9 Crops You'd be Foolish Not to Plant in March!
TLDRThe video script provides a comprehensive guide for garden enthusiasts looking to start their spring planting in March. It features a selection of nine plants, including potatoes, brassicas, marigolds, nasturtiums, Linaria flowers, sunflowers, herbs like basil and dill, beans, carrots, and medicinal plants such as turmeric and ginger. The host shares personal experiences, tips for successful germination, companion planting strategies, and the benefits of each plant for the garden ecosystem. The script emphasizes the importance of choosing plants that one enjoys eating and the joy of incorporating both edibles and ornamentals for a diverse and productive garden.
Takeaways
- 🥔 Potatoes are versatile and can be grown in various soil types and systems, making them a great choice for gardeners of all levels.
- 🌱 Growing potatoes from seed potatoes is a common method, but you can also try the Clancy variety which is grown from actual seeds.
- 🌿 Brassicas like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower are not only delicious but can be harvested twice a year in some climates, making them a valuable addition to the garden.
- 🌼 Companion planting with marigolds and nasturtiums can help deter pests and improve the health of your garden.
- 🌸 Linaria, or mini snapdragons, are small-seeded flowers that can add color and texture to your garden, with the added benefit of being transplantable.
- 🌻 Sunflowers, particularly multibranching varieties like Lemon Queen and Evening Sun, offer continuous blooms and add height and texture to garden beds.
- 🌿 Basil and dill are essential herbs for culinary use, with slow bolting varieties like Everleaf Emerald Towers basil and Tetra dill being ideal for extended harvests.
- 🌱 Beans are a productive protein source for the garden and can be grown in various conditions, with options like Royal Burgundy, French Filet, and Gold Rush beans catering to different tastes and climates.
- 🥕 Carrots can be challenging to germinate but ensuring consistent soil moisture and using techniques like covering with cardboard can improve success rates.
- 🌿 Turmeric and ginger, being rhizomatous plants, can be grown from organic store-bought roots and are suitable for container gardening, especially in colder climates.
- 🌱 Starting plants indoors can give them a head start, allowing for earlier outdoor transplantation and a longer growing season.
Q & A
What is the significance of potatoes in the speaker's garden?
-Potatoes are one of the speaker's favorite plants and are considered quintessential. They can be grown in various ways and are referred to as a love language and life philosophy by the speaker.
How can one grow potatoes from seed potatoes?
-To grow potatoes from seed potatoes, you can purchase them from a source like Wood Prairie Farms or use organic potatoes from the grocery store. Once they start to chit, or sprout, you can plant them about six inches down into the soil and let them grow.
What are the benefits of growing brassicas like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower?
-Brassicas are a favorite for the speaker because they can be harvested twice a year in San Diego. They are also a good choice for growing in various climates and are delicious.
Why are marigolds and nasturtiums considered good companion plants for a garden?
-Marigolds help deter pests both above and below ground due to their strong smell, which pests dislike. Nasturtiums act as a trap crop, attracting pests and beneficial insects to themselves rather than to the main edible crops.
What is the speaker's pick for a flower to add to the garden, and why?
-The speaker's pick for a flower is Linaria, also known as mini snapdragon or toadflax. The speaker is enchanted by its beautiful flowers and likes to use it for adding spring color and a dainty vibe to the vegetable garden.
What are some of the benefits of growing sunflowers in the garden?
-Sunflowers provide color, texture, and multiple benefits to the garden. They can be multibranching for continuous blooms or single-stemmed for a tall focal point. They also have edible seeds.
How should sunflower seeds be planted to achieve the largest possible sunflower?
-For the largest sunflower, the seed should be planted directly into the ground. Transplanting can disturb the taproot, which may prevent the plant from reaching its full potential.
What are the speaker's recommendations for growing herbs like basil and dill?
-The speaker recommends starting basil and dill indoors in seed trays for a head start. They also suggest choosing slow bolting varieties like Everleaf Emerald Towers for basil and Tetra for dill to prolong their use in the kitchen.
How does the speaker suggest growing beans in the garden?
-Beans can be grown directly in the ground or in containers. They should be planted about an inch deep and watered well. If transplanting, it's suggested to add a little nitrogen fertilizer to help the plants establish their nitrogen-fixing system.
What are some tips for successful carrot germination?
-To ensure good germination, the soil should be well watered and kept moist for the 10-14 days it takes carrots to germinate. Seeds should be sown in shallow furrows and covered lightly. Using a covering like cardboard can help retain soil moisture and is recommended.
How can turmeric and ginger be grown at home, and what are the considerations for their planting?
-Turmeric and ginger can be grown from organic rhizomes, which should be broken into sections with at least one eye. They can be planted in the ground in warmer climates or in containers in colder ones. The planting depth should be about two to three inches, and the rhizomes should be laid horizontally.
