What to sow in March
March is when it all kicks off. The soil is warming, the days are stretching, and there's a genuine buzz at the allotment. This is the busiest sowing month of the year — here's exactly what to get in the ground.
Your timing depends on where you are
The last frost date in Cornwall can be three weeks earlier than the Highlands. That changes when you can safely plant out tender crops — and when you need to start seeds indoors.
| Location | Last frost | Days behind Cornwall |
|---|---|---|
| Cornwallmildest — coastal Gulf Stream | 7 April | — |
| Londonurban heat island | 19 April | +12 |
| Bristolsouth-west, sheltered | 18 April | +11 |
| Birminghammidlands | 24 April | +17 |
| Manchesternorth-west | 30 April | +23 |
| LeedsYorkshire | 2 May | +25 |
| Edinburghcentral Scotland | 13 May | +36 |
| InvernessHighlands — latest frost | 22 May | +45 |
These are estimates based on latitude and coastal proximity. Enter your postcode on our frost map for a date specific to your plot.
Sow indoors this month
These crops want warmth to germinate. A windowsill, heated propagator, or greenhouse will do.
Sow every 3 weeks for a continuous harvest. Pick regularly to keep them producing — leave one pod on and the whole plant slows down.
Needs: Sun. Something to climb — sticks, netting, or a trellis.
- Kelvedon Wonder — Compact and reliable. A safe bet
- Hurst Greenshaft — Heavy cropper, great flavour
Companions: Carrots, Radishes, Turnips, Sweetcorn
See recommended kit →Sow a short row every 2 weeks and you'll never buy a supermarket bag again. Pick outer leaves to keep it going.
Needs: Partial shade in summer stops it bolting. Regular water.
- Little Gem — Crunchy, compact, perfect
- Lollo Rosso — Frilly red leaves, looks great in a bed
Companions: Radishes, Carrots, Spring onions
See recommended kit →Each seed cluster produces several seedlings — thin to the strongest. Don't chuck the leaves, they're delicious wilted with butter.
Needs: Sun or light shade. Any reasonable soil. One of the easiest root veg.
- Boltardy — The reliable one — bolt-resistant
- Chioggia — Candy-stripe rings inside, stunning
Companions: Lettuce, Onion sets
See recommended kit →Gets sweeter after a frost. One of the hardiest crops — can harvest all winter.
Needs: Sun or partial shade. Firm, fertile soil. Net against pigeons.
- Cavolo Nero — Tuscan black kale — gorgeous in soups
- Dwarf Green Curled — Compact, perfect for small plots
Companions: Beetroot, Onion sets
See recommended kit →Beautiful and productive. Pick outer leaves and it keeps going for months. Rainbow chard looks stunning.
Needs: Sun or partial shade. Moist soil. Hardly any pest problems.
- Bright Lights — Rainbow stems — stunning in the plot
- Fordhook Giant — White-stemmed classic, heavy yielder
Cut the main head first and you'll get side shoots for weeks. Purple sprouting is the real star — worth the long wait.
Needs: Sun. Firm, fertile soil. Net against pigeons and cabbage white butterflies.
- Purple Sprouting Early — The star of late winter/early spring
- Green Magic — Quick calabrese for summer heads
Companions: Beetroot, Onion sets, Celery
See recommended kit →Different varieties for each season — spring, summer, autumn, and winter types. Red cabbage is less bothered by caterpillars.
Needs: Sun. Firm, well-manured soil. Net against pigeons and butterflies or they'll destroy it.
- Hispi — Pointed spring cab — sweet and fast
- January King — Stunning purple-tinged winter cab
Companions: Onion sets, Celery, Beetroot
See recommended kit →Fold outer leaves over the curd to keep it white. Cauliflower leaves are delicious too — don't throw them away.
Needs: Sun. Rich, firm soil. Consistent watering. The fussiest brassica.
