What to Plant in March: 5 Vegetables to Plant in Your Garden Before the Last Frost
What to plant in March is one of those questions that sneaks up on you every year. One minute it’s winter, the next you’re standing in your yard with a coffee, squinting at the soil, wondering if this is the moment you finally get ahead instead of scrambling later.
Planning ahead for your March planting is how you get ahead.
It’s how you give yourself a head start, grow food fast, and set yourself up to pull out an early garden, so you can then roll straight into tomatoes, cucumbers, and summer abundance without missing a beat.
This is not hope-and-pray gardening. This is strategic planting, designed for busy people like me and you who want a little slice of the homestead dream…without the full time homestead workload.
When you know what to plant in March, and how to sequence your March garden with you June garden, you’ll stop thinking in one single planting window and start thinking in planting waves.
Planting fast-growing crops now – in early spring – means flexibility later, and squeezing more our of your limited planting space.
If you are just getting your garden started, check out my post about how to set up your garden, chicken coop and orchard for under $1000. I give you all the details on what to buy on Amazon vs. at the garden center, and which garden beds, planters, and chicken coops I recommend from Amazon.
For more on how to set up an ultra low-maintenance mini-homestead, check out this post!
What can I plant in March before the last frost?
This is usually the first real question people ask when they start googling vegetables to plant in early spring. The answer is not everything–but it’s more than you think.
As a huge disclaimer, I am in Zone 7a, and my growing season looks different than someone in zone 9 or zone 5. This handy chart can help you get a better sense for what “early season” means for your growing zone.
What “before the last frost” actually means
Last frost dates are averages – they are not predictions (looks up your last frost date here on the Old Farmers Almanac website). They’re based on historical data, not a guarantee of what will happen this year. When you wait until after the last frost for everything, you lose weeks of potential growing time. That’s why understanding what can handle a little cold is so powerful. When you know what to plant in March before the last frost, you’re working with nature instead of sitting on the sidelines waiting for perfect conditions that rarely show up on schedule.
Realistically, you can plant as soon as the ground is no longer at risk of freezing.
What should I plant in March based on my growing zone?
Location matters for knowing what you can (and can’t) plant in March, but it does not need to be complicated. Growing Zones are based on the average low temperature. Since it’s based on averages, they vary greatly from year to year.
If you had a mild winter, you might be planting a little earlier.
If you had a severe winter, you might be planting a bit later.
At the end of the day, you should just watch the weather, and the soil. When the soil reaches about 40 degrees, and is no longer frozen, you can go ahead and plant.
Can I plant a garden in March if it’s still cold?
Short answer: yes, you can plant a garden in March if it’s still cold, as long as you choose the right crops and give them a little protection if it’s needed. The soil does need to be workable. Planting is not a good idea if the soil is still a block of ice.
Planting in March in cold vs mild climates
In zones 5 and 6, March planting is about patience and protection. You will almost definitely need to use row covers to bring the soil temps up a few degrees so they don’t freeze solid during frigid nights.
In zones 7 through 9, the window is wider, and you can plant earlier with less worry. the ground is less likely to freeze solid or get a hard freeze in late March.
How to know when your soil is ready to plant in the spring
In reality, your soil tells you more than the calendar. If it crumbles instead of clumping, drains well instead of puddling, and feels cool but workable, you are ready to plant your early season crops. A simple soil thermometer reading around 40 degrees Fahrenheit is enough for many early crops. If you can dig, you can plant.
How to protect seedlings from frost
Generally, early spring crops can withstand light frosts and temperatures below freezing, into the mid/high 20s. But if you face a sudden cold snap, you will want to protect the seedlings if the temps dip below 25 degrees.
You do not need fancy equipment or a greenhouse. Simple methods work extremely well:
- Row covers like these trap warmth and block wind while still letting light through.
- Mulch can help stabilize soil temperature and moisture, which matters just as much as air temperature when it’s very cold. You don’t want the ground freezing solid for too long once your seeds are in.
These are beginner-friendly simple solutions that anyone can use! Especially if you’re like me every year, and discover that what you thought was “spring” was actually “fools spring”:
However, you do not want to wait as long as “the pollening” to plants your early crops. Realistically, the “spring of deception” is your best season for early plantings. Depending how brutal third winter is, you may or may not need extra layer of protection for your crops once they are in the ground.
