Nothing compares to a few unseasonably warm days in March to build excitement about springtime. Birds are chirping, insects are buzzing and whirring. If you’re excited about getting the garden ready, be sure to avoid doing some things too early, and focus on the tasks that fit the seasonal indicators. Nothing is more disappointing than finding delicate seedlings frozen.  Overzealous seed planting is a sure sign of cabin fever. We are hoping to help you avoid those mistakes with these key seasonal indicators, garden tasks, and seed starting suggestions are listed here with more information at the link below. 

Seasonal Indicators
  • Around 12-hours of daylight 
  • Returning bird migrants: Red-winged blackbirds, turkey vultures, robins, timberdoodle
  • Bird behaviors change
  • Tree buds swelling
  • More wildlife (and human) activity
  • More farm animals out

Garden Tasks 
  • Don’t clean up your garden yet
  • Gather greens
  • Mulch
  • Last chance for tree pruning
  • Spring greens!

Seeds to Start Indoors
  • Peppers
  • Eggplant & maybe Tomatoes
  • Broccoli & other Brassicas
  • Sage
  • Flowers with small seeds like florist’s blue balloon flower, petunia, bee balms, yarrow 

Seeds to Direct Sow (if soil can be worked)
  • Fava beans
  • Peas
  • Radishes
  • Spinach
  • Spring garlic
  • Dill 
  • Arugula