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WHAT TO PLANT IN
March


Mid-Atlantic Region

Mid-Atlantic Gardening Region map new


lettuceBP

Most plants are very sensitive to day length. When day length increases, they immediately begin to add new growth. Tomatoes and other seedlings can catch this wave of momentum; large containers will keep them from becoming root-bound before outdoor temperatures warm.

Gardener's Almanac, February/March 2004

If you're not sure how to start seeds or when to set out transplants, see the Resources section below. If you have any tips for how to cope with regional conditions where you garden, please share them with other gardeners in your area by posting a comment below. 

To read more about what to plant in other months and regions, visit our What to Plant Now home page.


Top Crops for Mid-Atlantic Gardening:

cabbageSeedlingsBP

Here are the Top Ten crops for Mid-Atlantic gardens, followed by other recommended crops, as rated in our National Survey of Most Productive Garden Crops. (The criteria for selection include ease of culture, efficient use of garden space and time, ease of storage and desirability at the table.) The recommended crops are sorted by plant family to help you plan rotations so that the same plant families are not grown consecutively in the same area, as much as possible.

Top 10 Crops: Mid-Atlantic Region

 1. Slicing tomato
 2. Sweet pepper
 3. Cherry tomato
 4. Pole snap bean
 5. Bush snap bean
 6. Garlic
 7. Potato
 8. Snow/snap pea
 9. Summer squash
 10. Bulb onion

Other Highly Recommended Crops:

Cabbage family:  Broccoli, cabbage, collards, kale, kohlrabi

Cucumber family:  Cucumber, winter squash

Leafy greens: Arugula, chard, lettuce, mache, mustard (all types), pac choi, sorrel, spinach

Legumes:  Asparagus/yard-long bean, bush lima bean, dry soup bean, edamame, peas (all types), Southern pea

Root crops:  Parsnip, radish, rutabaga, shallot, sunchoke, turnip

Tomato family:  Eggplant, peppers (all types), tomatillo, tomato (all types)

Miscellaneous:  Asparagusleek, okra, scallions, sweet corn 

VEGETABLES

Sow Indoors  

Sow Outdoors 

Transplant

Artichoke, globe

XXX

  

Arugula

 

XXX

 

Asparagus

  

XXX

Beet

 

XXX

 

Broccoli 

XXX

 

 

Cabbage 

XXX

 

XXX

Carrot

 

XXX

 

Celery 

XXX

 

 

Chard

XXX

  
Eggplant

XXX

  
Endive

XXX

XXX

XXX

Fava bean 

XXX

 
Fennel, bulb

XXX

  

Kale

XXX

 

XXX

Kohlrabi

XXX

XXX

XXX

Leek 

XXX

 

XXX

Lettuce

XXX

XXX

XXX

Mache 

 

XXX

 

Onions, bulb 

XXX

 

 

Pac choi

XXX

XXX

XXX

Parsnip 

XXX

 

Peas (snow, shell, snap)

XXX

 

Peppers

XXX

  

Potatoes

 

XXX

 

Radishes

 

XXX

 

Rhubarb

  

XXX

Radicchio

XXX

XXX

XXX

Scallion (green onion) 

XXX

 

XXX

Sorrel

 

XXX

 

Spinach

 

XXX

XXX

Tomato

XXX

  

Turnip

 

XXX

 

CULINARY HERBS 

Sow Indoors  

Sow Outdoors 

Transplant

Basil

XXX 

Chives

XXXXXXXXX

Cilantro

XXXXXX 

Fennel, leaf 

XXX

 

XXX

Marjoram 

XXX

 

 

Parsley 

XXX

XXX

 XXX

Rosemary

XXX  

Sage

XXX  

Savory, summer 

XXX

 

 

Thyme

XXX XXX

RESOURCES

* To learn more about when to sow seeds (indoors and outdoors) or when to transplant your seedlings to the garden, see: Know When to Plant What: Find Your Average Last Spring Frost Date.

* To learn more about how to start seeds, check out Seed-starting Basics. For a primer on how to transplant seedlings, see Garden Transplanting: Expert Advice.

* Find garden seeds from great mail-order companies with our Plant and Seed Finder.

* Learn more about high-quality seeds and great seed companies in Best Seeds for a Bigger, Better Garden and Best Garden Seed Companies, or through our seed company directory

* You might also try swapping seeds locally.

* For tips on growing everything from apples to zucchini, see our Organic Gardening homepage.



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