If you are still asking can I plant a garden in March if it’s still cold, a little protection is all you may need. Some cold weather plants really need the cold weather to make great tasting vegetables (keep scrolling for th elist of veggies to plant!). So, waiting too long into April is not the best solution, especially if you want to plant a second garden in the same location once the weather improves in May or June (depending on your zone).
Want to learn about planting an early / cold weather garden before your summer garden? In this 90 day garden checklist, I cover how to start setting up your garden in less than 1 hour per week (< 10 mins per day):
Should I start seeds indoors or plant them outside in March?
I used to ask myself this question every year, and torture myself over the idea of starting seedlings indoors.
The thought of a pile of seed trays taking over my kitchen counter gives me hives, so I have never actually followed through and planted seeds indoors for transplanting later.
Though it does make me extremely stressed out thinking this might be setting my garden back! I just need to remind myself that I can buy seedlings from the garden store down the street, and save my sanity and counter space!
Vegetables that should be direct-sown in March
Luckily, many vegetables to plant in early spring want to go straight into the ground. Root crops like radishes and green onions do not like being transplanted. Greens like spinach and lettuce are perfectly happy in cool soil. Peas actually prefer the cold weather. So if you are wondering what vegetables can I plant in March, you can rest easy knowing they can be planted directly in your garden outdoors.
Why I don’t start seedlings indoors
Some plants hate transplanting, but honestly, so do I.
Indoor seed starting sounds charming until your house is overrun with pots, your kids knock them over, and you forget to water one tray just once and everything dies instantly.
Direct sowing saves time, saves space, and saves sanity. For busy gardeners, this is often the smarter choice, even if the internet tells you otherwise.
So, should you start seeds indoors or plant them outside in March? It is really about choosing systems that fit your life, not someone else’s highlight reel. You can always buy seedlings elsewhere! Yes, it’s more money that starting form seed, but if you aren’t planting a dozen garden beds (i have only 2), it saves your house and sanity! And wont set you back on the growing season.
5 Vegetables to Plant in March That Harvest in Under 60 Days
These are the early season crops that actually work as early as March or late February! They grow fast, tolerate cold, and clear out in time for summer.
Every year, I start with these in a garden bed, knowing I am going to rip them up in early June and plant warner weather veggies in their place. As a bonus, it keeps me from planting my June veggies too early (which I do, often). Planting summer crops too early means they wont grow as vigorously — they really need warm/hot temps.
As a major bonus: This strategy lets you basically double the yield you can get from one garden bed because you can plant in two waves: Cold Spring Crops & Summer Crops.
1. Radishes
Radishes mature in about 25 to 35 days, which feels almost magical. They thrive in cool weather, germinate quickly, and free up space faster than almost anything else. If you want proof that what to plant in March actually works, radishes are it.
Best varieties to choose
- Cherry Belle – classic, fast, very reliable in cool soil
- French Breakfast – mild, elongated roots, great for uneven spring temps
- Easter Egg Blend – fun mix of colors, same fast growth
Growing tips
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade; too much heat makes them spicy
- Water: Keep soil evenly moist; inconsistent watering causes splitting
- Soil: Loose, well-draining soil with no rocks; radishes hate compacted soil
If you have kids, plant 2x more than you think you need because the kids will want to rip them out of the ground every chance they get (and possibly eat them too, if you’re lucky!).
2. Spinach
Spinach takes roughly 40 to 50 days and absolutely loves cool weather. If you plant it too late and it bolts. But when you plant it in March, it gives you tender leaves that make every salad feel extra special.
Best varieties to choose
- Bloomsdale Long Standing – heirloom favorite, slow to bolt
- Tyee – excellent cold tolerance and disease resistance
- Space – smooth leaves, great for early harvests
Growing tips
- Sun: Full sun early spring, light shade as temps rise
- Water: Consistent moisture is key; dry soil leads to bitterness
- Soil: Rich soil with compost; spinach is a heavy feeder
If you’re still asking yourself ‘what vegetables can I plant in March?‘, Spinach is a super easy option and is very versatile. You can even blanche and freeze it if you have too much!
3. Lettuce
Lettuce matures in about 30 to 55 days and is perfect for cut-and-come-again harvesting. You can take leaves as you need them and still clear the bed in time for summer crops. It is one of the most forgiving vegetables to plant in early spring.
Best varieties to choose
- Arugal – Astro variety for mild flavor, very fast growth.
