The orchard in March kicks off the busiest months. Great tasks, from fertilizers, sowing, maintenance, care, control of the first weeds and an endless number of things that do not allow you to rest on your laurels. If you are not sure where to start, we will guide you step by step with the tasks to be carried out. Get to work there is a lot of work to do. Let’s start with the theory!
Index
THE CLIMATE AND THE ORCHARD MARCH
March is one of those months that divide the peninsula enormously. On the one hand, we have the eastern and southern parts of Spain, where we can begin to “strip” our winter clothes on most days and we can begin to enjoy mild temperatures and very pleasant days.
The fruit trees know it and it is the moment when the citrus fruits begin to show their flowers, certain that the bad weather has subsided. However, in the interior of the peninsula, instability may be what best defines this month. We can have days of intense heat and the next day have a frost, the kind that takes away the hiccups.
For this reason, this month is a dangerous month for those fruit trees that eager for spring risk blooming without knowing that they are not out of danger yet. The orchard in March however, continues at its normal rhythm because we control it and we know this instability, so we will be cautious.
WHAT SHOULD WE DO IN THE GARDEN IN MARCH?
If you are in the interior of the peninsula, it will still be early for the great frenzy to begin. Perhaps towards the end of the month you will notice that the garden begins to ask. If you live in the south, in the middle of the month there will already be notable differences in terms of activity. With the arrival of sunnier days and some heat, everything comes out of its lethargy, and when we say everything, it is everything.
We can have the first attacks of aphids and other parasites . So you have to be prepared and take preventive measures before they appear. There are countless products on the market for the fight against aphids. Home remedies such as nettle slurry, potassium soap or garlic treatments are some examples.
SOWING AND / OR TRANSPLANTS
Most of the direct plantings that are done in this month do not differ much from the February plantings. We can continue planting radishes, turnips, carrots. In fact, radishes or radishes and carrots are crops that are perfectly associated.
Potato planting is becoming more widespread in more areas of the peninsula, although in many cold places we still have to wait until the end of the month or April to avoid unforeseen frosts.
The spinach , the spinach or beets are crops that can also begin to transplant (if you sow protected seed) or sow directly. Chard in warm areas with mild winters can be planted practically all year round. In cold areas, March is the month to start.
We can continue sowing and transplanting leeks .
The cultivation of asparagus, although difficult and laborious, is highly appreciated. February and March are the sowing months of this appreciated vegetable.
PROTECTED SOWING IN SEEDBEDS
March is a month in which all crops that require heat for their development should be sown at this time, always in a protected seedbed. Crops like peppers , eggplants , tomatoes , squash, melons.
It is possible that in warm places tomatoes, peppers and courgettes have begun to test plantings in February and it is in March, when these plantings begin to generalize for all climates.
ORCHARD PICKS IN MARCH
So far the collections are still very similar to those of February. It may seem that the garden is still a bit boring. If it is well planned we can enjoy a considerable number of foods. We continue to collect brassicas (cabbages, broccoli, cauliflower). The leeks , radishes , lettuce and carrots are crops that can, with a good selection of varieties and good planning, having them all or most of the year, depending on weather.
OTHER GARDEN ACTIVITIES
- If we have decided to add green manure to our garden, now is a good time for the sites that we have reserved for everything that arrives in a few weeks.
- The activity of the seedbed in this month is crucial so keep an eye on the conditions of your seedlings and germinations if you want to have enough material for the following months. If you don’t take care of it, you will run out of material for the garden. Try to sow a little more than you intend in case there are problems.
- As we have already mentioned before, be attentive to possible aphids and other parasites .
- Prepare the areas and make the terraces of the summer crops. Do not be catched by the bull!