Outlines
🌱 Gardening Tips for March: Plant Picks and Techniques
The video script begins with the host discussing the importance of March in gardening, emphasizing the start of planting for the year. They introduce nine plant picks suitable for March, hinting that some might already be in the visible garden. The first highlighted plant is the potato, which is a favorite due to its versatility and ability to grow in various conditions. The host also shares personal anecdotes about living off potatoes and provides tips for planting, whether from seed potatoes or by chitting grocery store potatoes. They further explain the concept of potatoes as a pioneer crop, which can improve soil for future plantings. The host then touches on growing brassicas, such as broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower, with a focus on varieties like Copenhagen Market Cabbage, Twister cauliflower, and Di Cicco broccoli. They also delve into companion planting with marigolds and nasturtiums, explaining their benefits in deterring pests and acting as trap crops.
🌼 Border Plants and Flower Enchantment
The host expresses a newfound appreciation for flowers beyond their edibility, leading to a discussion on the aesthetic and practical benefits of border plants like nasturtiums and marigolds. Nasturtiums are praised for their beauty and trailing growth habit, which makes them ideal for raised beds. They can be sown directly after the last frost or started indoors for an early start. The host also shares their fascination with Linaria, a flower they previously overlooked but now find enchanting for its mini snapdragon-like appearance. Linaria seeds are small and require light sowing in clumps. The segment concludes with a nod to the importance of considering height and texture in garden design, with sunflowers being a favorite for their color, texture, and multiple benefits to the garden ecosystem. Specific varieties like Lemon Queen, Evening Sun, and Mongolian Giant are recommended, along with tips for achieving the tallest sunflowers by planting seeds directly into the ground.
🌿 Culinary Herbs and Slow Bolting Varieties
The focus shifts to herbs, with an emphasis on basil and dill for their culinary uses and ability to attract pollinators and beneficial insects. A slow bolting basil variety called Everleaf Emerald Towers is highlighted for its extended leaf production before flowering. Dill is also commended for its multifunctional uses, including as a host plant for the Eastern black swallowtail butterfly. The host shares their preferred slow bolting dill variety, Tetra, and provides advice on starting these herbs indoors for an early harvest or direct sowing after the last frost. The segment also touches on the challenge of growing protein-rich plants quickly, with beans being a notable exception due to their productivity and nutritional value. Different bean varieties like Royal Burgundy, French Filet, and Gold Rush are suggested for various climates and tastes, along with tips for planting and maintaining a continuous bean harvest throughout the growing season.
🥕 Carrot Germination and Medicinal Plant Cultivation
The host addresses the common struggle of germinating carrots and offers detailed tips for achieving a successful carrot patch. They recommend thorough watering, shallow sowing, and using a covering like cardboard to retain soil moisture. Two favorite carrot varieties, Little Fingers and Tonda de Parigi, are introduced for their taste, container-friendly size, and quick maturity. The host then shifts the focus to medicinal plants, specifically turmeric and ginger, which are grown from rhizomes. They explain the process of selecting and preparing organic rhizomes, planting them in a container with proper spacing and depth, and the importance of keeping the soil moist until sprouting. The segment concludes with advice on growing ginger and turmeric as perennials in colder climates by bringing containers indoors during winter and starting the cycle anew each year.
🌳 Garden Aesthetics and Ongoing Growth
The final paragraph discusses the creation of a border patch featuring many of the plants previously mentioned, including sunflowers. The host encourages viewers to explore a full guide on growing sunflowers, which is linked in the video. They wish luck to all gardeners and motivate them to continue growing, emphasizing the joy and satisfaction derived from gardening.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Potato
💡Brassicas
💡Companion Planting
💡Linaria
💡Sunflower
💡Herbs
💡Beans
💡Carrot
💡Turmeric and Ginger
💡Germination
💡Container Gardening
Highlights
March is the perfect time to start planning and planting your garden.
Nine interesting plant picks are suggested for March planting.
Potatoes are a versatile and essential crop that can be grown in various systems and soil types.
The Clancy potato variety is recommended for those looking to grow from seed.
Potatoes act as a pioneer crop, improving the soil for future plantings.
Brassicas like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower are great for year-round harvesting in certain climates.
Copenhagen Market Cabbage and Twister Cauliflower are recommended varieties for their heat tolerance and self-wrapping properties.
Companion planting with marigolds and nasturtiums can deter pests and improve overall garden health.
Linaria, a flower resembling a mini snapdragon, adds beauty and color to the garden.
Sunflowers, such as Lemon Queen and Evening Sun, offer continuous blooms and add texture to the garden.
Mongolian Giant sunflowers provide a single, tall focal point in the garden.
Herbs like basil and dill are not only versatile in the kitchen but also attract beneficial insects.
Everleaf Emerald Towers basil is a slow bolting variety, ideal for Southern gardeners.
Beans are a productive and nutritious addition to the garden, with varieties like Royal Burgundy and French Filet.
Carrots can be grown successfully with consistent moisture and the right planting techniques.
Little Fingers and Tonda de Parigi are carrot varieties that are well-suited for container gardening.
Turmeric and ginger, being rhizomatous plants, can be grown from organic grocery store produce.
Ginger and turmeric can be grown in containers, making them suitable for colder climates.
Transcripts
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