March Garden Guide

Embracing the Bustle of March in the Pacific Northwest Garden 🌱🌿🌼

As the days grow longer and the chill of winter begins to fade, gardeners in the Pacific Northwest eagerly step outside, armed with seeds, tools, and a sense of anticipation. March is a bustling month in the garden, teeming with tasks that set the stage for a bountiful season ahead. From sowing outdoors to tending to seedlings indoors, there's a whirlwind of activity waiting to unfold. 🌞🌧️

Sowing Outdoors: Welcoming the Beet, Pea, and Nightshade Families 🥬🌱🥔

One of the first joys of March is sowing directly into the earth, watching tiny seeds transform into vibrant plants. In the beet family, varieties like spinach and Swiss chard eagerly take root, promising a harvest of nutritious greens in the months to come. Meanwhile, the pea family adds vertical interest with snap peas, snow peas, shelling peas, and the majestic lupine, which not only beautifies the garden but also fixes nitrogen in the soil, benefiting neighboring plants.

March is also the time to tuck potatoes into the ground, a staple in many PNW gardens. These nightshade family members thrive in the cool, moist climate, producing tubers that will be a delight on the dinner table later in the year. 🥔🌿

Sowing Under Cover: Nurturing Young Plants 🌱🌿🌺

For more delicate plants or those that benefit from a head start, sowing under cover is a wise choice. The beet family makes another appearance here, with beets and perpetual spinach finding cozy homes in greenhouse or cold frame environments. The sunflower family contributes to this indoor sowing with endives, lettuce varieties, marigolds adding a splash of color, and feverfew offering its medicinal and ornamental charms. 🌼🌱🌻

Sowing Indoors: Kickstarting the Carrot, Nightshade, and Onion Families 🥕🍅🌱

Indoor spaces become bustling nurseries in March as gardeners sow seeds from the carrot family, including celeriac, celery, and bulbing fennel. These early starts ensure robust plants ready for transplanting when the weather warms further.

The nightshade family also gets attention indoors, with peppers and tomatoes taking root in trays or pots. This early start helps these warm-season favorites develop strong root systems before they're moved outdoors.

Lastly, the onion family makes its debut indoors with chives, pearl onions, and leeks getting a head start on growth. These flavorful additions to the garden will thrive with a bit of indoor TLC before joining their outdoor companions. 🌶️🍅🧅

Embracing the Diversity of March in PNW Gardens 🌈🌿🌷

The beauty of March in the Pacific Northwest garden lies in its diversity. From cold-hardy greens to sun-loving tomatoes, there's a place for every plant to thrive. As gardeners navigate the busy month of March, they embrace the rhythm of the seasons, knowing that each task completed brings them closer to a flourishing garden filled with abundance and joy. So, roll up your sleeves, grab your seeds, and join the dance of March in the PNW garden—it's a journey worth savoring. 🌼🌱🌿