- Buttercrunch – cold-hardy, tender leaves, very forgiving
- Black Seeded Simpson – fast-growing, loose-leaf, great for beginners
- Red Sails – cold tolerant with beautiful color
Growing tips
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade; shade helps extend harvest
- Water: Shallow roots need frequent light watering
- Soil: Loose, fertile soil with good drainage; compost makes a big difference
4. Peas
Peas mature in roughly 50 to 60 days and love the cold weather. They also fix nitrogen in the soil, quietly improving conditions for whatever comes next. I like to plant pease where my tomatoes will go in June. Tomatoes are very hungry veggies (fruits?), and the peas fix nitrogen in the soil, rather than depleting in.
Best varieties to choose
- Sugar Snap – classic snap pea, sweet and productive
- Oregon Sugar Pod II – snow pea type, excellent cold tolerance
- Little Marvel – compact shelling pea, good for small spaces
Growing tips
- Sun: Full sun; peas need lots of light even in cool weather
- Water: Moderate watering; avoid soggy soil
- Soil: Well-draining soil; no heavy nitrogen fertilizer needed
5. Green Onions (Scallions)
Green onions are shallow-rooted, fast-growing, and ready in 30 to 60 days. They work beautifully as borders or filler crops and make rotation easy. They are small but mighty when it comes to maximizing space.
Best varieties to choose
- Evergreen Hardy White – cold-hardy and reliable
- White Lisbon – fast-growing and widely adaptable
- Ishikura – long white shanks, excellent for bunching
Growing tips
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade
- Water: Even moisture; they dry out faster than you think
- Soil: Loose soil rich in organic matter; shallow roots love compost
Early Spring Garden Layout for a Small Raised Bed
If you only have a small space for your garden, you can plant all of these in one garden box. Here is a suggested garden layout for these five early season veggies:
A small raised bed doesn’t have to break the bank, nor do you need to spend hours building one yourself. You can quickly order an attractive option online, like this option (pictured below) and start planting the same day it arrives.
If you are constantly behind the curve, juggling kids schedules, a full time job, and regular house chores, a pre-made garden bed is well worth the cost. Materials alone for this would cost about the same AND it wouldn’t look nearly as nice and polished if I tried to make one myself!
This garden bed is also on wheels, and has this nice tray underneath for garden equipment, so if you are in an apartment with a small deck (I’ve been there, many times!) this is an excellent option, and can fit a ton of veggies!
My Favorite EXTRA LAZY Watering Hack for a Spring Garden
It’s no secret that I hate the cold. And when it’s cold, the last thing I want to do is stand outside, sprinkling COLD water on my garden. While also being super cold in the frigid early spring muddy March days.
So this is my watering hack, which is especially perfect for if you are planting a garden in March. Most of these veggies need water everyday. In a small garden bed this might take 5 minutes. But that is too long for me to be outside in the cold, windy, muddy March weather.
This soaker hose slowly drips water into your garden. All you do is leave it on your garden bed, turn the hose one, then turn it off. You can even set up a hose timer like this one so you literally dont need to go outside ever and your garden will grow itself.
What to plant after your March vegetables are harvested
This is where strategic planting really pays off. Once those early crops come out, your soil is warmer, richer, and ready.
Why an early harvest gives you a summer advantage
By late May, you will be planting tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, beans, and squash into soil that has already been worked and improved. Longer days and warmer temperatures mean faster growth and stronger plants. Planting in early March gives you a head start on working and improving your solid ahead of your summer veggies.
Best late-May vegetables to plant after March crops
Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, zucchini, eggplant, nasturtium, basil, and beans all slide perfectly into your beds in mid-May or Early June. This is how one garden space can be used 2x per season to give you fresh veggies from March until October (in zone 7). Check this post on how to successfully start a summer garden for beginners.
Download these garden layouts for your Summer Garden. It gives you 2 4’x8′ raised bed layouts, so you can take advance of companion planting and maximum yields, without hours of research.
For deeper, science-backed planting guidance, the Old Farmer’s Almanac has an excellent breakdown of early spring crops and frost tolerance that pairs well with this approach.
For more on how to set up an ultra low-maintenance mini-homestead, check out this post!
What are you planting in your garden this March?
March planting is about getting the most out of your garden beds, and maximizing your harvest over the course of your growing season! When you understand what to plant in March, you stop feeling behind, and actually get ahead on your gardening for the year.
The secret is to think in garden phases, not one-and-done planting. Get something in the ground in early spring, harvest it quickly, and make room for what comes next.
Snag my free 90 day checklist, to keep your garden on track for an early harvest:
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