March 2024
Last year it was frost, this year its mild and wet. Plants are flowering earlier and buds breaking. If the
ground allows you to get on it then we have plenty to get on with.
Potatoes that have been chitting can be planted from the middle of the month, the earlies first. I will
plant potatoes over a period of four weeks so as to get a continuity of supply.
Sweet peas sown in February can be planted along with the broad beans sown which were also sown
earlier. Early peas can also be started in the greenhouse and planted out later in the garden. If you
were unable to get your tomato and peppers started earlier then get them sown now for cropping in
the late summer.
Borders can now be tidied up of the old stems, and these stems can be composted. Look out for
anything like ladybirds, lacewings and hoverflies that may be hiding in the stems and let them stay
on the ground to allow the predators to escape into the new foliage. Mulching around plants is great
at this time of the year as it will hold moisture in the ground and suppress weeds.
Still time to spread out your snowdrops. Lift clumps and put three or four plants in the hole spacing
the clumps around 4 in. apart.
If the ground warms up and is dry enough, then grass seed can be sown in the bare patches. You
may want to hollow tine areas that are wet. Cover with fleece or netting to keep off the birds. If you
are wanting a wild flower meadow instead of grass then the seeds can be sown again when the soil
warms up.
Autumn fruiting raspberries can be cut back, check over other fruit bushes, cutting out any dead
wood that has been frosted.