What to plant in March — zone 6a
Zone 6a averages its last spring frost around April 30 and its first fall frost around October 10. 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 5
Patch row cover, cold frames and hoops now so a late freeze can't catch you unprepared.
- Pre-sprout seed potatoesaround Mar 19
Chit potatoes in a bright, cool spot for 2 weeks — sprouted pieces jump ahead once planted.
Start indoors
- Pepperaround Mar 5
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (04-30). Pinch first flowers on transplants so the plant invests in roots before setting fruit.
- Parsleyaround Mar 5
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (04-30). Soak seeds 24 hrs before sowing. Cut outer stems and it comes back for years in mild zones.
- Chivesaround Mar 5
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (04-30). Divide the clump every 3 years — one plant becomes six with no effort.
- Oreganoaround Mar 5
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (04-30). Harvest just before flowering for the strongest flavor. Dries beautifully.
- Thymearound Mar 5
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (04-30). Needs sharp drainage — plant in gravelly soil or a raised bed edge. Never wet feet.
- Sagearound Mar 5
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (04-30). Prune hard in spring to prevent woody stems and keep the plant productive for 5+ years.
- Tomatoaround Mar 19
6 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (04-30). Bury 2/3 of the transplant stem — roots form along the buried stem for a stronger plant.
- Kalearound Mar 19
6 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (04-30). Fall crop sweetens after first frost — plan a July sowing for the best flavor.
- Broccoliaround Mar 19
6 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (04-30). After cutting the main head, side shoots keep coming for weeks — don't pull the plant.
- Basilaround Mar 19
6 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (04-30). Pinch tips weekly. Once flowers open, leaves lose flavor — snip them fast.
- Basilaround Mar 19
6 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (04-30). Pinch flower spikes the moment you see them — leaves stay sweet all season.
Transplant out
- Raspberryaround Mar 19
Goes out 6 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Blueberryaround Mar 19
Goes out 6 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Blackberryaround Mar 19
Goes out 6 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Grapearound Mar 19
Goes out 6 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Applearound Mar 19
Goes out 6 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Peararound Mar 19
Goes out 6 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Peacharound Mar 19
Goes out 6 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Rhubarbaround Mar 19
Goes out 6 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
Garden care
- Wake the bedsaround Mar 26
Turn in compost, cut down cover crops, and let the soil warm two weeks before the first sowing.
Direct sow
- Peaaround Mar 26
Soil is ready -5 weeks before last frost.
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