<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none;" alt="" src="https://ct.pinterest.com/v3/?event=init&tid=2613148594771&pd[em]=&noscript=1" /> Skip to Content

What To Plant In March

Hello garden time! March is a great time of year to garden just about everywhere in the United States, (and in many parts of the world as well). Even cold areas are starting to defrost a bit, and warmer areas are well past their last frost date. Here’s what to plant in March!

March is a great time of year to garden just about everywhere in the United States. Here's what to plant in March!

Click here to read more!
What To Plant In January
What To Plant In February
What To Plant In April
What To Plant In May
What To Plant In June
What To Plant In July
What To Plant In August
What To Plant In September
What To Plant In October
What To Plant In November
What To Plant In December

What To Plant In March By USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

The USDA Plant Hardiness Zones are created by dividing the United States into various zones based on their coldest temperatures. These zones are helpful in giving us an idea of what is likely to grow well in a given location at each time of year.

Of course, your micro climate makes a big difference too. The individual characteristics of your property, and even spaces within your garden can create warmer and cooler areas where specific plants may thrive.

All of the plants suggested below can be grown without season extenders. If you are using a greenhouse, cloches, or covers, you may even be able to grow more than what’s listed for your zone.

Zone 2

Zone 2 can plant onions, parsley, peas, and radishes directly outdoors in March. There’s a ton of things to start indoors though! Here’s what to get started now:

  • Asparagus
  • Beets
  • Bell peppers
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Cauliflower
  • Celery
  • Chili peppers
  • Collard greens
  • Kale
  • Leeks
  • Lettuce
  • Marrow
  • Mustard greens
  • Rhubarb
  • Scallions
  • Swiss chard

Zone 3

Similar to Zone 2, in Zone 3 parsnip and peas can be planted directly outdoors now, but there is quite a long list of seeds to start indoors. Here’s what to get going:

  • Bell peppers
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Cauliflower
  • Celery
  • Chili peppers
  • Eggplant
  • Endive
  • Leeks
  • Lettuce
  • Marrow
  • Mustard greens
  • Pumpkin
  • Scallions
  • Swiss chard

Zone 3b can start gooseberries, chicory, tomatillo, and tomatoes indoors as well.

Zone 4

Peas and scallions can directly outdoors in Zone 4 in March. Here’s what to start indoors:

  • Bell peppers
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Cardoon
  • Cauliflower
  • Celeriac
  • Chili peppers
  • Eggplant
  • Endive
  • Gooseberries
  • Lettuce
  • Marrow
  • Mint
  • Mustard greens
  • Spinach
  • Parsley
  • Parsnip
  • Pumpkin
  • Shallots
  • Swiss chard
  • Tomatillo
  • Tomato

Zone 5

Zone 5 can start planting more directly outdoors than the previous zones. They can get going with beets, broccoli, carrots, horseradish, kale, onions, peas, radish, shallots, swiss chard, snow peas, and turnips.

Indoors, Zone 5 can start arugula, asparagus, bak choi, basil, bell peppers, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cantaloupe, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, chicory, chili peppers, chives, collards, coriander, eggplant, endive, fennel, gooseberries, kale, leeks, lettuce, marrow, mustard greens, okra, oregano, parsley, pumpkin, savory, spinach, squash, tarragon, thyme, tomatillo, tomato, and zucchini.

And Zone 5b can plant out rhubarb crowns too! Whew! Happy gardening Zone 5!

Zone 6

Gardenpalooza continues with Zone 6 this month. Directly outdoors it’s time to start angelica, beets, carrots, celeriac, chicory, horseradish, onion, peas, radish, rhubarb, sage, salsify, shallots, and swiss chard. Zone 6b can also directly plant turnips.

Here’s what you can get a head start on indoors:

  • Artichokes
  • Asparagus
  • Bak choi
  • Basil
  • Bell peppers
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Cantaloupe
  • Cauliflower
  • Chili peppers
  • Chives
  • Collards
  • Coriander
  • Eggplant
  • Endive
  • Fennel
  • Leeks
  • Lettuce
  • Marrow
  • Mustard greens
  • Okra
  • Oregano
  • Parsley
  • Parsnip
  • Pumpkin
  • Rosemary
  • Savory
  • Squash
  • Tarragon
  • Thyme
  • Tomato
  • Zucchini

Zone 7

Zone 7 has lots of options for things to plant, and they’re pretty well split between things that can directly outdoors and things that should still be started indoors.

