When Should I Get MY Plot Ready? Quick Answer: Now

Although March has given us some great days and a current cold spell, the first half of March is the time to get your garden plot ready for a productive and healthy spring, summer, and fall.  We are often asked, “What should I be doing right now?”

The answer is:

1.  Clear your plot of any remaining plants from last year.  We request you do not compost them in the garden, but instead put them in paper “yard waste” bags for collection.
2. Clean out rocks and other debris.
3. If you have not already, put a layer of compost in your plot.   You may lay it on top or lightly mix it into the soil.  The garden has compost by the shed for every members’ use.
4. If you already put compost on your plot, you may choose to do a 6″ tilling of your plot.  No need to till too deep.
5. As we are a three season garden, plan your early Spring plantings.  See below for some things that do well if planted in the second half of March.

if you already know what you are planting you may want to check the pH of your plot and remediate if needed.

What does it mean to be a 3 season garden?  It means you will have 3 unique and weather-appropriate plantings a year:

Early Spring:  leafy greens and root vegetables that like cool to cold weather and don’t like hot weather like lettuce, parsley, and turnips.

Late Spring and Summer:  vegetables that like lots of sunshine and hot days and nights like tomatoes and cucumber.

Fall (and late summer): vegetables that like warmer soil to germinate but then thrive on cold weather and even snow to turn delicious, like spinach and cabbage.

If you are doing spring planting, you should get seeds in the ground before the end of March.  Good things to plant  in March are (from seeds unless otherwise noted):

• Kale
• Cabbage (purple or green)
• Lettuce
• Radish
• Collards
• Garlic
• Parsley
• Onions (bulbs or seeds)
• Peas
• White Potatoes (plant from “cuts and eyes”)
• Turnips
• Mustard
• Leeks
• Bok Choy
• Fava Beans
• Broccoli  (plants)

For the above, we really recommend seeds over plants unless otherwise specified.   Transplanted plants can bring bugs into the garden so if you use plants a locally grown source is best.

if you have any questions send us a message  here Contact

We also encourage you to do your own research into what’s best to plant.   For your reference, we are USDA Zone 7A.