What to plant in March — zone 8a
Zone 8a averages its last spring frost around March 30 and its first fall frost around November 15. Everything below is timed from those two dates, so it stays useful whether you're planting for summer or for a fall harvest.
Garden care
- Harden off early transplantsaround Mar 2
Two weeks of increasing outdoor time keeps cold-hardy seedlings from stalling when they go out.
Start indoors
- Lettucearound Mar 2
4 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (03-30). Succession sow every 2 weeks. Harvest outer leaves for a cut-and-come-again supply.
- Cucumberaround Mar 9
3 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (03-30). Trellis vertically to double yield in the same footprint and cut mildew.
- Zucchiniaround Mar 9
3 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (03-30). One plant feeds a family. Pick at 6-8 in for the sweetest fruit.
- Winter squasharound Mar 9
3 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (03-30). Cure 10 days in a warm dry spot after harvest — the skin toughens and storage doubles.
- Watermelonaround Mar 9
3 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (03-30). Ripe = tendril nearest the fruit is brown and the ground spot has turned buttery yellow.
- Cantaloupe / Melonaround Mar 9
3 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (03-30). Ripe fruit slips off the vine with a gentle tug — the smell alone tells you.
Direct sow
- Lettucearound Mar 2
Soil is ready -4 weeks before last frost.
- Spinacharound Mar 2
Soil is ready -4 weeks before last frost.
- Radisharound Mar 2
Soil is ready -4 weeks before last frost.
- Carrotaround Mar 9
Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.
- Kalearound Mar 9
Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.
- Beetaround Mar 9
Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.
- Onionaround Mar 9
Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.
- Broccoliaround Mar 9
Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.
- Chivesaround Mar 9
Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.
- Potatoaround Mar 16
Soil is ready -2 weeks before last frost.
- Cilantroaround Mar 16
Soil is ready -2 weeks before last frost.
- Parsleyaround Mar 16
Soil is ready -2 weeks before last frost.
- Dillaround Mar 30
Soil is ready 0 weeks after last frost.
Transplant out
- Kalearound Mar 9
Goes out 3 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Broccoliaround Mar 9
Goes out 3 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Chivesaround Mar 9
Goes out 3 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Strawberryaround Mar 9
Goes out 3 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Lettucearound Mar 16
Goes out 2 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Onionaround Mar 16
Goes out 2 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Strawberryaround Mar 16
Goes out 2 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Parsleyaround Mar 16
Goes out 2 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Mintaround Mar 16
Goes out 2 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
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