Potatoes, onion sets and broad beans go in across Ireland in March
Short answer
March is when the Irish growing year gets going. Outside, plant onion sets, shallots and first early potatoes from mid to late March, and sow broad beans, peas, spinach and radishes. Indoors, sow tomatoes, peppers, cabbages, broccoli, lettuce and herbs for planting out after the frosts.
March is when the Irish growing year gets going. Outside, plant onion sets and shallots, put in first early potatoes once the soil allows, and sow broad beans, peas, spinach and radishes. Indoors, sow tomatoes, peppers and the first brassicas and salads.
Watch the soil more than the calendar. It should be dry enough to crumble rather than stick to your boots. In a wet March, that might not happen until the end of the month.
These dates are for a typical lowland Irish garden, with a last frost around 25 April. Dublin and the south and east coasts are often a week or two ahead. Inland, in the midlands and on higher ground, you may be a week or two behind.
Sow and plant outside
| Crop | When in March | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Onion sets | From mid-March | 10 cm apart, tips just showing, net against birds |
| Shallots | All month | 20 cm apart |
| First early potatoes | Late March | Home Guard, Duke of York; 30 cm apart |
| Broad beans | All month | 5 cm deep, 20 cm apart |
| Peas | From mid-March | 4 cm deep, with support |
| Spinach | All month | Sow thinly in rows |
| Radishes | From mid-March | A short row every two weeks |
| Spring onions | From mid-March | A pinch every three weeks |
| Rhubarb, asparagus, fruit bushes | All month | While still dormant |
Garlic can still go in early in March if you missed the autumn, though bulbs will be smaller.
Sow indoors
On a bright windowsill, in a greenhouse or under lights:
- Tomatoes from early to late March, for a tunnel or greenhouse in May.
- Sweet peppers, chillies and aubergines as early in the month as possible.
- Cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, kale and Brussels sprouts in modules, to plant out in April and May.
- Leeks in a tray or modules.
- Lettuce, salad leaves and rocket for planting out in April.
- Beetroot and chard in modules, three or four seeds per cell.
- Celery and celeriac, surface-sown with warmth.
- Herbs such as parsley and chives.
Peas and broad beans can also be started in pots or guttering if your soil is still wet.
Jobs for March
- Chit seed potatoes if you haven’t already, for a couple of weeks before planting.
- Warm the soil. Cover beds with fleece, cloches or sheeting for a week or two before sowing.
- Weed. Weeds start growing fast this month. Hoe on dry days.
- Feed fruit. Mulch fruit bushes and rhubarb with compost or manure.
- Watch for slugs as the weather warms, especially around new sowings.
What to harvest
Leeks, kale, purple sprouting broccoli, the last parsnips and Brussels sprouts, spring cabbage and forced rhubarb.
For potatoes in detail, see potatoes in Ireland. Choose Ireland on the sowing calendar for any crop’s full dates.
Questions people also ask
Should I plant potatoes on St Patrick's Day?
If the ground is dry enough to work, it's a good start for first earlies, especially near the coast. If it's wet and cold, wait a week or two. Seed potatoes rot in waterlogged soil.
Is it too early to sow carrots in March in Ireland?
Usually, outside. Carrots sown into cold soil come up slowly and patchily. Wait until April, or sow under a cloche in late March.
Can I plant tomatoes outside in March?
No. Sow them indoors now and plant them in a greenhouse or tunnel in May, or outside in early June in a sheltered spot.
Dates set to your own frost dates
VegLog works out sowing and planting times for your town, then reminds you when each job is due.
