As the soil starts to warm up start sowing some hardy seeds. This is probably the busiest time for the allotment gardener and I am planning on taking a few photos this weekend of my current planting activities at which point I will update the website.
Sow Outdoors
- Beetroot
- Broad beans
- Brussels Sprouts (sow an early variety to harvest in September e.g. Peer Gynt, Oliver)
- Kohl rabi
- Leeks
- Lettuce (sow outdoors from mid-March)
- Onions
- Radish (sow summer varieties, such as French Breakfast, Sparkler, Scarlet Globe)
- Shallots
- Parsnip
- Perpetual spinach
- Early turnip e.g. Purple top milan
- Peas e.g. Feltham First, Meteor (sow now for May/June crop)
Plant Outdoors
- Jerusalem artichoke tubers
- Chitted early potatoes
- Onion sets
- Shallot sets
- Asparagus crowns
Sow Outdoor Undercover
- Summer cabbage e.g. varieties Greyhound, Hispi, Primo, Derby Day, Stonehead, Minicole, Winnigstadt
- Carrots (sow short-rooted varieties now for a June/July crop e.g. Amsterdam Forcing, Early Nantes)
- Peppers
- Lettuce
- Spinach (summer varieties e.g. King of Denmark, Medania)
Sow Outdoors under Heated Cover
- Aubergine
- Celery and celeriac (sow now to plant out in May/June)
- Greenhouse Cucumbers
- Tomatoes (sow now to plant out in May)
Other Tasks
- Place growbags in the greenhouse to warm up.
- Harvest any remaining winter crops composting the debris.
- Prepare the ground for asparagus crowns. Dig the bed deeply incorporating compost and removing perennial weeds. Asparagus needs good drainage – incorporate pea shingle in a heavy clay soil to improve drainage and/or consider making a raised bed.
- Warm up soil by covering with plastic, fleece or cloches.
- If you have already prepared some beds but are not planning on planting them until until May/June try planting a green manure crop such as mustard or tares. These can be incorporated intothe ground 2 or 3 weeks before planting in May/June.
Fruit
Finish planting bare-rooted fruit trees.
Perpetual varieties of strawberry can be planted in March/April, e.g. aromel, rapellaBare-rooted canes of raspberry, blackberry, hybrid berry, blackcurrant, gooseberry can still be planted.
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Grapes can still be planted
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Plant rhubarb from crowns
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Prune apple trees
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2 to 3 year old plum trees can be pruned similar to apple trees
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Prune gooseberries, raspberries
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Compost around the base of fruit trees, particularly young trees
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Strawberries can be forced to flower by covering them with cloches. You may need to hand-pollinate forced strawberryplants coming into flower using a small paint brush.
Harvest
Perpetual spinach (leaf beet), swiss chard, early sprouting broccoli, brussels sprouts, winter cauliflower, celeriac, chicory, endive, kale, leeks, parsnip, salsify, scorzonera, spinach, swede.
Article kindly reproduced from Pescticide Action Network.
Filed under: Things to do this month Tagged: | March allotment
