March is the month of False Spring. We get a few days of warm sunshine and decide that Spring has sprung and we start growing things outside.
Big mistake!
Whilst days are getting noticeably longer, it's still way too cold to be sowing seeds or planting seedlings outdoors. So we need to do all our seed-sowing indoors.
Here are a few ideas for veggies you can get started indoors in March:
Chillies and Aubergines
Two things must ye know about growing Chillies and Aubergines: the seeds need heat to germinate and they take a long time to get from seed to produce fruit. So you've got to start them early. If you haven't got a propagator to give your seeds the warmth they need, you can cover your seed tray in cling film or place in a plastic bag and leave on a sunny windowsill.
Tomatoes
They need heat to get going, like the chaps above, but you'll see results quicker. Try a few different varieties, if you have the space.
Cool Weather Salad Leaves
Leaves such as Mizuna, Mibuna, Mustard and Rocket love cooler temeratures and often go to seed quickly when the weather heats up. So these are perfect for sowing in early Spring and Autumn.
Pak Choi
Love love love this veggie! It's so versatile: use young leaves to add to salads, shred some mature leaves into stir frys, or steam the whole thing to use as a side dish.
Seeds don't need heat to germinate, so you can leave your seed tray uncovered on a windowsill.
Onions
So easy to grow from seed and you get arguably bigger bulbs than growing from sets. Try a mixture of red, white and spring onion - and keep sowing all year, so you've always got a supply of onions coming! Sow a few seeds in each module of a tray and transplant outdoors when they are big enough to handle.
Kale
It's kind of a super-food, isn't it? Packed full of vitamins and minerals, and so easy to grow. You can grow regular curly Kale, or try Cavolo Nero, to add a bit of a statement plant to your garden - they look amazing! Very cold-tolerant and can be kept going all year.
Beetroot
You can sow Beetroot seeds direct into the soil, once it has warmed up towards the end of April, but why not get some started now in pots or trays? They'll need to live indoors for a month or so, but you'll soon be able to transplant outdoors.
Growing vegetables at home is really not too complicated if you follow a few rules. Most importantly: be patient! Some seeds can take 3-4 weeks to germinate, so don't feel like a failure if your seedlings don't spring up immediately.
Happy sowing!