Welcome to March on the Allotment!

As winter loosens its grip and spring tentatively knocks on the door, March is a month of anticipation and preparation on the allotment. The days are slowly getting longer, and while the false spring may have fooled us into thinking warmer weather was here to stay, the unpredictable mix of sunshine, rain, and the occasional frost reminds us that nature likes to keep us on our toes. It’s a time to balance eagerness with caution — but there’s plenty to be done!

What to Sow and Grow March is an exciting month for gardeners, as the growing season truly begins. Depending on the weather, you can start sowing seeds both indoors and outdoors. Here’s a handy guide to what you can get going this month:

• Indoors/Under Cover: Tomatoes, peppers, chillies, aubergines, cucumbers, and early herbs like basil and coriander. Starting these indoors gives them a head start, ready to be transplanted when the weather warms.

• Direct Sowing (weather permitting): Hardy vegetables such as peas, broad beans, radishes, beetroot, carrots, parsnips, and spinach can be sown directly into prepared beds.

• Potatoes: March is also the perfect time to start chitting your first early potatoes. Place them in a cool, bright, frost-free place to sprout, and once the soil is workable, you can plant them out. Maincrop varieties can follow later in the season.

Jobs for the Plot There’s plenty to keep your hands busy this month, from preparing the soil to protecting tender plants. Here are some key tasks to focus on:

• Soil preparation: Dig over beds, removing weeds and adding organic matter like compost or well-rotted manure to improve soil fertility. Consider covering bare soil with fleece or cloches to help it warm up before planting.

• Weeding: Now’s the time to get ahead of any weeds — early action prevents them from spreading and competing with your crops.

• Supporting structures: Check and repair plant supports, trellises, netting, and fences. Wind and rain over winter may have loosened or damaged these.

• Protect seedlings: Be mindful of late frosts. Use cloches, fleece, or homemade mini-greenhouses to protect tender young plants.

• Plan your plot: Sketch out your planting plan to ensure crop rotation and companion planting are considered, helping to prevent disease and maximise harvests.

Wildlife and Nature Encourage biodiversity on your plot by setting up bird feeders, bug hotels, or small ponds. Pollinators like bees and butterflies are starting to emerge, so planting early bloomers such as primroses, crocuses, and hellebores can offer vital food sources.

Mark Your Calendar! Looking ahead, don’t forget to plan for any local events or gatherings — plant sales, community gardening days, and seasonal celebrations. These events are great for sharing knowledge, swapping seeds or plants, and connecting with fellow gardeners.

Embrace the Season March may feel like a month of preparation, but every task brings you one step closer to a thriving allotment. It’s a time of hope and hard work — laying the foundations for the abundance to come. So grab your gloves, dust off your tools, and enjoy the fresh air and promise of spring.

Happy growing!