Outdoors you can now plant these:

  • Angelica
  • Asparagus
  • Beets
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Carrot
  • Cauliflower
  • Collards
  • Corn
  • Garlic
  • Horseradish
  • Kale
  • Onion
  • Peas
  • Potato
  • Radish
  • Sage
  • Salsify
  • Shallots
  • Snow peas
  • Spinach
  • Swiss chard
  • Turnip
  • Yam

Indoors, it’s time to start these seeds:

  • Artichokes
  • Basil
  • Bell peppers
  • Cantaloupe
  • Celeriac
  • Chili peppers
  • Chives
  • Coriander
  • Cucumber
  • Eggplant
  • Endive
  • Fennel
  • Leeks
  • Lemon balm
  • Lettuce
  • Loofah
  • Marrow
  • Okra
  • Oregano
  • Parsley
  • Parsnip
  • Pumpkin
  • Rosemary
  • Savory
  • Scallions
  • Squash
  • Tarragon
  • Thyme
  • Tomato
  • Watermelon
  • Zucchini

Zone 8

Zone 8 has quite a few things that can be started indoors still, but the bulk of the planting is going straight into the outdoor garden now.

Indoors you should start artichokes, basil, cucumber, leeks, loofah, marrow, okra, parsnip, pumpkin, savory, squash, marjoram, and tomato.

Outdoors, get going with these plants:

  • Amaranth
  • Asparagus
  • Beans
  • Beets
  • Bell peppers
  • Borage
  • Broccoli
  • Cabbage
  • Cantaloupe
  • Cardoon
  • Carrot
  • Cauliflower
  • Celeriac
  • Celery
  • Chard
  • Chives
  • Collards
  • Coriadners
  • Corn
  • Daikon
  • Gooseberry
  • Eggplant
  • Endive
  • Fennel
  • Garlic
  • Jerusalem artichokes
  • Kale
  • Kohlrabi
  • Lemon balm
  • Lettuce
  • Mustard greens
  • Onion
  • Oregano
  • Parsley
  • Peas
  • Potato
  • Radish
  • Rosemary
  • Savory
  • Shallots
  • Spinach
  • Sunflower
  • Tarragon
  • Thyme
  • Tomatillo
  • Turnip
  • Watermelon
  • Yam
  • Zucchini

Zone 9

Zone 9 doesn’t have anything that needs to be started indoors at this point in the year. Everything can be planted directly outdoors now either as a transplant or as seeds. Here’s what you can grow now:

  • Arugula
  • Basil
  • Beans
  • Beets
  • Bell peppers
  • Cantaloupe
  • Celeriac
  • Chili peppers
  • Chives
  • Collards
  • Coriander
  • Cucumber
  • Eggplant
  • Endive
  • Fennel
  • Gooseberry
  • Horseradish
  • Kale
  • Kohlrabi
  • Leeks
  • Lemon balm
  • Lettuce
  • Loofah
  • Marjoram
  • Marrow
  • Mint
  • Mustard greens
  • Okra
  • Oregano
  • Parsnip
  • Peas
  • Pumpkin
  • Radish
  • Rosemary
  • Sage
  • Savory
  • Sunflower
  • Sweet potato
  • Tarragon
  • Thyme
  • Tomatillo
  • Tomato
  • Turnip
  • Watermelon
  • Yam
  • Zucchini

Zone 10

Zone 10’s list of things to plant in March is very similar to what to plant in Zone 9. There’s a few things it’s a bit too hot for, but it’s a great time to grow just about everything.

  • Arugula
  • Basil
  • Beans
  • Beets
  • Bell peppers
  • Cantaloupe
  • Celeriac
  • Chili peppers
  • Coriander
  • Cucumber
  • Eggplant
  • Endive
  • Fennel
  • Leeks
  • Lettuce
  • Loofah
  • Marjoram
  • Marrow
  • Mustard greens
  • Okra
  • Oregano
  • Parsley
  • Pumpkin
  • Radish
  • Rosemary
  • Savory
  • Squash
  • Sweet potato
  • Thyme
  • Tomato
  • Turnip
  • Watermelon
  • Zucchini

Zone 11

Beans, bell peppers, chili peppers, cucumber, eggplant, loofah, marrow, parsley, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes are up for Zone 11. Get them going now before it gets even hotter!

Zone 12

It’s pretty much the end of planting time for Zone 12, so get these crops into the ground this month! You can still plant beans, bell peppers, chili peppers, cucumber, eggplant, parsley, taro, and tomato. Zone 12b should skip the tomato though!

Zone 13

There are a few things you can still get in the ground for Zone 13. It’s time to plant bell peppers, cantaloupe, chili peppers, parsley, taro, and watermelon.

I hope you now have a good idea of what to plant in March for your USDA gardening zone! Have fun gardening!

Want To Raise Happy Chickens?

Subscribe for our newsletter and get the free email course Intro To Backyard Chickens as well as a free printable checklist to walk you through step by step!

Powered by ConvertKit
This post may contain affiliate links.