Complete Guide to Gardening in Houston in March
Welcome to spring in the Houston Kitchen Garden! March starts the quintessential spring garden in Houston. There is so much happening in the kitchen garden this month. You don’t want to miss out!
Key Tasks for March
1) Pull annual Cool Weather crops
2) Look for disease or pests and remove and treat them
3) Add 2-3 inches of compost before spring replanting
4) Decide on a planting plan for Warm Season
5) Add selected Warm Season crops
Cherry tomatoes thrive in Houston if they are planted during March and April.
The Houston Warm Seasons
Houston has a short season of optimal spring temperatures ideal for planting vegetables such a beans and tomatoes before the heat and humidity of summer arrive. By planting these vegetables in March they have the opportunity to establish strong roots and to begin fruiting before it becomes too warm.
Vegetable plants such as tomatoes will stay alive, but won’t necessarily produce fruit once temperatures rise above 85 degrees. This is true for standard cucumber varieties, green beans, squash and zucchini.
The good news is that Houston has two warm season so two opportunities to grow these garden favorites. Warm Season 1 is from March-May and Warm Season 2 is from September-November.
What to Plant in March
March in Houston is the quintessential time for planting and there is so much to get into the garden this month before the temperatures heat up.
Nightshade: Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplants
Brassicas: Kale, Arugula, Mustards
Cucurbits: Cucumber, Squash, Zucchini, Melon
Legumes: Snap Beans, (Pole and Bush)
Mint: Oregano, Thyme, Rosemary, Basil
Alliums: Garlic Chives, Onion Chives
What to Tend In March
Thin: Cucumber, Squash/Zucchini, Beans
Trellis: Tomatoes, Pole Beans, Cucumbers
Prune: Herbs, Tomatoes, Cucumbers
Mulch & Support: Potatoes, Beans, Peppers, Cucumbers
Fertilize: Nitrogen for leaves, Phosphorous for fruit
Defend: Brassicas, Cucurbits, Tomatoes
What to Harvest in March
Herbs: Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano, Sage
Umbellifers: Small Carrots, Cilantro, Parsley, Dill, Celery
Asters: Spring Mix, Romaine, Buttercrunch
Alliums: Onions, Chives
Brassicas: Arugula, Kale, Cauliflower, Broccoli
Legumes: Peas, Baby Beans
Join The Houston Non-Stop Kitchen Garden Club
Whether you are a new or experienced gardener growing in Houston can be challenging, but The Houston Non-Stop Kitchen Garden Club takes the guess work out of the garden.
Each month we will deliver a series of videos right to your in box on what to plant, what to tend and what to harvest for that month. Videos are led by owner and founder Nicole Burke
Start Your Kitchen Garden Today
Schedule a Rooted Garden Consultation and let us help you start growing this season.
Rooted Garden Consultants know what grows and what doesn’t in the Houston garden. Our unique kitchen garden designs have been recognized by Southern Living, Better Homes and Gardens, Organic Life Magazine, and Edible Houston.
Our consultants work personally with you each step of the way to determine the placement of your kitchen garden, the design, style, and shape you’d prefer and then guide you in the selection of materials all the way from raised garden materials to trellis and gravel selections.
We work with client to create small gardens for courtyards in West University and large expansive gardens for extensive yards in Piney Point Village.
Our goal is to give you confidence with every step in your garden, to remove the confusion and overwhelm, and create a garden that reflects your style and your goals.
We love working personally with you and can’t wait to help your garden come to life in this coming season.