Planting Seeds in March: A Guide on Timing Your Sowing for Successful Garden Growth
In March, gardeners can prepare their sunny and sheltered spots for a burst of colour by sowing half-hardy annual climbers. One of the best choices for this season is Morning Glory (Ipomoea), a vigorous plant known for its beautiful, frilly light pink blooms that attract pollinators.
To sow Morning Glory seeds, start them indoors in March-April in pots or seed trays under a glass or controlled environment at around 18°C. This encourages good germination. Once the seedlings emerge, they can be transplanted outdoors after the last frost, usually in May-June, spacing plants about 15cm apart.
Provide a sunny and sheltered spot with well-drained soil for these climbers. To support their growth, equip them with sturdy trellises, fences, or walls to climb on. Regular watering during establishment and throughout the growing season will help maintain growth and flowering.
Other half-hardy annual climbers suitable for similar conditions include some morning glories and possibly certain sweet peas and runner beans. For a more compact plant, consider Ageratum 'Blue Mink', which is also sown indoors in February-April and grown in full sun.
Purple bell vine (Rhodochiton atrosanguineum) is another long-flowering perennial climber, usually grown as a half-hardy annual outdoors in the UK. Panicum grasses are elegant half-hardy annuals with arching sprays of pale green tiny flowers from July to October.
Sowing of seeds for various crops can be done indoors or in a greenhouse from this month until mid-spring. Weed seeds germinating is a good indication that the soil is warm enough for sowing hardy crops outdoors. Chives can be sown under cover this month, while celeriac seeds should be sown under cover in March. Tomato seeds should be sown by the end of the month.
Cold frames are useful for raising cuttings and giving vegetables like salad greens and broad beans a head start. They are also useful for warming the soil, hardening off seedlings sown indoors, and growing on young plants that need a little extra protection.
Morning glory adds wonderful colour and drama to any planting scheme. By following these simple steps, you can enjoy the beauty of these climbing plants in your garden this summer.
To cultivate a vibrant and captivating homescape, consider incorporating Morning Glory (Ipomoea) alongside other half-hardy annual climbers like sweet peas and runner beans. Sow Morning Glory seeds indoors from March-April, providing them with a controlled environment at around 18°C, and set them outdoors once the last frost has passed, typically in May-June, ensuring ample space (approximately 15cm) between each plant in a sunny and sheltered spot with well-drained soil.
