What to Plant in March in Zone 5

Start indoors in March

Seeds to start under lights or on a sunny sill this month. Dates are the indoor-start window for zone 5.

Vegetables & herbs

• Anise HyssopMar 29–Apr 5
• ArtichokeMar 1–Mar 8
• BasilMar 29–Apr 5
• BroccoliMar 29–Apr 5
• Brussels SproutsMar 29–Apr 5
• CabbageMar 29–Apr 5
• CatmintMar 22–Mar 29
• CatnipMar 22–Mar 29
• CauliflowerMar 29–Apr 5
• Celeriac (Celery Root)Mar 1–Mar 8
• CeleryMar 1–Mar 8
• Chamomile (German)Mar 29–Apr 5
• ChervilMar 15–Mar 22
• ChivesMar 15–Mar 22
• Collard GreensMar 22–Mar 29
• Cutting Celery (Leaf Celery)Mar 15–Mar 22
• EggplantMar 15–Mar 22
• Flower SproutsMar 29–Apr 5
• Garlic Chives (Chinese Leeks)Mar 22–Mar 29
• Ground Cherry (Husk Cherry)Mar 22–Mar 29
• HyssopMar 15–Mar 22
• KaleMar 29–Apr 5
• KalettesMar 29–Apr 5
• LeekMar 1–Mar 8
• LovageMar 22–Mar 29
• Malabar SpinachMar 29–Apr 5
• Marjoram (Sweet)Mar 22–Mar 29
• Mountain MintMar 22–Mar 29
• OnionMar 15–Mar 22
• OreganoMar 15–Mar 22
• ParsleyMar 15–Mar 22
• RoselleMar 15–Mar 22
• RosemaryMar 1–Mar 8
• RueMar 22–Mar 29
• SageMar 15–Mar 22
• Salad BurnetMar 22–Mar 29
• SkirretMar 15–Mar 22
• Summer SavoryMar 29–Apr 5
• ThymeMar 15–Mar 22
• TobaccoMar 15–Mar 22
• TomatilloMar 22–Mar 29
• TomatoMar 29–Apr 5
• ValerianMar 29–Apr 5
• Winter SavoryMar 22–Mar 29
• Za'atar OreganoMar 15–Mar 22

Peppers

• Aji Amarillo PepperMar 1–Mar 8
• Anaheim Pepper (New Mexico, Hatch)Mar 15–Mar 22
• Bell PepperMar 15–Mar 22
• Cayenne PepperMar 15–Mar 22
• Chile de Árbol PepperMar 15–Mar 22
• Cubanelle PepperMar 15–Mar 22
• Datil PepperMar 1–Mar 8
• Fresno PepperMar 15–Mar 22
• Guajillo Pepper (Mirasol)Mar 15–Mar 22
• Habanero PepperMar 1–Mar 8
• Hungarian Wax PepperMar 15–Mar 22
• Italian Frying Pepper (Corno di Toro, Marconi)Mar 15–Mar 22
• Jalapeño PepperMar 15–Mar 22
• Lemon Drop PepperMar 1–Mar 8
• Mini Sweet Pepper (Snacking)Mar 15–Mar 22
• Padrón PepperMar 15–Mar 22
• Pasilla Pepper (Chilaca)Mar 15–Mar 22
• Pimento PepperMar 15–Mar 22
• Poblano Pepper (Ancho)Mar 15–Mar 22
• Scotch Bonnet PepperMar 1–Mar 8
• Serrano PepperMar 15–Mar 22
• Shishito PepperMar 15–Mar 22
• Sweet Banana PepperMar 15–Mar 22
• Sweet Cherry PepperMar 15–Mar 22
• Tabasco PepperMar 1–Mar 8
• Thai Chili Pepper (Bird's Eye)Mar 15–Mar 22