- All Year Round — Name says it all — sow spring or summer
- Snowball — Compact heads, good for smaller gardens
Companions: Celery, Onion sets
See recommended kit →Slow to germinate (3-4 weeks) — don't give up on it. Soak seeds overnight in warm water to speed things up. Flat-leaf has the stronger flavour.
Needs: Sun or partial shade. Moist, rich soil. Grows brilliantly in pots.
- Giant of Italy — Flat-leaf, strong flavour, big leaves
- Moss Curled — Classic curly type for garnish and cooking
Companions: Tomatoes, Carrots, Broad beans
Plant in a block, not a row — they're wind-pollinated and need neighbours. Each plant gives you 1-2 cobs, so don't be stingy with numbers.
Needs: Full sun. Sheltered spot. Rich soil.
- Swift — Early-maturing — good for shorter UK summers
- Golden Bantam — Heritage, deep yellow, sweet
Companions: Squash, French beans, Pumpkins
See recommended kit →You only need 2-3 plants. Seriously. Pick them small (15cm) or they turn into marrows overnight.
Needs: Full sun. Rich soil. Lots of water.
- Black Beauty — Classic dark green, heavy cropper
- Defender — Compact, great for smaller plots
Companions: Sweetcorn, French beans
See recommended kit →Dwarf varieties need no support. Pick every few days — once they start producing, they don't stop (unless you let pods go to seed).
Needs: Sun. Sheltered spot. Decent soil.
- Tendergreen — Stringless bush variety, very reliable
- Cobra — Climbing, prolific, keeps going for months
Companions: Sweetcorn, Squash, Carrots
See recommended kit →Big hungry plants — give them space and feed them well. Leave to cure in the sun before storing and they'll keep for months.
Needs: Full sun. Rich soil. Space — they spread like they own the place.
- Crown Prince — Blue-grey, incredible nutty flavour
- Uchiki Kuri — Orange onion squash, sweet and easy
Companions: Sweetcorn, French beans
See recommended kit →Limit each plant to 2-3 fruits for bigger pumpkins. Sit them on a tile or slate to stop rot from underneath.
Needs: Full sun. Very rich soil. Lots of water. Lots of space.
- Jack O'Lantern — The classic carving pumpkin
- Atlantic Giant — If you fancy growing a monster
Companions: Sweetcorn, French beans
See recommended kit →Bolts at the slightest excuse. Sow every 3-4 weeks, pick frequently, and choose slow-bolt varieties. It's a race you can win if you stay on top of it.
Needs: Partial shade in summer. Moist soil. Grows well in pots on a windowsill.
- Calypso — Slow to bolt — the whole point
- Leisure — Leafy and long-lasting
Companions: Tomatoes, Spinach
Dead easy and fast. Gets spicier in hot weather — which is either a feature or a bug depending on your taste. Pick leaves small for salads.
Needs: Partial shade in summer to slow bolting. Any reasonable soil.
- Wild Rocket — Perennial, peppery, stronger flavour
- Salad Rocket — Fast, mild, classic for leaves
Companions: Lettuce, Spinach
Sow early spring or after midsummer — it'll bolt faster than you can blink in the heat. Worth it though. Fast-growing and very rewarding.
Needs: Partial shade. Moist soil. Slug protection is non-negotiable.
- Joi Choi — Vigorous and bolt-resistant
- Canton Dwarf — Compact — good for tight spaces
Companions: Onion sets, Garlic
Sow after midsummer for best bulbs — earlier sowings often bolt. Don't transplant bare-root, it hates root disturbance. Use modules.
Needs: Full sun. Well-drained, fertile soil. Regular water.
- Rondo — Bolt-resistant — important for fennel
- Zefa Fino — Quick to bulk up, reliable
Pinch out side shoots on cordon types. Feed weekly with tomato feed once the first truss sets. Don't overwater — flavour comes from a bit of stress.
Needs: Full sun. Sheltered. Rich soil. Regular feeding once fruiting.
