sow my carrots now in a root trainer in my greenhouse.

Carrots really don't like their roots being disturbed so something like a root trainer is essential if you want to start these in seed trays.

Alternatively, you can sow them outside under a cloche or plastic.

Turnips

Turnips can be sown undercover in a root trainer or something similar.

Alternatively, you can sow them outside under a cloche or plastic.

Onions

I like to sow my onion seeds in module trays and grow them as a cluster or 3 or 4 plants rather than individually.

You can use a regular module tray for this, but again, I recommend a root trainer to keep root disturbance to a minimum.

Shallots

Shallots can be sown the exact same way as onions. Sow multiple per module in a root trainer.

They actually do better this way as if they have too much room, the bulb can split into clusters which is not ideal.

So by cramming them in, you avoid this problem.

Lettuce

Lettuce covers a wide range of different varieties, some of these can be sown outside now and some still require a little more protection.

I sow all of my lettuce in the greenhouse in modules no matter the time of year.

You get better germination this way, and it also protects young, vulnerable plants from slugs.

Outdoor

Some seeds are hardy enough to be sown outdoors even now. All these seeds will benefit from a cloche or plastic to warm the soil.

Broad Beans

Broad beans can be sown outdoors now, but they will still benefit from a cloche or plastic covering to help warm the soil up.

Lettuce

Hardier lettuce varieties can be sown outdoors directly in march.

A lot of lettuce can be sown as soon as the soil is workable and not frozen.

They will benefit from warmer soil given by a cloche or plastic covering.

Onions

Onions can be sown direct to ground in march in warmer areas.

If the weather is poor, or you are in a colder area, then use a cloche or plastic cover to warm the soil and give the seedlings a helping hand.

Peas

Peas are tough plants and can be sown direct outdoors now.

I would advise you start them under cover, though, and move them outdoors later to give them a little headstart.

Spinach

Spinach is a tough plant and can be sown outdoors.

I like to sow in closely packed rows and thin when the plants have 6-8 leaves, these thinned plants are then perfect as baby spinach leaves.

Cabbages

Cabbage can be sown outdoors now but it is weather dependent.

As it is a bit touch and go I would recommend planting cabbage under cover, but if you are in a warmer area or have a sheltered garden then it can be sown outdoors.