Here in our Zone 5/6 garden, March is the time to really get moving.
The temperatures this month are expected to be a wee bit warmer than normal, which will make it easier to get some of the grunt work done.
Compost and composted manure get added to many of the beds so they will be ready when needed. We also cover a number of beds with black plastic to help warm them up faster.
Any planters that don’t contain a perennial herb will be emptied and washed. Not to waste, we add that soil to our other beds. This way all the planting areas will be ready when our warm season starts at the end of May.
Later in the month we will be able to plant peas, greens, Lima beans, and potatoes outdoors. We are already transplanting our cole crop and leafy greens seedlings into larger Solo cups, and will get them out when they are big enough. Of course we will be careful in case April decides to throw us a punch, but it is unlikely.
We are also getting ready to start tomatoes later this month.
Okay, actually today, 
Since we intend to share many of the plants, we want them to be a good size at planting time.
Before the month is over we can start eggplants as well, and will likely start peppers.
Did you know peppers like to be planted in pairs? It’s known casually as The Buddy System, which also refers to companion planting in general. With peppers, two plants can help physically support each other if the weather gets windy. My dad always said “The best way to plant peppers is too close together.”
So here’s to the coming of spring, maybe this year our Pennsylvania’s Groundhog will be right.
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