After weeks of looking at seed packets and planning on paper, the soil is finally waking up and there is real work to be done. Miss this window and you spend the rest of the season playing catch-up.
Whether you have a polytunnel, a raised bed or just a few pots on a south-facing patio, there is plenty you can get started right now.
What to sow indoors in March
Tomato seedlings need this long indoors. A late March sowing lands you perfectly for mid-May plant-out.
Tomatoes are the priority. Sow them in a propagator or on your warmest windowsill.
At BloomySeeds we grow San Marzano for sauce and Cuore di Bue as a big beefsteak tomato for salads. Both are Italian classics that do very well in Irish summers, even the grey ones.
Sow one seed per pot, push it in on its side to stop it rotting, and keep it somewhere warm. They grow quickly and will be ready to plant out by late May.
Basil wants warmth above everything else. A late March sowing kept on a warm windowsill will give you strong plants by the time it is safe to move them outside in June. The Genovese basil from Franchi Sementi has noticeably larger and more fragrant leaves than anything you will find in a supermarket.
Brassicas including cabbage, broccoli and kale can all be started indoors now for planting out in April and May. Aubergine and peppers started in January or February need potting on now if they have outgrown their seed tray.
What to sow direct in March
From mid-March, once the soil has warmed a little, you can start sowing straight into the ground.
- 🫘 Broad beans from early March. 5cm deep, 20cm apart. The hardiest thing you can grow.
- 🫛 Peas from mid-March. 5cm deep, double row, give them something to climb.
- 🥬 Spinach and Swiss chard from mid-March. Germinate quickly, picking within weeks.
- 🌸 Hardy flowers (cornflowers, calendula, nigella) from late March.
The varieties I recommend for March in Ireland
Not every tomato or courgette variety suits the Irish climate. Short summers and cool nights mean you need varieties that ripen reliably without needing weeks of Mediterranean sun.
For vegetables: San Marzano tomato (reliable even in a poor Irish summer), Zucchino Romano courgette (heavy cropping with brilliant flavour), Cavolo Nero Lacinato di Toscana (actively improves after frost). For herbs: Genovese basil and flat leaf parsley. For flowers: calendula and cornflower.
San Marzano Tomato Seeds
The classic Italian sauce tomato. Sow indoors now for August harvest.
View seeds
All varieties available at BloomySeeds. Sourced directly from Franchi Sementi, Bergamo. DAFM registered for sale in Ireland.
