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

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