What to Plant in March for Your Kitchen Garden

Let’s talk about what grows best in the cool season. While January and February were technically the cool season, our temps in the DMV danced around freezing quite a bit so anything you had growing needed protection like a cold frame or frost cloth. Now with March we know warmer weather and more sunshine is on the way and it feels a lot less scary to put little seedlings in the ground.

Best Plants to Buy at the Nursery in March

Some local nurseries already have herbs in store. The places with greenhouses to protect young plants are expecting veggie deliveries around mid-March. Those that keep veggies outdoors likely won’t get them in stock until April. If you go to the nursery this month, here’s what to buy:

• Herbs: Cilantro, dill, oregano, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme

• Annual flowers: Pansies, snapdragons, sweet alyssum, violas

Best Seeds to Direct Sow in March

These seeds will do well when you plant them directly in the garden this month.

• Root veggies: Beets, carrots, radishes

• Leafy greens: Arugula, lettuce, kale, mizuna, mustard greens, spinach, spring mix, swiss chard

• Peas: Garden peas (shelling peas), snow peas, and sugar snap peas

Best Seeds to Start Indoors in March

If you start the following seeds indoors this month, they’ll be ready to transplant outside by May.

• Herbs: Basil

• Warm season fruits: Eggplant, peppers, tomatoes

• Flowers: Anise hyssop, coreopsis, echinacea, marigold, strawflower, zinnia

Timing is one of the keys to garden success.

You may know our frost dates, but did you know we have three growing seasons in the DMV? Download this guide to our local growing seasons so you can save time and money by planting the right plants at the right time.