What to plant in March — zone 5b
Zone 5b averages its last spring frost around May 5 and its first fall frost around October 5. Everything below is timed from those two dates, so it stays useful whether you're planting for summer or for a fall harvest.
Dormant care
- Check season-extension geararound Mar 10
Patch row cover, cold frames and hoops now so a late freeze can't catch you unprepared.
- Pre-sprout seed potatoesaround Mar 24
Chit potatoes in a bright, cool spot for 2 weeks — sprouted pieces jump ahead once planted.
Start indoors
- Pepperaround Mar 10
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (05-05). Pinch first flowers on transplants so the plant invests in roots before setting fruit.
- Parsleyaround Mar 10
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (05-05). Soak seeds 24 hrs before sowing. Cut outer stems and it comes back for years in mild zones.
- Chivesaround Mar 10
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (05-05). Divide the clump every 3 years — one plant becomes six with no effort.
- Oreganoaround Mar 10
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (05-05). Harvest just before flowering for the strongest flavor. Dries beautifully.
- Thymearound Mar 10
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (05-05). Needs sharp drainage — plant in gravelly soil or a raised bed edge. Never wet feet.
- Sagearound Mar 10
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (05-05). Prune hard in spring to prevent woody stems and keep the plant productive for 5+ years.
- Tomatoaround Mar 24
6 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (05-05). Bury 2/3 of the transplant stem — roots form along the buried stem for a stronger plant.
- Kalearound Mar 24
6 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (05-05). Fall crop sweetens after first frost — plan a July sowing for the best flavor.
- Broccoliaround Mar 24
6 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (05-05). After cutting the main head, side shoots keep coming for weeks — don't pull the plant.
- Basilaround Mar 24
6 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (05-05). Pinch tips weekly. Once flowers open, leaves lose flavor — snip them fast.
- Basilaround Mar 24
6 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (05-05). Pinch flower spikes the moment you see them — leaves stay sweet all season.
Transplant out
- Raspberryaround Mar 24
Goes out 6 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Blueberryaround Mar 24
Goes out 6 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Blackberryaround Mar 24
Goes out 6 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Grapearound Mar 24
Goes out 6 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Applearound Mar 24
Goes out 6 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Peararound Mar 24
Goes out 6 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Peacharound Mar 24
Goes out 6 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Rhubarbaround Mar 24
Goes out 6 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
Garden care
- Wake the bedsaround Mar 31
Turn in compost, cut down cover crops, and let the soil warm two weeks before the first sowing.
Direct sow
- Peaaround Mar 31
Soil is ready -5 weeks before last frost.
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