March in the Garden
VEGGIES TO PLANT
- Swiss Chard
- Cool Season Greens
- Mustard
- Radishes
- Strawberries
- Asparagus
- Fennel
- Bush Beans
- Pole Beans
- Lima Beans
- Cantaloupe
- Corn
- Cucumbers
- Eggplant
- Greens (warm season)
- Peppers
- Summer Squash
- Winter Squash
- Tomatoes
WHAT TO DO
Allow two weeks for the cover crop to decompose before planting in that area.
Keep your floating row cover nearby and handy in case we have a late cold snap. You can wrap tomato cages or pea trellises, and make tents for squash or melons. Row cover can also help protect new seedlings and little transplants from strong springtime winds. The last average frost date is March 4th, but tomatoes and peppers need protection from the low 50s. Once danger of frost has passed, move citrus trees and other tropicals outside.
One surprising solution for aphids is to spray them with fish emulsion. One step stronger would be an insecticidal soap spray. Sometimes even just a hard blast with water will dislodge them but be sure your plant is big enough to withstand it. Whatever method you choose, spray once every 3-5 days until you get control.
They’re tiny but their predictable habits make them fairly easy to identify. Whiteflies are easy to spot because they always fly up in a little cloud when their host plant is disturbed. Also, their sticky exudate often causes a sooty black mold to grow on plant leaves. Thrips are harder to see but you might feel ‘em! If you’re in the garden and you’re getting nipped by something that isn’t a mosquito, check the plants around you for thrips. They especially love roses, and because insecticides cannot reach inside the closed buds, all buds should be removed and discarded. If you do find whiteflies or thrips in your garden, spray weekly with horticultural oil for three weeks.
Check new foliage on crape myrtles, squash, and roses for powdery mildew. If you find it, spray affected and surrounding leaves with either a natural fungicide, or cow milk (both skim or whole will work). Spray every 5-7 days, and spray again whenever there is a new flush of growth.