Growing your own food can be fun and beneficial for your health, as well as cost effective. Although, for someone new to it, the hobby can be daunting. It involves a lot of different timings as to what to plant, when and where. Luckily, experts are on hand, and, as we enter March, Sally of sallygrace_gardening on TikTok has posted a helpful tutorial.
She starts by saying: “You can definitely ramp it up now we’re going into spring.” The gardener then lists foods you can start to plant inside before transferring outside later in the year. Pumpkin seeds can be sewn indoors now, with Sally saying she waits until may to do it in the garden. Chillis and peppers can also be sewn inside this month, she added.
They need a long growing season, so that is worth doing now.
Tomatoes can also start to be grown inside, but they need warmth and light.
Therefore, it is best to wait until the end of May to plant them outside, or even the beginning of June.
This is dependent on where you live.
Cauliflower can be sewn indoors now also, as well as spring onions and celery.
Brussel sprouts and cabbage are other options.
Cucumbers can be sewn now, but Sally recommends waiting a little while longer as they grow quickly.
As regards herbs, basil, dill and lemon balm can be started off inside. But these can be grown all year round in the house.
With regards to outdoor sewings at this time of year, carrots are good to go.
“You can get these straight in the ground now,” Sally says. “But I would put a fleece covering over the top.
“You’ve got to get the rainbow variety.”
For containers, Paris market carrots are recommended as they are small and round.
Lettuce seeds can also be sewn outside now.
“They do grow pretty fast,” Sally points out.
Radishes can be sewn outside too, as well as Swiss Chard. The Rainbow variety is again recommended because “it looks bright and colourful and it is very delicious”.
Parsnips can also be planted at this time of year, as well as spinach.
Herbs wise, chives, borage, which is “amazing”, and parsley.
