Zone 5 Gardening: What to Plant in March

While the weather is still chilly in March, there are a few things you can plant this month. In this post, we are sharing a list of what to plant in March in Zone 5 for your veggie garden.

Planting Vegetables in March

There isn’t a whole lot that can be planted outdoors during the month of March for zone 5 growers. However, this is the time of year where we are busy indoors with our seedlings.

Even with a few nice days this month, it is still quite chilly. In fact, as I write this, we are are in a blizzard warning for the next couple of days. This is despite the fact that it was in 60’s for most of last week and most of next!

Midwest weather can be funny like that.

But while we are waiting for the ground to become workable and safe for our plants, now is a great time to start growing indoors.

What to start planing indoors (for transplanting later)

Start sowing seeds indoors under grow lights or in a sunny window for crops that will be transplanted outside in April or May.

If you’re new to starting seedlings indoors, I have a planning guide for zone 5 for dates to help you.

Here’s what we are starting this month:

Brassicas

Start seeds in a high-quality seed-starting mix under grow lights. Keep temperatures between 60-70°F and transplant outdoors in mid-to-late April once hardened off.

Lettuces and Leafy Greens

Start in shallow trays and keep soil consistently moist but not soggy; they germinate best at 60-65°F. Harden off before transplanting outdoors in early April. Lettuces are also quick to start from seed if you’d like to direct sow them at a later date.

1. Spinach – Spinach thrives in cooler weather, but will bolt when it gets too hot out.
2. Lettuce – Plant varieties like romaine, leaf, or butterhead lettuce (my personal favorite!) that mature quickly. Many of these can be succession planted.
3. Arugula – A fast-growing green that adds a peppery flavor to salads and dishes.
4. Swiss Chard – Can be harvested throughout spring and summer, and young leaves are especially tender. This is our favorite variety of Swiss chard.

Planting Herbs

If you’re planning on starting an herb garden, you can start many of the varieties indoors in March.

Basil prefers warmth and should stay indoors until May, while parsley and oregano can be transplanted earlier.

Be sure to keep the soil moist for even germination.

Onions and Leeks

Start indoors in deep containers and transplant in May.

Peppers & Eggplants

These plants need warm soil (70-80°F) to germinate; use a heat mat for best results. Transplant outdoors in late May after frost danger has passed.

Tomatoes

Start in late March; use a heat mat for even germination and keep under bright grow lights. Transplant in May after the last frost.

These are some of the most common plants to start in March indoors. Of course this can totally vary depending on what you love to grow.

We grow a ton of food to feed our family, plus varieties for storage and preserving for the winter months.

Direct Sowing Outdoors (as soon as soil is workable)

This also varies depending on the year, but generally speaking towards the middle or end of the month of March, we can begin growing some cooler season crops outdoors.

Spinach – Prefers cool soil (35-50°F) for germination; sow seeds ½ inch deep and thin to 4-6 inches apart. Harvest baby leaves early for a continuous crop.

Radishes – Direct sow ½ inch deep and 1 inch apart in loose, well-drained soil. They mature quickly (20-30 days), so succession plant every 10 days for continuous harvests.

Carrots – Sow in loose, well-draining soil free of rocks. Keep soil moist until germination, which can take 2-3 weeks in cool temperatures.

Beets – Soak seeds for a few hours before planting to improve germination. Sow ½ inch deep and thin seedlings to 3-4 inches apart once they emerge.

Turnips – Plant ½ inch deep in full sun. They prefer cool temperatures, and regular watering helps prevent pithy roots.

Parsnips – Require warm days and cool nights to germinate. Sow directly in loose soil, keeping it consistently moistuntil sprouts appear (which can take 3+ weeks).

Onion Sets & Shallots – Plant sets 1 inch deep and 4 inches apart. Keep soil moist but not waterlogged for good root development.

Garden tasks for March

While we are still waiting for the weather to warm up and the ground to become workable, there are a few garden tasks we can focus on.

• Test and amend soil – add compost or organic matter as needed.
• Clean up garden beds – remove debris, check for overwintered pests, and make spring planting easier.
• Set up cold frames or row covers – to protect early plantings and to deter garden pests.
• Harden off seedlings – if planting hardy crops outdoors by the end of the month — but hold off on hardening off cold sensitive plants.