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March! The start of the gardening year. Allotmenteers trickle back, attracted by the light and an itch for sowing seed.
It’s the month of the equinox. The beginning of British summertime, though we’ll also settle for spring. There will be snowdrops in woodland, perhaps wild garlic and primroses, too. Pussy willow and cherry blossom will be bursting. Maybe magnolia, too.
But please be warned, geography plays its part. Gardeners in the warmer south get a start on more northern areas where winter has a tighter grip.
You should be able to sow beets, oriental leaves, hardier salads, rocket and radishes in more southern sheltered spots this month. Otherwise it is advisable to wait a little or sow under cover – fleece or cloche.
Wherever you live, prepare your seedbeds. Hoe and rake your vegetable plot to as fine a tilth as you can. Get set for dosing with organic fertiliser. We use liquid comfrey and a seaweed feed and add horse manure as we’re on near-virgin sandy soil. We’ll continue spraying homemade nettle and comfrey teas as the growing year goes on.
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March is the month of fruit. Time to prune currant and berry bushes. Feed them and any soft fruit trees, apples and pears. It is also your last chance to plant bare-rooted bushes and trees. Remember to check on grease bands protecting fruit trees from winter moth.
Plant garlic, onions and shallot sets. Plus, any remaining potatoes. Oil and prep blades, secateurs and other garden tools.
Think about companion planting. We will be sowing nasturtiums at the edges, plus rows and patches of calendula and tagetes, and last year’s saved Mexican cosmos. The sunflowers will wait till next month.
If this all sounds too busy, take your time. Wander round, soak it in. Dare to dream a little. It doesn’t have to be a rush.
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