15 Vegetable Seeds You Should Plant in March for Your Spring and Summer Garden

15 Vegetable, Herb and Fruit Seeds You Can Plant in March. Get your spring and summer garden off to a great start!

Let’s plant in March! Spring is just around the corner but it isn’t too early to think about the seeds you should plant in March! These vegetables, herbs and fruits will work for most people but if you’re in an area, like me, with extreme heat you’ll want to check out planting calendars for your zone. If you’re in Phoenix I recommend using the calendar from the Maricopa Extension Office.

If you aren’t sure what planting zone you are in the USDA has a great interactive map for you. And you can just put in your zip code and it will tell you exactly what planting zone you are in.

15 Vegetable Seeds You Should Plant in March

This list is going to work for most people but definitely check for your specific zone.

I always recommend using companion planting and crop rotation for best results in the garden.

Root Vegetable Seeds You Can Plant in March

Beets – If your soil hasn’t consistently reached 50 degrees in March you’ll want to wait. You can start you beets indoors and then transplant later. To help with germination Rodales suggests that you soak your seeds for a few hours before planting.
Carrots – Carrots should be planted directly into the garden (don’t try to start them indoors). It is best to plant them about 4 weeks before the last frost. Here in Phoenix, carrots are a fall and winter crop. Be sure to see How to Preserve Your Garden Carrots
Onions – You can plant onion seeds, sets or beginning plants. Even though onions are a “root” crop Farmer’s Almanac recommends treating them like a leaf crop.

Leafy Green Vegetable Seeds You Can Plant in March

Spinach – More of a cool weather veggie. Planting spinach in early March should give you plenty of time to harvest this tasty treat before the summer heat causes it to bolt. Plant 4 – 6 weeks before last frost.
Lettuce – Make sure your spring lettuce gets plenty of light but not all day; it won’t bolt as quickly if it has some shade too.

Other Vegetable Seeds You Can Plant in March

Broccoli – since this is often a fall veggie and likes cooler weather, plant a quick growing variety to ensure you have time to get a good head before summer. The hybrid (non gmo) Flash variety is said to be good for late crops.
Cabbage – Start your cabbage indoor about 7 weeks before your last frost.
Corn – Start directly in garden, not indoors; in soil at least 60 degrees.
Cucumbers – Make sure you choose a variety that fits your space (bush or vining). Best to plant in the garden after the last frost has definitely happened.
Peas – Sow after your last frost. Peas won’t do well once it gets really hot so if you have a hotter climate you may want to wait on peas and grow them in the fall.
Peppers – Peppers love the heat but you can start them in March, indoors, and transplant them later.
Summer Squash – Another vegetable you can start indoors in March for transplanting later. Squash loves the sun and good drainage.
Tomatoes – Here in Phoenix, my tomatoes are already 6 – 8 inches tall in March. But if you live in a colder climate you’ll want to start your tomatoes indoors and plant them outside when the frost has passed. See Tips for Growing Awesome Organic Tomatoes.

Fruit Seeds You Can Plant in March

Melons – I love growing melons because most like long hot summers (aka Phoenix). But you can start them inside in the March to get a head start on your summer garden.