🌸 What to Plant
in March
March is the start of the real gardening season! The sun is getting stronger and there is plenty to do. Start tomatoes and peppers indoors, sow the first frost-hardy crops directly outdoors, and graft fruit trees before the buds burst.
🌱 Start indoors / Pre-grow seedlings
March is the key month for starting tomatoes. Give them a warm, light start indoors — they will be ready to go out after May 15.
Sow in a tray on a windowsill
Sow in modules or trays at 20°C+. Prick out into individual 9 cm pots once first true leaves appear. Keep on the sunniest windowsill available.
Pre-grow in a tray
Start lettuce in a tray indoors. Ready to plant outside in April. Grow at 15°C — lettuce dislikes too much warmth.
Pre-grow in a warm spot
If you missed February, start peppers now. They still have time, though yields will be slightly lower than February-started plants.
Pre-grow seedlings
Start in seed trays. Will be ready to transplant outdoors in March/April. Fast-growing — useful for filling early gaps in beds.
Needs 20°C+
Start in a warm spot — basil needs temperatures above 20°C. Keep on the warmest windowsill. Will be ready to move outside after May 15.
Pre-grow in warmth
Sow on moist compost surface. Do not cover — petunias need light to germinate. Keep at 20°C. Prick out carefully once large enough.
🌿 Plant outdoors
Frost-hardy crops can go out in March. Prepare beds with compost first. Watch for late frosts — cover young plants if needed.
Direct sow in a prepared bed
Sow thinly in rows once soil temperature reaches 7°C. Germination takes 2–3 weeks in March. Keep soil moist.
Direct sow — tolerates cold
Among the fastest crops — ready in 3–4 weeks. Sow successively every 2 weeks for a continuous supply.
Plant sets in rows
Plant sets 10 cm apart in rows. Bird protection net is recommended — birds pull sets out of soft spring soil.
Plant cloves in rows
Spring garlic planted now will mature in July. Push cloves 5 cm deep, 15 cm apart, pointed end up.
Direct sow — tolerates cold
Sow 5 cm deep, 8 cm apart. Even if frost comes, peas tolerate it. Provide support — even short varieties grow better with something to climb.
Direct sow — tolerates cold
Sow direct in rows. Tolerates frost. Harvest outer leaves for cut-and-come-again. Bolt risk increases in summer heat — enjoy it now.
Plant runners — mulch with straw
Plant runners 30 cm apart. Mulch with straw after planting to suppress weeds and keep fruit clean.
Plant or divide clumps
Hardy herbs can go out in March. Plant mint in a sunken container to prevent it spreading. Divide established chive clumps now.
🪵 Grafting
March is the prime grafting month in Central Europe. Cleft grafting on rootstocks works well for apple, pear, cherry, plum and apricot.
Main grafting period. Use cleft or whip-and-tongue graft. Collect scion wood from dormant trees and store in a cool place until grafting.
Main grafting period. Pear grafts readily using similar methods to apple. Ensure good cambium contact and seal with grafting wax.
Graft in dry weather only. Both are harder to graft successfully than apple. Use clean, sharp tools and work quickly.
💧 Water and care for
March brings renewed growth to overwintered plants. Begin watering and feeding as plants come out of dormancy.
May already be in flower — protect from frost with fleece on cold nights. Apricot flowers early and is vulnerable to late frost.
Begin watering more and start feeding overwintered geraniums. New growth will appear quickly in March light.
Spring pruning month — cut back to healthy outward-facing buds. Remove dead and crossing stems. Apply rose feed after pruning.
💡 March gardening tips
- ✓Sow carrots, peas and lettuce directly in prepared outdoor beds
- ✓Continue starting tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers on a windowsill
- ✓Prepare beds — dig in compost and let soil warm before sowing
- ✓Graft fruit trees — March is the ideal month
⚠️ Common March mistakes
- ✗Planting heat-loving crops (tomatoes, peppers) outside — frost risk remains until May 15
- ✗Forgetting slug protection on spring sowings — slugs emerge with spring warmth
- ✗Sowing too densely — seedlings then compete and develop poorly
Frequently asked questions
When should I sow tomatoes in Czech Republic? ▼
Sow tomatoes indoors in March — ideally the first two weeks. This gives you 8–10 weeks of indoor growing before outdoor planting after May 15. Sow in warm compost (20°C+) on a sunny windowsill and prick out into individual pots once the first true leaves appear.
Can I plant garlic in spring in Czech Republic? ▼
Yes — spring garlic (jarní česnek) can be planted in March. Push individual cloves 5 cm deep and 15 cm apart. Spring-planted garlic produces smaller bulbs than autumn-planted garlic but is still worth growing. Autumn planting in September/October gives better results overall.
What can I sow directly outdoors in March? ▼
March is the first month for direct outdoor sowing of frost-hardy crops: carrots, radishes, peas, spinach, parsley, onion sets, spring garlic and chives. These tolerate light frost. Prepare beds by digging in compost first.
When is the best time to graft apple trees in Czech Republic? ▼
March is the ideal month for grafting apple and pear trees using cleft or whip-and-tongue grafting. The rootstock should be showing a hint of movement (just before bud burst). Collect scion wood in February and store in a plastic bag in the fridge until grafting in March.
Track your March sowings
Record every sowing date so you know exactly when to expect germination, transplanting and harvest.
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