What to Plant in March
March opens the warm-season garden in Florida Zone 9. As the days grow longer and the soil begins to warm, beans, cucumbers, squash, corn, melons, and other heat-loving vegetables can begin moving into the garden. Tender transplants can also be planted as the danger of damaging cold begins to fade.
March at a Glance
March is one of the busiest planting months of the Florida gardening year. Cool-season crops may still be producing, but attention begins shifting toward vegetables and flowers that thrive in warmer weather. Beans, cucumbers, squash, corn, melons, tomatoes, peppers, and many colorful annual flowers can now become part of the garden. Keep an eye on the forecast, however, because an occasional late cold night can still threaten tender young plants.
Vegetables
March brings a major change to the vegetable garden. Warm-season crops can begin taking the place of winter vegetables, making this an excellent month for establishing the plants that will carry the YardStead through spring.
Direct Sow in the Garden
Bush Beans
Sow directly into warm, well-drained soil in raised beds, containers, or grow bags. Plant another small succession later for a longer harvest.
Pole Beans
Direct sow where the plants will grow and provide a trellis or other sturdy support before the vines begin climbing.
Lima Beans
Sow directly once the soil has warmed. Choose a sunny location and give climbing varieties adequate support.
Cucumbers
Direct sow into warm soil in a sunny garden space. Trellising vines can help conserve room in a small urban garden.
Summer Squash
Sow seeds directly into rich, well-drained soil. Give plants enough room for good air circulation as spring becomes warmer.
Winter Squash
Direct sow in a sunny location with enough room for spreading vines, or guide vines carefully where garden space is limited.
Sweet Corn
Sow corn directly in blocks rather than one long row. Planting in blocks helps improve pollination and kernel development.
Okra
Begin sowing as the soil becomes consistently warm. Okra loves Florida heat and will become increasingly vigorous as temperatures rise.
Southern Peas
Direct sow black-eyed peas, cream peas, or other southern peas in a sunny location. These heat-loving legumes are well suited to the coming warm weather.
Cantaloupe
Sow directly into warm soil and provide plenty of sunshine. Allow room for vines or train them carefully where growing space is limited.
Watermelon
Direct sow in a sunny location after the soil has warmed. Give vines generous space and maintain even moisture as plants become established.
Peanuts
Plant directly into loose, well-drained soil where the developing pegs will have room to enter the soil and form peanuts underground.
Start for Transplanting Later
Tomatoes
Tomato transplants can begin moving into the garden as temperatures become dependable. Seeds started now can also provide younger plants for later spring planting.
Peppers
Continue growing pepper seedlings in warmth and strong light. Established transplants can move outside once nights remain comfortably warm.
Eggplant
Eggplants appreciate warm soil and warm nights. Continue growing young plants for transplanting or set established transplants into a sunny garden space.
Tomatillos
Grow seedlings for transplanting into full sun as warm weather settles in. Planting more than one tomatillo can help improve pollination.
Swiss Chard
Young plants can be transplanted into raised beds, pots, or grow bags. Give them regular moisture as March temperatures begin climbing.
Collards
Transplants can still be added early in the month. Give plants adequate water and watch them closely as temperatures become warmer.
Flowers
March opens the door to many warm-season flowers. Choose sun-loving annuals that can handle increasingly warm Florida days and use them around vegetables, containers, raised beds, and other YardStead growing spaces.
Direct Sow in the Garden
Zinnias
Sow directly in full sun once the soil is warm. Zinnias grow quickly and provide bright color along with flowers attractive to pollinators.
Cosmos
Direct sow into a sunny, well-drained location. Avoid overly rich soil, which can encourage more foliage than flowers.
Sunflowers
Sow directly where they will grow. Smaller varieties work well around raised beds and containers while taller varieties can form a sunny garden backdrop.
Marigolds
Sow directly into sunny beds or containers. Their compact growth and strong color make them useful companions throughout a small garden.
Gomphrena
Sow in warm soil in a sunny location. Once established, gomphrena handles heat well and produces colorful, long-lasting blooms.
Balsam
Direct sow in a warm garden area with good drainage. Balsam grows readily from seed and brings old-fashioned summer color to beds and containers.
Start for Transplanting Later
Celosia
Start seeds in warmth for transplanting into sunny beds and containers. Celosia becomes increasingly comfortable as Florida temperatures rise.
Angelonia
Start plants for later placement in sunny beds or containers. Angelonia performs well as the garden moves toward hotter weather.
Pentas
Start or grow young plants for transplanting into sunny garden spaces. Their clusters of flowers are especially useful in a pollinator-friendly garden.
Moss Rose
Start plants for sunny, well-drained containers and garden edges. Moss rose handles heat and relatively dry conditions once established.
Torenia
Start young plants for containers or garden areas receiving some protection from intense afternoon sun. Torenia provides color where full-sun flowers may struggle.
Salvia
Start seedlings for transplanting into sunny beds and containers. Salvias add long-lasting color and can help draw pollinators into the YardStead.
March Planting Notes
- March begins the Warm Season at the UrbanYardStead. This is the month when the garden begins shifting decisively from cool-weather crops to heat-loving plants.
- A late cold night is still possible in Florida Zone 9. Keep frost cloth or another plant protection method available for tender tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, melons, beans, and other warm-season plants.
- Beans, cucumbers, corn, squash, melons, okra, and southern peas generally perform best when their seeds are sown directly where the plants will grow.
- March is an important tomato-planting month. Give tomatoes full sun, good air circulation, and support before the plants become large.
- Install trellises for pole beans and cucumbers early. Supporting vines vertically can make especially good use of limited space in a small urban garden.
- Containers and grow bags begin drying more quickly as temperatures and daylight increase. Check soil moisture regularly rather than relying on the watering schedule used during winter.
- Mulch around established plants after the soil has warmed to help conserve moisture and reduce weeds as spring growth accelerates.
- March flowers can bring beneficial insects and pollinators into the vegetable garden. Zinnias, sunflowers, cosmos, salvia, pentas, and other flowering plants can be tucked around food-growing spaces where sunlight allows.