Vegetables to Plant Now: Mid to Late March

Here's a run-down of what you can plant now.

(Note: I'm following the moon cycles for planting this year. It's an ancient way of planting that believes that the moon influences all water on Earth, not just the seas. So you plant seeds at times when they will absorb the most water. This is like a level-up if you've been gardening for a while. If you are new to vegetable gardening, don't worry about moon cycles!)

It’s too early to plant seedlings unless you have serious protection! I'm talking two layers of row cover or hoops covered in plastic. Natureworks is selling onions, and even those should wait in their cells to be transplanted in late March or early April.

March 19th-March 24th 2020 are not great days for planting based on the moon, either indoors or outdoors. March 26th-29th will be favorable moon cycles, and they will be nice rainy weather for planting outdoors. March31st-April 2nd will also be favorable moon cycles.

What to start indoors mid March:

• Cauliflower
• Eggplant
• Escarole
• Broccoli Raab
• ​Tatsoi
• Kale
• Chard
• Collards
• Mustard
• Lettuce
• You could start broccoli and cabbage now, though they prefer early March. You can start them again in Early June for fall planting.

What to sow outdoors mid March:

• Spinach
• Peas can be sown now in raised beds or pots. (SmartPots are excellent for them)
  • March 26th-April 2nd will be the best times this year to direct seed peas in the ground. The weather will be good for them, and the moon cycles will be favorable. (Monday March 30th is least ideal if you're following moon cycles).
• Poppy flowers! You can sow these from fall until March 31st. They actually need some cold to get going.

What to start indoors late March:

• Cauliflower
• Eggplant
• Pepper (March 31st-April 2nd will be excellent times to plant peppers and tomatoes)
• Tomato (or early April)
• Kale
• Chard
• Mustard
• Lettuce

What to sow outdoors late March:

• Turnip
• Radish (now until late May)

Many favorite vegetables are best seeded in April. And brussels sprouts, I learned this year, are best seeded in May for a fall harvest. We hold off until April to seed things because the soil is still quite cold, despite the air growing warmer. So stay tuned!

Oh, and you can always grow microgreens or pea shoots indoors under lights or in your sunniest windowsill. Microgreens are usually marketed as such and come in larger packets. Thickly spread seed over soil, grow as normal, then cut the plants down when they’re a few inches tall and eat them! This is a great nutrient boost in the winter.