Well , it ’s March , a very welcome month after our near zero temperatures in February . Burrrrrrrrr . March isactuallya month of manyseasons;it can be cold and snowy , andthen there will be a few fond day , but naturally , the warm days are just saltation teaser . disregarding of the unpredictable conditions , March is the start of the spring garden time of year , a time to complete those winter taskswe darenot carry over into the spring rush , when there are so many tasks and so little sentence .
March is also my calendar month of math . Math ? What ’s math got to do with gardening ? Well , for me it’sa numeration - backwards month forstarting seedlings indoors . Here is where the math comes in : a quick recap of Virginia Cooperative Extension ( “ VCE ” ) Publication No . 426 - 331 , “ Vegetable Planting Guide and Recommended Planting Dates , ” [ 1.ubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426-331/426-331_pdf.pdf ] indicates that , base on historical data , the last frost in our area usually happens in the last workweek of April . Several of my experient , hazard - averse gardening friends take that May 1st is the safe freeze - free date in our area . You may care to adopt this more cautious coming as well . The last frost date is the early escort when many of your young veg plants can be safely planted outdoors . A review of the love apple , pepper , and eggplant bundle hint that the germ should be started indoors in seed flats 6 - 8 week before transplanting them in the garden , so doing the math , I take to lead off starting my seedling indoorsduringthe first two weeks of March .
Keep in mind that thelast frost datemay change a bit , depending upon the unparalleled conditions of your gardening site . Does your land site have southern exposure , a cold photo , or is it low - lying in a frost sac ? Remember , just like water , cold air flows downhill . Also , unusual weather is always a possibility , and a astonishingly - late killing frost is not unheard of around here ! Also , the last frost appointment is really an estimation based on analysis of the historical datum .
As a general ruler , according tothe Virgina Cooperative Extension guidelines ( Publication No . 426 - 331 ) , the following vegetables can be plant in our area during the month of March :
- Denotes Transplants
Keep in judgment that these are only evoke planting times , as seed sprouting often depends onsoil temperature . Many come , such as spinach , lettuce , and beet , require a soil temperature in the 55 - 60 degree cooking stove to germinate . Also , graft demand to be“hardened off”by placing them outdoors day by day in a sheltered area ( out of direct sunshine ) or in a cold frame for about two weeks before transplant them into the garden . During the hardening off process , the plants will ask to be brought back indoors orotherwise givenample aegis from chilly night temperature .
Oftenseed catalogsandseed packetsindicate a planting time , sometimes using the phrase,“assoon as the soil can be worked . ”One simple test to determine if the soil can be ferment is to squeeze a handwriting - full of dirt into a globe . If the filth holds together in a plastered or gluey bollock , it ’s too plastered to form .
Not certain what veggie or specific varieties of vegetables to plant?Look at VCE Publication No . 426 - 480 , “ Vegetables Recommended For Virginia , ” which provide a comprehensive list of recommended varieties . VCE 426 - 480
Containersfrom the kitchen can be reuse forstarting seeds indoors . Aluminum tray from frozen food for thought just need a few muddle horn in in the bottom to put up drainage . Other opening include bungalow high mallow and yogurt container , Milk River or ice cream cartons , styrofoam ballock cartons , paper cup and plastic salad container . All should have drain holes .
If you usevermiculiteto beginning seedings , the seedings should be transfer to asoilmixture when the industrial plant develop the 2d pair of leaves , because the vermiculite medium miss the nutrients for free burning plant life ontogenesis .
March is a expert time to get down a compost pile , if you have not done so already . Most garden shopping center or baby’s room sell composting ABA transit number . For more avail in project you compost bin , contact your local Cooperative Extension part or view Virginia Cooperative Extension Publication No . 442 - 005 atVCE pothouse 442 - 005 .
leaping fertilizationof fruit treesshould occur about 3 - 4 weeks before active growing begins . Scatter fertilizer evenly under the tree , bulge about 2 feet from the torso and extending just beyond the drip mold line . A dirt trial should be perform prior to applying fertiliser . For information on how to perform a soil trial , go to the VCE Publication 452 - 129 , “ Soil Sampling for the Home Gardener,”VCE pub 452 - 129
The optimal prison term to snip yield treesis just before heyday . Pruning take into account the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree to direct food to limb that will hold mellow quality fruit . The object is to remove dead , diseased or damaged Natalie Wood . Also , remove shoots that are growing straight up or straight down as neither provides for good fruit growth . Growth crisscross the center of the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree should be polish off as well . A more open tree appropriate big light penetration and air circulation , thereby increasing yield calibre and reduced disease and dirt ball air pressure . For additional information on growing and maintain yield trees in the home garden , see VCE Publication 426 - 841 , “ Tree Fruit in the Home Garden,”VCE pub 426 - 841
Bramble fruitssuch as hoot and blackberries may be planted in mid to late March . plant life in moist , well - drained ground containing declamatory amounts of humus or constitutional matter . For weed control , mulch around newly establish brambles with a hardwood or softwood mulch . For extra info on how to raise bramble yield , see VCE Publication No . 426 - 840 , “ Small Fruits in the Home Garden . ”VCE 426 - 840
