What's happening in the mid March edible garden

Chives

Sunday, March 16, 2025

Spring in our garden has come later this year.  We had a two week frigid spell with ice and snow in mid-February that slowed everything down.  Took a couple of weeks for the ground to thaw.  We are about 4 weeks behind the past 2 springs.  Daffodils, forsythias, crocus and hellebores are in full bloom now.  The Bradford Pear trees are just starting to flower.  

When forsythias bloom, it is time to apply corn gluten for weed suppression in the garden and yard.  Corn gluten keeps seeds from sprouting and provides nitrogen.  It will also keep grass seed or garden seed from sprouting so use only where you don't want seeds to come up.

In the edible garden, onions, parsley, horseradish, carrots, garlic, chives, salad burnet, French sorrel, oregano, dandelions, strawberries, thyme and garlic chives are popping up in the garden bed.  Overwintering celery, chard, lettuce, arugula, winter cress, blood veined sorrel, salad burnet, sprouting broccoli, shallots, onions and Chinese cabbage are growing again.  Chickweed is flowering.  The garden is giving greens for fresh picked salads.

Asparagus is usually up by now but it has yet to show itself.  

Cool season crop transplants are at the local nurseries and big box stores.  They have broccoli, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, onion sets, spinach, chard, lettuce, potato starts and more.  It's time to buy what you want for your spring garden and transplant!  

Overwintering cabbage and broccoli

I bought lettuce and spinach to supplement what overwintered.  I also plant snow peas, onion sets, onion seedlings and will plant carrot seeds to keep the salad greens going through June.

Herbs have not yet arrived at the big box stores; they should soon.  The ones that can be planted now are thyme, sage, garlic, parsley, and celery.  I'd hold off on the rosemary and especially the basil.  If it gets even close to freezing, basil can be killed in the garden.  You can buy and keep in a sunny window in the garage and they should be fine.

Warm season crops like tomatoes, peppers and eggplant all need warm days and warm soil to thrive.  A freeze can kill them.   Plants should be arriving in stores by early April.  I usually wait until May to plant these summer lovers.  I started mine from seed a month or so ago and have transplanted them into pots that I'll keep under lights, in a sunny window or on the patio on warm days to give them a boost for summer harvests.