March is the month when most gardens really wake up. In colder regions, it is prime time for indoor seed starting and preparing beds. In milder climates, spring planting is already rolling, and in the warmest zones, the garden may be producing heavily while you begin shifting toward heat-loving crops.

Zones 1-7: These zones experience cold winters with extended periods of freezing temperatures. In March, monitor soil conditions, thaw cycles, and late frosts as you prepare for early outdoor sowing. Indoors, this is a busy month for starting cool-season crops and hardy flowers under lights or in a greenhouse so they are ready to transplant as soon as the weather settles.

Zones 8-9a: These zones experience mild winter weather and are warming quickly in March. Many cool-season crops can be direct sown outdoors, and succession planting helps keep harvests coming as temperatures rise. It is also a great time to start warm-season favorites indoors while keeping frost protection on hand for unexpected cold snaps. And of course, sprouts and microgreens are always in season indoors!

Zones 9b-12: Depending on your area, March can be peak garden season in these warm-winter zones. Many crops planted earlier are now producing, and this month often marks the transition from late cool-season planting to the start of warm-season gardening. In the hottest areas, you may begin planting heat lovers while timing your last rounds of tender cool-season crops before warmer weather arrives.