![Multiple freshly harvested vegetables laid out in trays](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/643fdf4c6c7825412fc65b14/65cf6046bf4abe5cdc116a78_OCTom%201%20Mid%20August%20entry%20for%20the%20Horticultural%20Society-%201920.webp)
Spring can be joyful, frustrating, beautiful, dour! Much as we love the good bits, we have to accept that there will always be setbacks and it’s good to be prepared. Don’t sow too early and use covers to protect your plantings, unless your climate is particularly warm. There are many details in my new online update.
![Nearest to camera are mustards, just transplanted, 16 days old, and then Wintergreen spring cabbage and I'm picking spinach plus tidying it.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/644a89905644b6ece0c63cde/64f500b0a25f794485e1041e_Nearest-to-camera-are-mustards-just-transplanted-16-days-old-and-then-Wintergreen-spring-cabbage-and-Im-picking-spinach-plus-tidying-it..webp)
![Almost zero germination of Red Baron onions from Moles Seeds, compared to Yellow Rynsburger Real Seeds is moderate to good emergence](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/644a89905644b6ece0c63cde/64f500b16ef461a95e2995d0_1-almost-zero-germination-of-Red-Baron-Moles-Seeds-compared-to-Yellow-Rynsburger-Real-Seeds-1.webp)
![Garlic on 8th March after a rare snowfall, it's been in the ground since October, and for the first two months was surrounded by mustard sown at the same time, now killed by frost](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/644a89905644b6ece0c63cde/64f500b139f5ae1e37a4186f_garlic-snow-P.webp)
![Greenhouse hotbed 14th March + pallet nearby is temporary bench with plants growing underneath, -2C outside](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/644a89905644b6ece0c63cde/64f500b0366fe5c8cbfea59a_hotbed-14th-March-pallet-2C-outside.webp)
![After transplanting, pea plants are now fleeced over with posts down the middle to hold the cover above them a little](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/644a89905644b6ece0c63cde/64f500b039f5ae1e37a4186b_pea-plants-now-fleeced-over.webp)
![Red chard from my own seed saved last summer, growing in the polytunnel. Has noticeably more bigger than chard from purchased seeds](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/644a89905644b6ece0c63cde/64f500b15f940d47fbdfbf94_chard-own-seed-polytunne.webp)
From mid March you can make outdoor sowings direct in the soil.
Such as carrots, parsnips, onion, spring onion, spinach, radish, turnip, coriander, dill and parsley.
Any cover of fleece will speed germination.
You can find these tips in my No Dig book, which we sell on offer with the 2023 Calendar. Also in a popular three book offer with the cookbook.
If you live in the highlands of Scotland, use Mairi’s sowing times. They are listed on the Sowing Timeline page, together with the southern hemisphere download of times.
Under cover from mid-March
- new sowings include celery and celeriac – leave exposed to light, with a glass tray over or in a clear plastic bag for about 10 days.
- Tomatoes if not yet sown, and tomatillos.
- Then late in March, melons and dwarf French marigold.
Plant out in the second half of March, at 3 to 4 week old stage from date of sowing:
- radish, turnips, onion, spring onion, spinach, lettuce, cabbage, calabrese, cauliflower, kohlrabi, fennel, pea, broad, bean, and the herbs you may have sown.
This is the sowing guide video.
The NYT link is here.
![NYT read all about no dig and my life's work, appeared 14th March 2023](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/644a89905644b6ece0c63cde/64f500b108cf3526fd1a13e0_NYT-read-all-about-it.webp)
![This video takes you right through the year. My idea is to give the framework of possible sowings month by month and then you can add your favourite details to it.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/644a89905644b6ece0c63cde/64f500b171f8213468fc7887_Sowing-Guide-thumbnail-1.webp)
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