Gardening: What to sow and grow this March

In the Garden

March is generally where the alchemy begins in terms of horticultural endeavour. I can never think too deeply about how a seed changes itself into its completed self. The chemicals involved are just mind blowing and beyond my comprehension. 

There’s no excuse for not making the most of natures magic. Don’t wait until summer arrives and realise you need to buy expensive plants to drop in when you can grow them from seed right now.  

This applies to perennials as well as annuals, you can sow from now right through until July. Even plants like dahlias that we traditionally starting off as a tuber can be grown from seed. Two varieties in particular are renowned for this. ‘Cactus’ and the controversially named ‘Bishop’s Children’ will grow on windowsills or a pot with a light dusting of compost. Bishops Children sends out dark leaves with orange, red and yellow heavy stars that will cut and come again. When November comes and the time comes to either move them or mulch over them, you’ll notice they have developed big fat tubers, all for the price of a seed that can last for the best part of ten years. 

Don’t forget to sow a few hardy annuals to brighten up the beds and fill them in at the same time. Calendula ‘Indian Prince’ is a taller variety that won’t let you down and can be hardy enough to self seed again for next year. I've had some of these in flower all year round before now. 

Night Scented Stock, an out of fashion annual that wafts its heady perfume through the back door on summer evenings. It’s worth growing just for its titular ability as well as its ease of growing. Just give it water if it starts to look dry. 

Find a younger person and get them to help sow a few varieties of sunflower. They now come in so many different heights and colours, it might take an age to select seeds. As long as you are fastidious about keeping the slugs and snails at bay, they'll make it to the flower beds when they’re robust enough. 

On the Plot 

The same magic applies to growing your own food. The trick, if there is one, is not to try and grow too much for your space. I have spent too much time nurturing plants only for me to ultimately have no room. Also, choose varieties of veg that you like and that you can’t buy in a shop for the experience. 

Some vegetables are perennials like rhubarb, (neither fruit or veg), Globe and Jerusalem artichokes, ginger, horseradish and asparagus. All these will be more resilient to drought, especially if mulched. 

In all the excitement, you could also try and grow some unusual veg like Cucamelon that is the size of a grape but a relative of the cucumber and has a slight citric edge. Cima di Rapa is a broccoli-like plant that is popular in Italy and relatively easy to grow. Giant Red Mustard is a pretty flecked ‘green’ that can be cooked like spinach or added to a salad. It certainly has a kick and is reminiscent of hot horsedish or even chilli. 

Coloured sweetcorn varieties like ‘Fiesta’ are fun to grow and unwrap. There is a blue sweetcorn variety called ‘Rio Grande’ that can be ground into a flour and made into blue tortillas or wraps to impress work colleagues. 

If you are able to get some seedlings up before the clocks go back in a fortnight, they, and you, will have much more sunlight to establish themselves into sturdy plants. Try not to get caught out by delaying sowing to prioritise dull domestic admin or an equally subordinate activity. 

Now is the most exciting time to garden so, make the most of it by planning something different as well as something you love.