- Gardener's Delight — Cherry — the most reliable tomato in the UK
- Sungold — Orange cherry, absurdly sweet
Companions: Basil, Parsley, Carrots, Garlic
See recommended kit →Outdoor varieties are tougher and easier than greenhouse ones. Keep picking and they keep producing — ignore them and they swell to marrow size.
Needs: Sun. Shelter. Rich moist soil. A frame or trellis saves space.
- Marketmore — Outdoor variety, reliable and prolific
- Crystal Lemon — Round yellow cukes — fun and different
Companions: Dill, Lettuce, Peas
See recommended kit →Build a strong frame — they get seriously heavy. Pick every 2-3 days or they go stringy and the plant stops producing.
Needs: Sun. Deep rich soil. A tall, solid support frame.
- Scarlet Emperor — The classic — red flowers, heavy crops
- Enorma — Exhibition-length pods
Companions: Sweetcorn, Squash
See recommended kit →Pinch out flower buds to keep leaves coming. Harvest from the top to encourage bushy growth. Loves heat — don't even think about putting it outside before June.
Needs: Full sun. Warmth. Sheltered spot. Rich, moist soil. Perfect for pots.
- Genovese — Classic Italian, the one for pesto
- Greek — Tiny leaves, compact plant, great in pots
Companions: Tomatoes, Peppers
See recommended kit →Sow directly outside
Hardy enough for the soil temperature right now. Sow where they are going to grow.
Pinch out the growing tips once the first pods form to discourage blackfly. They'll also ripen faster.
Needs: Sun or partial shade. Supports for taller varieties.
- Aquadulce Claudia — The classic. Sow autumn or spring
- The Sutton — Dwarf — brilliant for containers and small plots
Companions: Lettuce, Spinach, Carrots
See recommended kit →Sow every 3 weeks for a continuous harvest. Pick regularly to keep them producing — leave one pod on and the whole plant slows down.
Needs: Sun. Something to climb — sticks, netting, or a trellis.
- Kelvedon Wonder — Compact and reliable. A safe bet
- Hurst Greenshaft — Heavy cropper, great flavour
Companions: Carrots, Radishes, Turnips, Sweetcorn
See recommended kit →Sow a short row every 2 weeks and you'll never buy a supermarket bag again. Pick outer leaves to keep it going.
Needs: Partial shade in summer stops it bolting. Regular water.
- Little Gem — Crunchy, compact, perfect
- Lollo Rosso — Frilly red leaves, looks great in a bed
Companions: Radishes, Carrots, Spring onions
See recommended kit →Bolts the moment it gets hot. Best in spring and autumn. Pick little and often — a whole plant cooks down to about two mouthfuls.
Needs: Partial shade. Moist, rich soil.
- Giant Winter — Hardy enough for autumn and winter
- Perpetual Spinach — Actually a chard — but brilliant and long-lasting
Companions: Broad beans, Peas
See recommended kit →The quickest crop you can grow — seed to plate in 4 weeks. Sow between slower crops to use the space while you wait.
Needs: Sun or partial shade. Light soil. Not fussy.
- French Breakfast — Elongated classic, mild flavour
- Cherry Belle — Round, red, ready in 4 weeks
Companions: Lettuce, Peas, Carrots
See recommended kit →Sow thinly to avoid thinning — the smell of crushed leaves is a dinner bell for carrot fly. Cover with fleece to be safe.
Needs: Sun. Light, stone-free soil. No fresh manure or you'll get forked roots.
- Nantes — Sweet, blunt-tipped, easy to grow
- Resistafly — Bred to resist carrot fly — the clue's in the name
Companions: Onion sets, Spring onions, Leeks, Lettuce
See recommended kit →Push sets into the soil with the tip just showing. Easiest way to grow onions — skip seed unless you enjoy waiting.
Needs: Full sun. Well-drained soil. Birds will pull them up, so net early on.
- Sturon — Reliable all-rounder, stores well
- Red Baron — Red variety, sweet in salads
Companions: Carrots, Beetroot, Lettuce
See recommended kit →Chit (sprout) seed potatoes on a windowsill before planting. Earth up as they grow — if you see green skin, it's toxic.
