In March you can prepare a lot for summer – but tomatoes, carrots, melons, zucchini and peppers work very differently.

Quick overview: This is the rough planting plan in March

The Garden specialist Plant-Kölle recommends growing tomatoes, peppers and zucchini indoors from mid-March. This is consistent with common gardening recommendations and is a good framework for your growing plan. Carrots, on the other hand, are less sensitive. You can go out as long as the soil is fine and loose.

1. Tomatoes: prefer early to mid-March

Sow tomatoes Always grow them indoors in March, for example in a plant bowl on the windowsill or in a mini greenhouse. You need a lot of light and around 18-22 °C so that the seedlings become strong and do not curl (otherwise they are long, thin and unstable). Tomatoes are only allowed outside after the Ice Saints, when there is no longer any threat of frost.

2. Carrots: Now directly into the bed

Carrots can be put directly into the bed or raised bed in March as soon as the ground is not frozen and not soaking wet. A loose, stone-free soil is crucial – only then will the root vegetables grow straight and deep. Sow 1-2cm deep in rows, rather thinly, keeping the soil evenly moist. When the plants are a few centimeters high, thin out: Leave a few centimeters of space between the carrots.

3. Peppers: Grow as early as possible in March

Paprika is the coziest of your five crops. It prefers to germinate at 22-26°C and grows much slower than tomatoes. Sowing as early as possible in March (or even earlier) in a warm interior is therefore important. If your windowsill is rather dark, help according to the garden portal ‘My beautiful garden’ plant lamps here too.

4. Melon: Sow in mid to late March

Melons love it very warm and are ideal for sheltered locations, polytunnels or greenhouses. Mid to late March is a useful compromise: not too early, not too late. Sow one seed per pot, 1-2cm deep, ensuring consistently warm, bright conditions.

5. Zucchini: Sow between the end of March and mid-April

Zucchini germinate easily and grow very quickly. That’s why the end of March is an ideal time for pre-cultivation indoors. Sow the seeds 2-3 cm deep and, if possible, directly into slightly larger pots. If you sow too early, you will have huge plants on your windowsill in May that are difficult to manage. Zucchini, like tomatoes and peppers, are only brought outdoors after the danger of frost has passed – but then with plenty of space and nutrients.

The most important steps: How to sow correctly

The basic rules are always similar: you fill a planting bowl with sowing soil and place the seeds in it. You cover the seeds with additional soil and water gently. Then, during germination, keep the soil moist but not wet. As soon as there are 2-4 true leaves, you can transplant tomatoes and peppers into larger pots. Disturb zucchini and melon as little as possible at the roots – they are very sensitive there.

Always look at the back of the seed packets. There you will find information about sowing times, sowing depth, spacing, germination temperature, etc.