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Gardening in March

In March, the days are noticeably longer, and it’s an opportunity to get out into the garden to enjoy some early spring sunshine. Frosts and sometimes windy weather mean that some tasks must wait, but there is optimism in the air with warmer weather and longer days ahead. As the weather gets warmer and plants start to wake up, so do pests and diseases, so it’s useful to make some early checks on the health of your garden. Spring is here, and it’s time to get busy in the garden again.

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Vegetables What Vegetables to Plant in March? This is a prime time to sow vegetables and there are many choices available. Consider your available space and then choose your favorites from the following list: Asparagus Eggplant Beets Broad beans Cabbage Carrots Cauliflower Celery Chard Chili peppers Chives Lettuce Onions Parsley Pea shoots Peas Potatoes Radishes Scallions Spinach Spring cabbage Summer cabbage Sweet peppers Tomatoes Turnips If the weather is still cold, place a cloche or mini tunnel over the soil for about a week to warm it up. However, if you delay for a few weeks, don't worry, as the seeds will usually catch up. What Vegetables to Harvest in March? Plants sown last summer and autumn will produce the following crops in March: Broccoli Cabbage Cauliflower Celeriac Chard Kale Leeks Lettuce Purple sprouting broccoli Spring cabbage Vegetable Plant Care in March Hoe around all plants to ensure minimum competition for water and nutrients. Do this several times throughout the spring and you'll find very few weeds later in the year. Other vegetables have specific requirements: Aubergines, chili peppers, and other plants sown under glass earlier in the year can be moved to larger pots. Broad beans - Stake tall varieties against strong winds in early spring. Pinch out the top 3 inches of each plant later in the month to deter blackfly. Chili peppers (hot and sweet) - Start preparing a warm and sunny position for potted seedlings to move to in early summer. Carrots - Cover crops with a 1mm fine mesh to deter carrot fly. This pest is barely noticeable until crops are lifted, when brown, tiny tunnels signify damage to the roots. Onions - Birds occasionally like to pull sets out of the ground, so check regularly and poke them back in and weed around the onions as necessary. Peas - Need support as they like to climb up tendrils.

March is the perfect time to plant fruit trees and shrubs, including: Apricots Blackberries Cherries Figs Grapes Mulberries Peaches Plums You can also sow the following seeds: Melons Watermelons and cantaloupes need to be transplanted a few times before being planted in the garden in late spring. They will thrive and make a great topic of conversation for visitors to your garden during the long and warm summer. Orchard Maintenance in March March is a busy season in the orchard. There is a lot of work to be done to ensure your fruit trees have a good start this year and optimize the amount of fruit you can harvest later in the year. Weeding: Perennial weeds such as burdock and dandelion will start to emerge quickly. Remove them immediately and then drown or dry them out to kill them, and add them to the compost pile. Pay special attention to weeds around soft fruits. Many varieties have shallow root systems and will be affected if they have to compete with other plants for water and nutrients. Raspberry plants may start to appear outside of the patch you have specifically prepared for them. If possible, dig them out because they will spread to areas you may not want them in. Pruning: New plum trees and container-grown figs. Fertilizer and/or coverings: Apricots, black currants, red currants, peaches, plums, and raspberries, with compost. Strawberries with straw to keep developing fruit off the soil. Citrus plants with special citrus fertilizer or compost made specifically for citrus plants, if necessary. Pests and Diseases: Blueberries, currants, and raspberries to prevent birds from enjoying the fruit before you do. Stretch netting over stakes, with inverted flower pots on each stake top. Remember to remove the net occasionally to allow pollinators to reach the flowers. Check for woolly aphids on apple trees. These are small, pale, fluffy aphids that damage plants and then lead to infection. Crush or spray them away. Monitor and repeat as necessary. Cover cherry, peach, apricot, and nectarine trees with burlap to protect against frost damage.

Rose what roses to plant in march This is the last chance to grow bare-root roses, and you might be able to snag a bargain as growers clear out their last stocks before the new season. Buying online can be convenient and offers you a wide range of purchases. If buying at a florist, you can check the quality more closely. Check roses: No signs of pests or diseases that could spread to other plants Has a healthy root system that has not yet dried out and is evenly developed. What Roses to Prune in March March is the last chance to prune roses planted last year. Pruning this time of year is usually done to remove diseased or dead branches, or branches that have rubbed against other branches, which could damage them. The following roses can now be pruned: shrub rose ground cover rose terrace and miniature roses shrub rose March Rose Maintenance Feed your roses with a specially formulated fertilizer that contains ingredients especially suited for roses. Mulch the roses after fertilizing, making sure the mulch does not touch the stems. To repot the roses, use a professional compost that contains the right balance of rose nutrients. Watch for early signs of the following problems: Rose Rust: Watch for yellow and orange marks on the leaves, which may turn black. Prune and destroy affected growth. Black spot on roses: Watch out for dark spots on leaves and lesions on stems. Remove affected growth, including fallen leaves, and destroy.

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