Needs: Sun. Rich soil. Water well once flowers appear.
- Swift — First early — potatoes by June
- Charlotte — Waxy salad potato, amazing flavour
Gets sweeter after a frost. One of the hardiest crops — can harvest all winter.
Needs: Sun or partial shade. Firm, fertile soil. Net against pigeons.
- Cavolo Nero — Tuscan black kale — gorgeous in soups
- Dwarf Green Curled — Compact, perfect for small plots
Companions: Beetroot, Onion sets
See recommended kit →Very slow to germinate (2-4 weeks). Use fresh seed every year. Sow radishes alongside to mark the row.
Needs: Sun. Deep, stone-free soil. Patience.
- Tender and True — Long, flavourful, classic
- Gladiator — Vigorous and canker-resistant
Sow a pinch every few weeks and you'll have spring onions all season. Dead easy — one of the best crops for beginners.
Needs: Sun or partial shade. Any soil. Genuinely unfussy.
- White Lisbon — The standard — quick and reliable
- Ishikura — Long stems, no bulb, Japanese style
Harvest when golf-ball sized for the sweetest flavour. Leave them too long and they go woody. Quick-growing gap filler.
Needs: Sun or partial shade. Moist soil. Not demanding.
- Purple Top Milan — Fast-growing, sweet when small
- Snowball — White, mild, golf-ball sized
Cut the main head first and you'll get side shoots for weeks. Purple sprouting is the real star — worth the long wait.
Needs: Sun. Firm, fertile soil. Net against pigeons and cabbage white butterflies.
- Purple Sprouting Early — The star of late winter/early spring
- Green Magic — Quick calabrese for summer heads
Companions: Beetroot, Onion sets, Celery
See recommended kit →Slow to germinate (3-4 weeks) — don't give up on it. Soak seeds overnight in warm water to speed things up. Flat-leaf has the stronger flavour.
Needs: Sun or partial shade. Moist, rich soil. Grows brilliantly in pots.
- Giant of Italy — Flat-leaf, strong flavour, big leaves
- Moss Curled — Classic curly type for garnish and cooking
Companions: Tomatoes, Carrots, Broad beans
Plant out this month
Seedlings started earlier that are ready to go into their final positions.
Pinch out the growing tips once the first pods form to discourage blackfly. They'll also ripen faster.
Needs: Sun or partial shade. Supports for taller varieties.
- Aquadulce Claudia — The classic. Sow autumn or spring
- The Sutton — Dwarf — brilliant for containers and small plots
Companions: Lettuce, Spinach, Carrots
See recommended kit →Sow every 3 weeks for a continuous harvest. Pick regularly to keep them producing — leave one pod on and the whole plant slows down.
Needs: Sun. Something to climb — sticks, netting, or a trellis.
- Kelvedon Wonder — Compact and reliable. A safe bet
- Hurst Greenshaft — Heavy cropper, great flavour
Companions: Carrots, Radishes, Turnips, Sweetcorn
See recommended kit →Plant runners in spring or late summer and you will be picking fruit the following June. Net them or the birds will get there first. Replace plants every three years for the best yields.
Needs: Full sun. Rich, well-drained soil. Mulch with straw to keep fruit clean and stop rot. Water regularly when fruiting.
- Cambridge Favourite — Reliable mid-season. Sweet, classic flavour. Good for beginners
- Elsanta — Heavy cropper, firm fruit, the supermarket standard but better fresh
Companions: Lettuce, Spinach, Borage
Plant bare-root canes in winter for the cheapest option. Summer varieties fruit on last year's canes, autumn varieties on this year's — the pruning is completely different. Once established, a row of raspberries will produce for 10+ years.
Needs: Sun or light shade. Rich, slightly acidic soil. A post-and-wire support system. Mulch annually with compost.
