We are heading towards spring and finally the days are beginning to lengthen, and the temperatures are increasing. A huge variety of seeds can be sown this month some of which can be sown directly into the ground. This month will be sowing my peas, garlic and spring onion.
How to plant Garlic sets
Choose a few bulbs from a reputable online supplier or from a local nursery or garden centre and get planting early this month. Don’t risk planting garlic from the supermarket, it may be cheaper
but is more likely to be virusy (fine when you eat it but not good for growing on) and may well have been bred for growing in a warmer climate than ours. Carefully split each bulb into individual cloves, avoiding damaging the skin if possible. Each clove makes a new bulb so plant them about 15cm apart and so that the pointed tip is just below the soil surface. A well-drained soil and a sunny spot makes for the best results.
For additional advice on growing garlic and different varieties, check out our earlier blog 'How to grow garlic and when and where to plant'
How to sow Spring onion White Lisbon seed
Fork the soil over well to create a fine tilth. Sow batches of the seed from March through into mid summer, every three weeks or so if you want a constant supply of these delicious salad onions throughout the summer and into autumn. Sow the seed about 12m deep in rows about 15cm apart, don’t sow thickly and you won’t need to thin the onions – their slender shape is well suited to relatively crowded conditions! You should be able to start harvesting about two months after each sowing.
How to sow Peas
As long as your soil isn’t still very cold and wet, you can sow peas now. If in doubt, cover the area you intend to sow with a cloche,
sheets of polythene or a polythene covered pull-out Easy Tunnel – this will allow the soil to warm up somewhat, and keep off excess rain. Choose a sunny spot with a well-drained soil and dig a trench about 4cm deep. If the soil is dry, water the trench before sowing the seeds. Sow the seeds in two parallel rows, with about 5cm between each seed and 15cm between the rows. Cover the seeds with the soil you removed when making the trench, breaking up any large clumps as you do so.Or for a 'no dig' solution use a planter specifically designed for peas - the Haxnicks Pea & Bean Planter. These planters are reinforced with rigid tubes and have 6 cane pockets to hold canes in place without disturbing the soil. They are ideal for those without space in their garden who still want to grow their own veg.
Check out our earlier blog for additional tips on growing peas 'Grow at Home: Peas how to grow, care for and harvest'.
I hope this helps you to decide what to plant in March. Don't forget to tag us in your photos on instagram if you do give any of our ideas a go!