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Spring is upon us, and for garden enthusiasts, March is the perfect time to start preparing the vegetable patch for a successful harvest. Here are some expert guidelines for planting and caring for asparagus, rhubarb, and potatoes this month, ensuring a robust harvest in the coming seasons.
**Asparagus**
One-year-old asparagus crowns should be planted about 3-4 weeks before the last frost date. Prepare the bed by digging a trench 6 inches deep and amend the soil with plenty of organic matter. Place the crowns with buds pointing up, spaced 12 inches apart. Cover with 2 inches of soil, then as spears grow, gradually fill in the trench, leaving tips exposed.
Keep soil moisture consistent during the first year for root establishment. Do not harvest any spears in the first year to allow the plant to develop strong ferns which feed the roots. In the second year, harvest sparingly for 1-2 weeks, then stop to maintain root health. By the third year, harvest regularly until mid-June, after which allow ferns to grow. Fertilize in early spring as spears emerge and again after the last harvest in June. Maintain good organic matter and moisture for longevity; asparagus beds can produce for decades.
**Rhubarb**
Plant rhubarb crowns as soon as the soil can be worked, usually in March. Select a sunny location with well-drained, fertile soil. Plant crowns 3 feet apart and cover with 2 inches of soil, gradually filling as growth emerges. Keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Avoid harvesting any stalks the first year to allow the plant to establish strong roots. From the second year onwards, harvest stalks by pulling them gently. Apply compost or balanced fertilizer in early spring to support robust growth.
**Potatoes**
Start seed potatoes indoors on a warm, bright windowsill for a few weeks in early March to encourage sprouting. When the ground is workable and frost risk is low, plant seed potatoes outdoors about 4 inches deep, spaced 12 inches apart in rows 2-3 feet apart. Hill the soil around plants as they grow to protect tubers from sunlight and support development. Keep soil consistently moist but not saturated. Early potato varieties can be harvested about 10 weeks after planting; maincrop potatoes are harvested after plant tops die back, usually in mid to late summer.
**General Tips for March Planting**
- Prepare beds by adding organic matter to improve soil structure and fertility. - Use a soil thermometer to ensure soil temperatures are suitable for planting (at least 40°F for many root crops). - Protect young plants from late frosts with cloches or coverings if necessary. - Maintain consistent moisture especially during the first year of growth for perennial crops like asparagus and rhubarb.
March is also the perfect time to prepare bare areas for new crops by uprooting perennial weeds, adding a layer of compost as a mulch, and demarcating areas of the veg patch with labels. Pot herbs into a mix of equal parts peat-free multipurpose compost and John Innes compost. March is the month when many vegetable seeds can be sown. Place the pot in a sunny spot for carrot growth. Pot up evergreen herbs towards the end of the month for increased cropping potential. Save remaining seed packets for sowing another batch later.
Preparing the soil for new plants is important in March. Protect tree blossom from frost by draping fleece over the tree or moving pots to the warmest, most sheltered part of the patio. Water herbs well after potting and water again each time the compost is dry. Patience is a virtue in the garden during March. Potatoes should be chitted (given time to sprout) before planting. Spring officially begins in March, making it a good time to plan what to do with the space in the veg plot for the year. The veg plot may still look bare in March, but with these expert tips, it won't be for long!
- Transform your home-and-garden this spring by starting the planting process for asparagus, rhubarb, and potatoes in March.
- To prepare for a successful harvest, remember to maintain good soil moisture and organic matter, especially during the first year of growth for perennial crops like asparagus and rhubarb, as part of your desired lifestyle in your home-and-garden.
