Bay Area March Planting Guide Released
The UC Master Gardeners of Napa County have released their March planting guide, with advice applicable to home gardeners across the Bay Area. It's prime time to plant leafy greens, radishes, and carrots, and to start tomato and pepper seeds indoors.
March is a pivotal month for Bay Area gardeners, marking a transition to warmer-season crops. Beyond leafy greens, it's an ideal time to sow seeds for beans, beets, and many herbs directly into the garden. You can also plant seedlings for broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower. For those with sunnier spots, March is the last call to plant artichoke and rhubarb roots until the fall. It's also a great time to get summer-blooming bulbs like dahlias and gladiolus into the ground for a colorful display later in the season. To get a jump on summer favorites, start tomato, pepper, and eggplant seeds indoors now. Aim to start them 6 to 8 weeks before you plan to move them outside, which is typically in April or May for most of the Bay Area. Varieties known to do well in the region include 'Early Girl' and 'Sungold' cherry tomatoes. Before planting, it's crucial to prepare your garden beds. A key step is to avoid working the soil when it's too wet, as this can lead to compaction. A good test is to squeeze a handful of soil; if it forms a tight ball, it's too wet to work. Enriching your soil now will pay dividends later. Add a layer of 1 to 3 inches of compost or other organic matter to your garden beds to improve soil structure and provide essential nutrients for the growing season ahead. Adding agricultural lime can also provide necessary calcium for fruiting vegetables like tomatoes. As new growth emerges, be vigilant for common spring pests like aphids, snails, and slugs. Aphids can be managed with neem oil, while non-toxic slug and snail baits can help protect your tender seedlings. It's best to apply treatments at the end of the day when bees are no longer active. The UC Master Gardener program has been providing research-based horticultural advice to California residents since 1980. This volunteer organization, an extension of the University of California, offers a wealth of locally-specific information to help home gardeners succeed.
