The saying, “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb,” must have been meant for gardeners who do most of their planting this month. Since California weather is unpredictable, it is sometimes possible to do a lot of planting during the first two weeks of March.
Usually, however, it is better to do most of the planting during the last two weeks of the month.
Regional Planting Notes
California and Arizona: Many of the seeds that were sown in January and February are now large enough plants to set out. Those that should be protected from frosts by placing under hotkaps include:
- Asters
- African Marigolds
- Ruffled Petunias
- Cinerarias
- Primroses
Many of the hardier plants will not be harmed unless the frosts are unusually severe. These hardier plants include: French marigolds, stocks, snapdragons, scabiosa, common petunias, annual phlox, pentstemon, Canterbury bells and sweet sultan.
In the shaded and sheltered areas you can now plant cinerarias, Primula malacoides and polyanthus primroses, schizanthus, coleus, and fibrous begonias. Since these plants are subject to frost damage, their planting date should be guided by the weather.
Dahlia tubers should be separated and placed in either moist peatmoss or sand. Great care should be taken in cutting and separating the tubers. An eye or bud should be on each tuber and the slender neck must not be broken. It is too early to plant them in the open unless your area is unusually mild.
Watch new lawns carefully and do not allow them to dry out on the surface. It may be necessary to sprinkle them as often as four or five times a day. A light mulch of granulated peat-moss will help prevent drying out.
Pacific Northwest: It is generally agreed that those perennials which bloom before July 1 should be divided and transplanted in the fall and those that – bloom after July 1 should be divided—and transplanted in the spring.
However, it is possible to plant perennials now, although you may sacrifice some of the bloom of the spring-flowering ones.
Try planting these perennials now: anemone, arabis, leopards-bane, coral-bell, campanula, columbine, dianthus, bleeding-heart, perennial forget-me-not, iceland poppy, globe-flower, painted daisy, geum, pulmonaria, and primrose.
In setting out a perennial border, remember that plants in groups of three or more are more effective than single plants scattered about here and there. Only large massive plants such as day-lilies should be planted singly.
In most sections of the Northwest, March and April arc considered to be the best gladiolus planting months to assure quality blooms. Although gladiolus can be planted from March through mid-May for a succession of bloom, you’ll have less trouble with thrips if you plant early.
Vegetables to Plant Now
These vegetables can be set out in March: artichoke, rhubarb divisions, asparagus roots, onion sets and transplants of cabbage and cauliflower. Peas can be sown in deeply worked, rich soil. Also sow Swiss chard, beets, lettuce, radishes, broad Windsor beans, carrots and onion seed.
Remember to dust the seeds and the trenches in which seeds are to be planted with a material to foil wireworms and other soil pests. Check with your county agent.
Gladiolus Culture Tips
Remember that the largest corm is not always the best. Turn the corm over and look at its underside. The larger the scar, the older and more devitalized the corm is – so pick only the medium-sized ones. They will give good bloom, more bulblets and will cost less than the jumbo-sized ones.
Arrange your planting so that you can irrigate the rows easily throughout the season. In many parts of the West supplementary watering is necessary. A sunny location and sandy loam are the other requirements.
Dig furrows 5” or 6” inches deep and as wide as your hoe. Dust the corms with a Sevin to kill soil pests. This material will also kill thrip eggs. The easiest way to dust the corms is to place them in a paper sack containing a teaspoonful or so of the insecticide. Then shake the sack well so the dust covers the corms thoroughly.
When planting the corms, set the smaller ones more shallow than the larger ones. In a light soil plant the larger corms 5” to 6” inches deep. In heavy soils set them only 4” to 5” inches deep. After planting, water them thoroughly. Then stand back and await the results. Remember that gladioli like water, so don’t neglect this.
You need not be concerned with fertilizing until the plants start to show bloom. Then start fertilizing with a good complete fertilizer or one of the new dry fish fertilizers which are not too high in nitrogen. An overdose of nitrogen produces weak, sappy growth. When the plants are 9″ inches high start weekly applications of an all-purpose insecticide to control thrips.
Delphinium Care
Delphinium will bloom several times in a season if you cut off the central flower spike before it goes to seed. The side branches will bloom also, and they, too, should be cut back. Another crop of blooms will follow. If you see any signs of mildew on the foliage, apply an all-purpose fungicide.
Care of New Lawns
When a new lawn comes up unevenly, with thick grass in some spots and bare places in others, there are several likely causes. The seed may have been sown unevenly, the ground may be uneven, rain or the sprinkler may have washed the seed into bunches, or the seed may have been covered more deeply in some spots than in others.
If this last is the cause, eventually you will probably have an even stand of grass. In any case, wait until the grass is tall enough to cut, then reseed the bare spots, and firm the surface with a roller.
Provide for Good Drainage
If you have any flower beds that tend to be soggy and poorly-drained, work sand in and mulch with a 2” or 3” inch layer of well-rotted cow manure. Use a yard of sand for each 150 square feet. To assure a loose and porous soil for a long time to come also work in a chemical soil conditioner.
Superstitious
Don’t Iet anyone put the “hex” on you—plant angelica in your garden and for extra safety carry a piece with you. At least that was the old superstition prevalent when hexing went on at a greater rate in this old world than it does at present. Angelica was said to protect against evil spirits as well as witchcraft.