March is a ‘seedfest’ for me and most gardeners. The weather may not be screaming spring just yet as the month begins, but as the weeks go by and the spring equinox on 19th March comes around, the garden wakes up, birds are singing and let’s face it - it is the most joyful time of the year for most of us!
The allotment is in really good shape, spring bulbs popping up everywhere and blossom beginning to pop on the trees. It’s only at this time of year that I cut back the perennial seedheads and stems as they’ve provided shelter and food for insects over winter. I lay them down on the ground before composting so any bugs can move out and onto the pollen of dandelions, dead nettle, primroses and other spring flowers. I love how they give winter interest but it’s time to make way for spring.
Besides all the seeds being sown in the Rhino Greenhouse filling up the shelves, outside I have planted onions, shallots and garlic. This year I have some overwintered which were planted out last October and these which will soon shoot up and extend the harvests through the summer. Easy to plant, grow and harvest you can see in the video how I am planting them out. This year they are being planted into a raised bed to save some room in the allotment beds for some really exciting vegetables.
Potatoes are chitting on the windowsill, which will all be grown in bags, again to save some space for other vegetables on the plot.
It’s your last chance to prune Roses, which I really must do as well and don’t forget to keep some horticultural fleece close by to wrap up your seedlings on the colder days and nights. Equally, ensure you have some good air flow on warmer days. It’s on these days I am thankful for the automatic vents on the greenhouse.
Other than that, you can find me amongst the seed packets, pots and compost which I will emerge from in April!
Happy Spring gardeners.
