As I start writing this, the weather outside is awful: it's windy and raining! It's almost like the weather didn't get the memo that Spring is meant to be on its way!
Hey! TJ here from The Gibbons House. It's so good to have you here again!
This is the 3rd instalment in the Monthly Gardening Guide posts, where each month we explore the jobs you can be doing in the garden to keep the dirt under your nails even in the coldest of months. Just because the garden is mostly dormant, it doesn't mean we must be!
With today being the first day of March, spring is just around the corner, things are starting to grow new buds, weeds are poking their heads up and the all-important daffodils are making an appearance, proof that better weather is coming!
Let's dive in to today's post and learn what you can be doing in your garden this month to prepare for the busy growing season ahead.
Plant early crop potatoes
If you caught last month's gardening guide, you might remember I suggested you start chitting your early potatoes. Well, now is the perfect time to plant them! Some gardeners might agree, but if you protect your potatoes from frost, you will have a super early potato crop. Where you choose to plant your potatoes is entirely up to you. You can directly plant the tubers into the ground, use containers or grow bags or put them in raised beds. Last year was the first time I grew potatoes, and I experimented with one crop in a container and one in my DIY tire raised beds. (I understand growing in tires is a controversial topic; for more on why I decided to use tires, check out my garden tour post here!). I lost the crop in the tires due to slugs and wireworms, but the crop grown in the container was beautiful and tasty! I bought some extra grow bags this year to have a larger crop going and to protect them from the slugs. My garden is a magnet for them, sadly!
To protect your crops from frost, you can use frost sheeting bought online or at gardening stores, an old bed sheet or even bags, but be careful using plastics as this can add microplastics to your soil and crops.
Check the soil before watering to ensure it's not already damp. Only water if the soil is dry to prevent the potatoes from rotting. Consider mulching around the crops to increase water retention and reduce weeds, and don't forget that potatoes benefit from fertilisation.
Sow some seeds
Now that temperatures are slowly increasing, more seeds can be planted. It's still recommended to sow seeds in a green house, sunny windowsill, or propagator until the last frost has passed. If you live in a milder climate, you might get away with directly sowing into your garden.
Be careful sowing now, though, unless you have a spot that gets full sun (such as a south-facing window). Seedlings can become leggy and overstretched if they do not get enough light, which can make them weak and prevent them from producing a good crop.
This month, you can plant another batch of lettuce so that you have a continuous crop, as well as:
In March, you can plant peas, spinach, onions, broad beans, and carrots. Starting your carrots early can help keep those pesky carrot root flies away! You can also sow herbs like basil, parsley, coriander, and chives. Don't forget about flowers—cosmos, sweet peas, and pansies can be planted now, too!
Take care of spring bulbs as they go over
I know it's a tad early in the month, but before the month's end, some of our spring bulbs would have fully sprung and even begin to go over. These bulbs will need attention to ensure they bloom as beautifully next year! Once the flowers fade, gently pinch off the developing seed heads to allow all of the energy the plant would spend on seed production to return to the bulb. However, let the rest of the foliage die back naturally, as the leaves will continue to photosynthesise and produce energy for the bulb to store until the next growth season. You can also apply mulch around the plants once they have fully died back to protect them from the harsh weather of the upcoming summer and winter.
Weeding
An endless job that always needs doing! Keeping on top of the weeds allows your crops and flowers to absorb the nutrients they need and get the sunlight they require to grow big and strong. If they are fighting for space with weeds, they may become weaker, reducing their fruit yield or ability to bloom as beautifully. The more often you do it, the less the weeds will accumulate and begin to take over! I am terrible at remembering to weed often, so when I do come to do it, it takes forever and it's such a boring job, but I know it's important! Tools such as trowels, hoes and hand-weeders can help the task seem more manageable, and weeding after rainfall means the weeds are easier to get by the root. Remember, leaving any of the root behind gives the weed a chance to re-grow. It must be entirely eliminated. Allow the weeds to dry and die in the sun for a week or so and toss onto the compost. If you have weeds such as dandelions (not actually a weed, but seen as one by many), you can use the flowers to create teas, salves and other useful products, the roots can be turned into coffee and the leaves can be used in salads or fed to pet rabbits/guinea pigs etc. I do not reccomend using weed killer around other plants you wish to keep, and avoid using them by crop plants. Weed killers can also be toxic to the ground and wildlife. Personally I avoid them altogether. Despite it being a slow job, weeding allows you time in your garden. So try to enjoy it!
5. Remember to cover crops from frost
As nice as it is that the weather in changing and warming up, we are still getting frequent frosts here in the UK. That means it's risky to plant out young crops or seedlings without proper frost protection. Many hardy crops will survive light frosts, such as kale, cabbage and other brassicas, but many will not. You can use frost fleece, which is available at most gardening stores and even some multi-purpose stores like Home Bargains or B&M. Other possibilities include plastic sheeting, corrugated roofing and weed cover, though be careful using plastics to cover, as I mentioned earlier this can lead to micro-plastics ending up in your soil and even your food. You can use biodegradable products; that way, you don't need to worry about anything toxic ending up in the soil, though these are more likely to be expensive and harder to get ahold of.
You could also build or buy cold frames to go over the plants in the ground to increase the heat and moisture and protect from frost. Don't forget that mulching can increase the soil temperature, aiding your plants to grow!
Sow wildflower seeds to help the wildlife
If you've read a few of my posts before, you'll know that I am all for helping wildlife in any way possible. Planting wildflowers and other wildlife-friendly flowers is a huge way that you can help at home with very little time, space or money.
Many garden centers and other shops selling seeds now have wildflower seed packs you can get for just a couple of quid, you need either a small bit of ground, a container or plant pots and some soil.
Many of those seeds can be planted now, though you may not get many flowers blooming until next year, some will surprise you with beautiful flowers in just a couple of months.
Alongside wildflowers, plants like cosmos, nasturtiums, foxgloves and marigolds are all great for the bees and bugs.
To really help the wildlife in your area, see what wildlife you normally get around and choose flowers that will specifically help them.
Increased bugs and insects can indeed support a greater wildlife population. You may find yourself attracting a variety of beneficial creatures, such as hedgehogs, bats, and various birds, all drawn to the abundance of insects as a food source.
To discover more ways to increase wildlife in your garden or growing space, check out my post on the subject here!
Prepare veg beds if not done so already
With plants growing now, it's well worth sorting out the areas they will transplant to when they are strong enough if you have not already done so. We are about to go into one of the busiest times as a gardener, and being on top of jobs like this can reduce stress levels and allow you to be well-organised and prepared.
Fill beds with more soil if needed, fertilise them and prepare any pest-preventative measures so that you are ready to move the seedlings out when needed.
Don't forget that seedlings need to be hardened before transplanting outside. To do this, allow them to spend days outside but bring them into the greenhouse overnight for a couple of weeks. Keep an eye on the temperatures, though; if they are to drop, then don't leave your seedlings out for too long to start with.
That should keep you busy for the month! What are you planning on growing this year? I'd love to hear all about your gardening plans. Comment below or connect with me on social media; I love chatting with you all! Until next time, bye for now!
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