Flowers

• Ageratum (Flossflower)Mar 22–Mar 29
• Ammobium (Winged Everlasting)Mar 29–Apr 5
• Angelonia (Summer Snapdragon)Mar 22–Mar 29
• Annual Geranium (Pelargonium)Mar 8–Mar 15
• Bachelor's Button (Cornflower)Mar 22–Mar 29
• Bells of IrelandMar 22–Mar 29
• Black-Eyed SusanMar 22–Mar 29
• Black-Eyed Susan VineMar 29–Apr 5
• Bupleurum (Thoroughwax)Mar 22–Mar 29
• Butterfly Weed (Asclepias)Mar 15–Mar 22
• CalendulaMar 22–Mar 29
• Campanula (Bellflower)Mar 22–Mar 29
• CarnationMar 22–Mar 29
• CelosiaMar 22–Mar 29
• Cerinthe (Honeywort)Mar 29–Apr 5
• China AsterMar 22–Mar 29
• Chrysanthemum (Garden Mum)Mar 15–Mar 22
• Cleome (Spider Flower)Mar 22–Mar 29
• ColeusMar 1–Mar 8
• ColumbineMar 8–Mar 15
• Coreopsis (Tickseed)Mar 22–Mar 29
• Craspedia (Drumstick Flower)Mar 22–Mar 29
• Dusty MillerMar 8–Mar 15
• Echinops (Globe Thistle)Mar 22–Mar 29
• EucalyptusMar 8–Mar 15
• FeverfewMar 29–Apr 5
• Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)Mar 22–Mar 29
• GazaniaMar 29–Apr 5
• Gomphrena (Globe Amaranth)Mar 22–Mar 29
• Gypsophila (Baby's Breath)Mar 22–Mar 29
• Helipterum (Paper Daisy)Mar 22–Mar 29
• ImpatiensMar 1–Mar 8
• Johnny Jump UpMar 1–Mar 8
• LobeliaMar 8–Mar 15
• MarigoldMar 29–Apr 5
• Nicotiana (Flowering Tobacco)Mar 29–Apr 5
• OsteospermumMar 15–Mar 22
• PetuniaMar 8–Mar 15
• Portulaca (Moss Rose)Mar 22–Mar 29
• PrimulaMar 1–Mar 8
• Purple ConeflowerMar 8–Mar 15
• Salvia (Scarlet Sage)Mar 15–Mar 22
• Scabiosa (Pincushion Flower)Mar 22–Mar 29
• Shasta DaisyMar 22–Mar 29
• SnapdragonMar 8–Mar 15
• Spilanthes (Toothache Plant)Mar 29–Apr 5
• StaticeMar 29–Apr 5
• StockMar 29–Apr 5
• StrawflowerMar 22–Mar 29
• Sweet AlyssumMar 22–Mar 29
• Sweet Annie (Artemisia)Mar 29–Apr 5
• Sweet WilliamMar 22–Mar 29
• Tithonia (Mexican Sunflower)Mar 29–Apr 5
• Torenia (Wishbone Flower)Mar 1–Mar 8
• VerbenaMar 1–Mar 8
• Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)Mar 1–Mar 8
• Xeranthemum (Immortelle)Mar 29–Apr 5
• YarrowMar 8–Mar 15

Sow or plant outside in March

What goes in the ground this month, either as seed or as a transplant. Dates are the planting-out window for zone 5.

Vegetables & herbs

• PeaDirect sowMar 29–Apr 5

Flowers

• Sweet PeaDirect sowMar 29–Apr 5

Still time to start indoors

The usual indoor-start date for these has passed, but planting-out hasn't come yet. Seed started now still makes a transplant, just a smaller one. Buying starts is the easy alternative. Dates are when they go outside.

Peppers

• 7 Pot Douglah Pepper (Chocolate 7 Pot)Plant outMay 24–May 31
• 7 Pot Primo PepperPlant outMay 24–May 31
• Carolina Reaper PepperPlant outMay 24–May 31
• Dorset Naga PepperPlant outMay 24–May 31
• Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia)Plant outMay 24–May 31
• Komodo Dragon PepperPlant outMay 24–May 31
• Naga Viper PepperPlant outMay 24–May 31
• Rocoto PepperPlant outMay 24–May 31
• Superhot Pepper (Ghost, Reaper, Scorpion)Plant outMay 24–May 31
• Trinidad Moruga Scorpion PepperPlant outMay 24–May 31
• Trinidad Scorpion Butch T PepperPlant outMay 24–May 31

Flowers

• Eryngium (Sea Holly)Plant outMay 17–May 24
• FoxglovePlant outMay 17–May 24
• LisianthusPlant outMay 17–May 24
• Pansy / ViolaPlant outApr 26–May 3
• Wax BegoniaPlant outMay 24–May 31