- Glen Ample — Summer. Spine-free canes, heavy cropper, excellent flavour
- Autumn Bliss — Autumn. Fruits Aug–Oct on new canes. Easy to prune — just cut everything down in February
Companions: Garlic, Tansy
Cultivated blackberries produce bigger, sweeter fruit than wild ones and are thornless. Train along wires or a fence. They fruit on last year's growth, so tie in new canes as they grow and cut out the fruited ones after harvest.
Needs: Sun or partial shade. Any reasonable soil — blackberries are unfussy. Support wires or a fence to train along.
- Loch Ness — Thornless, compact, heavy cropping. The best all-rounder
- Apache — Thornless, large sweet berries, upright growth
Companions: Tansy, Garlic
One of the easiest fruit bushes for UK allotments. Plant a bare-root bush in winter, prune to an open goblet shape, and it will produce kilos of fruit every summer for 20+ years. Pick them young for cooking, or leave to ripen fully for eating fresh.
Needs: Sun or partial shade. Moist but well-drained soil. Annual mulch with compost. Prune in winter to keep an open centre.
- Invicta — Green, heavy cropper, mildew resistant. The most reliable
- Hinnonmaki Red — Red dessert variety, sweet enough to eat raw. Compact
Companions: Broad beans, Peas
Blackcurrants are packed with vitamin C and make the best jam and cordial. Plant deep — 5cm below the soil line — to encourage strong shoots from the base. Prune a third of the oldest wood out each winter. One bush produces 4-5kg of fruit.
Needs: Full sun for best crops. Rich, moisture-retentive soil. Shelter from cold winds (they flower early). Annual mulch and feed.
- Ben Sarek — Compact, heavy cropping, good disease resistance. Best for small spaces
- Big Ben — Huge berries, sweet enough to eat fresh. Vigorous grower
Companions: Garlic
Beautiful jewel-like berries that hang in trusses. They tolerate more shade than most fruit, so they are perfect for a north-facing fence. Prune to a permanent framework like a gooseberry, not like a blackcurrant.
Needs: Sun or partial shade. Well-drained soil. Train as a cordon against a wall or fence to save space. Net against birds.
- Jonkheer van Tets — Early, heavy cropping, good flavour. The standard variety
- Rovada — Late season, very long trusses, excellent for jelly
Companions: Garlic
Plant a crown in winter, do not harvest the first year, and it will reward you with decades of stalks. Pull (do not cut) stalks from April to June, then leave it alone to build strength for next year. Force a clump in January for the most tender, pink stems.
Needs: Sun or partial shade. Deep, rich soil with lots of organic matter. Water in dry spells. Mulch heavily with manure each autumn.
- Timperley Early — Earliest to crop, ready from March. Thin stalks, good forced
- Victoria — The classic. Thick stalks, reliable, excellent for pies and crumbles
Companions: Broad beans
These sowing windows close by the end of March. If you want them this year, now is the time.
- Onion setsdirect sow — 1 days left
- Potatoes (early)direct sow — 1 days left
- Sweetcornsow indoors — 1 days left
- Cucumberssow indoors — 1 days left
- Broad beansplant out — 8 days left
- Lettucedirect sow — 8 days left
- Radishesdirect sow — 8 days left
- Beetrootsow indoors — 8 days left
- Kaledirect sow — 8 days left
- Parsnipsdirect sow — 8 days left
- Spring onionsdirect sow — 8 days left
- Swiss chardsow indoors — 8 days left
- Turnipsdirect sow — 8 days left
- Broccolidirect sow — 8 days left
- Parsleydirect sow — 8 days left
- Courgettessow indoors — 8 days left
- Squashsow indoors — 8 days left
- Pumpkinssow indoors — 8 days left
- Coriandersow indoors — 8 days left
- Rocketsow indoors — 8 days left
- Pak choisow indoors — 8 days left
- Fennelsow indoors — 8 days left
- Runner beanssow indoors — 8 days left
- Strawberriesplant out — 8 days left
What kit you will need
If you are starting seeds indoors this month, you will want a heated propagator, good seed compost, and decent modules. We have tested and reviewed the kit that actually matters.
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