What to plant in March in BC

March has got to be one of the busiest months for a gardener, what with all the seed starting and winter clean up to do. It’s also an exciting month: the days are getting longer, blooms are appearing seemingly everywhere, the soil is slowly warming, and the gardening season is kicking into gear. Whether you’re starting seeds indoors, refreshing your containers, or getting perennials in the ground, here’s what to plant in March in BC.

Indoor seed starting: getting a jump on the growing season

Warm-season crops top the list of what to plant in March in BC. Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

March is a prime month for starting seeds indoors, giving warm-season crops the head start they need before moving outdoors in late spring. A grow light setup or a bright south-facing window will help seedlings thrive.

Vegetables & herbs to start indoors

• Broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower –These Brassica-family members can be started indoors now, or direct sown outdoors later in spring. Start them indoors for an earlier harvest.
• Lettuce and radicchio – Start indoors for an early harvest, or sow directly outdoors May through August.
• Onions and leeks – These alliums benefit from an early indoor start so they can size up before transplanting.
• Tomatoes and peppers – These heat-loving crops need a long growing season. Start them indoors now for robust transplants in May.
• Herbs – Start chervil, chives, oregano, thyme, rosemary, sage, shiso, and marjoram indoors now for a steady supply of fresh herbs later in the season.

Flowers to start indoors

• 

  Rudbeckia’s sunny blooms return year after year. Photo by Jean Vella on Unsplash

  Sweet peas – If you haven’t sown these yet, do it now! Start them in deep pots for strong root development.

• Artemisia ‘Sweet Annie’, bupleurum and orach – These productive “bouquet fillers” also make wonderful garden accents.
• Cosmos and nicotiana – These cold-tolerant accent flowers will bring bees to your garden and life to your bouquets. Ready to transplant once the weather warms.
• Echinacea and rudbeckia – These hardy perennials benefit from an early start indoors for blooms later in the summer.
• Lupins, delphiniums and hollyhocks – Perennials that establish best when started early indoors.

Direct sowing outdoors: hardy crops

As long as the ground isn’t frozen or waterlogged, many cool-season crops can be sown directly outdoors in March.

Vegetables & herbs to direct sow

• 

  Arugula and other leafy greens thrive in March’s cool soil. Photo by Erda Estremera on Unsplash

  Peas – Snow peas, shelling peas, and sugar snap peas thrive in the cool, damp conditions of early spring.

• Broad beans (fava beans) – One of the hardiest crops for early sowing.
• Cold-hardy greens – These fast-growing greens love the cool weather: Spinach, arugula, mustards, corn salad, cress, kale, collards and pac choi. 
• Radishes and turnips – Quick-maturing crops that thrive in the chilly spring soil.
• Herbs – Some cold-hardy herbs prefer direct sowing. Cilantro and lavender can be sown now.

Flowers to direct sow

• 

  Lupin are perennial plants, often native to BC. They do best when directly sown in the garden.

  Poppies – Many varieties can be sown outdoors now, including breadseed and Shirley poppies.

• Nigella (Love-in-a-Mist) – A delicate, self-seeding flower that thrives in cool spring weather.
• Calendula – Hardy and easy to grow, calendula will flower early and continue all season.
• Cornflower and marigold – Cottage garden classics that prefers early sowing.
• Lupin – Sow outdoors now for attractive spires later in summer.
• Bells of Ireland and cress – Direct sow these varieties for interesting bouquet fillers later in summer. 

Perennials, shrubs and trees: planting while the soil is cool

March is an excellent time to plant perennials, shrubs, and trees, allowing them to establish roots before summer’s heat arrives.

• Fruit trees and berry bushes – Apples, pears, plums, blueberries, raspberries, kiwi, currants and more can be planted now.
• Rhubarb and asparagus – These long-lived edibles will appreciate a cool start. Rhubarb can be lightly harvested beginning in its second year, while asparagus should be allowed to establish for three years before harvesting.
• Native plants – Shrubs like red-flowering currant, Oregon grape, and snowberry can all be planted now.

Refresh container plantings

With cute potted bulbs and the first evergreens arriving in store, this is a good time to remove last year’s dead annuals (and those holiday greens you may have kept in place a little longer than intended!) and refresh your container plantings.

• Remove dead annuals and any other spent materials
• Amend soil with slow-release organic fertilizer and worm castings, or start fresh with outdoor potting soil.
• Add hardy broadleaf evergreens or dwarf conifers, colourful accents like heuchera or ferns, and potted bulbs like narcissus, iris, or tulips.

Garden to-do list for March

• Get inspired: If your outdoor space feels disappointing right now, visiting us can be a great way to see what can be interesting at this time of year. Pick up potted bulbs, hellebores, and broadleaf evergreens now and enjoy them for many winters to come.
• Check your seed trays – Ensure seedlings have enough light (14 hours daily) and airflow to prevent legginess.
• Harden off cool-season transplants – Lettuce, onions, and brassicas started indoors can be moved outside on mild days to acclimate.
• 

  If you didn’t divide perennials in spring, do so now before the weather gets warm.

  Prepare garden beds – Loosen soil, add compost and fertilizer, remove weeds, and level ground before planting.

• Mulch around perennials – A layer of organic mulch helps retain moisture and suppress weeds.
• Keep an eye on frost – March weather is unpredictable, so have frost protection (like cloches or row covers) ready for tender seedlings.
• Divide perennials – Now is a good time to dig and divide overcrowded perennials like daylilies and hostas.
• Pick up summer-flowering bulbs – Lilies, gladiolus, and dahlias are arriving in store and can really add colour and interest to mid-summer borders.
• Prune roses and fruit trees – Finish late-winter pruning before buds fully break.
• Clean and sharpen garden tools – Get your equipment in top shape before the growing season kicks into high gear.
• Monitor for slugs and pests – As temperatures rise, so do garden pests. Handpick slugs or apply bait around seedlings.
• Pick up your mason bee cocoons – Mason bees are solitary, local pollinators who can boost your garden yield.

Spring is just around the corner, and March is the perfect time to lay the groundwork for a thriving garden. With careful planning and early planting, you’ll be well on your way to a productive growing season. Come visit us for everything you need for this time of year.