March marks the true start of the growing season in Florida. This transitional period requires timely planting to establish crops and ornamentals before the intense heat of late spring and summer arrives. Successfully navigating this month involves shifting focus from cool-weather varieties to those that tolerate warmth, ensuring plants have enough time to mature. Understanding the geographical variations within the state is paramount, as planting dates can shift by several weeks.
Navigating Florida’s Climate Zones
Florida’s unique geography creates three distinct gardening regions, which largely determine the appropriate March planting calendar. The state spans multiple USDA hardiness zones, dictating which plants can thrive in each area. North Florida, generally encompassing zones 8b and 9a, experiences the most traditional four seasons and still carries a risk of late frost in early March.
Central Florida, primarily zones 9b and 10a, is a transitional area where the final cool-season crops must be planted quickly alongside the first heat-loving varieties. This region begins to feel the shift toward summer temperatures during the month. South Florida, covering zones 10b and 11a/11b, is subtropical to tropical and is essentially frost-free. Gardeners here must focus almost entirely on heat-tolerant and tropical plants, often finishing their winter vegetable season.
March Planting Guide for Edibles
Gardeners in North Florida have a final opportunity to sow a blend of cool-season and early warm-season edibles. Direct-sow seeds for long-season crops like corn, bush beans, pole beans, and summer squashes, providing them enough time to mature before the summer heat stresses the plants. Transplants of tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants should also go into the ground now, as the last expected frost date typically passes mid-month. Root crops like carrots and radishes can still be seeded early in March to complete their growth cycle.
In Central Florida, the focus fully shifts to warm-season vegetables, with any remaining cool-season crops being planted immediately. This is the ideal time to transplant heat-sensitive, long-fruiting vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, and tomatillos, allowing them to set fruit before the intense June temperatures arrive. Direct seeding can begin for warm-weather staples like cantaloupes, cucumbers, okra, and watermelons. Tropical root vegetables like boniato and sweet potatoes are also excellent choices for planting.
South Florida gardeners are concluding their main winter growing season and are preparing for the summer rainy period. Warm-season plants like okra, southern peas, and tropical spinaches are ideal to plant now, as they thrive in the increasing heat. Transplants of tropical vegetables such as Calabaza squash, long squash, and the native Seminole pumpkin are highly recommended. Traditional summer crops like tomatoes and peppers are often finishing up and should be replaced with true heat-loving, subtropical varieties. Direct seeding of chayote, corn, and lima beans is also appropriate.
March Planting Guide for Ornamentals and Herbs
The ornamental landscape in North Florida transitions from winter color to summer bloomers. Cool-season annuals like dianthus will continue to perform, but gardeners should start setting out transplants of warm-season annuals such as wax begonia, angelonia, and zinnia toward the end of the month. Bulbs for summer color, including dahlia, canna, and gloriosa lily, can be planted now to establish roots before their main growing season. For herbs, cool-tolerant varieties like coriander, parsley, and thyme can still be planted, often performing better than heat-loving herbs planted too early.
Central Florida’s ornamental beds are ready for a wide range of heat-tolerant flowers that will last all summer. Full-sun annuals like pentas, coreopsis, and sun-loving petunias should replace any declining winter annuals. Caladium tubers can be planted throughout the month for a vibrant display of foliage that lasts through the summer. Heat-loving herbs should be transplanted now, including basil, oregano, Mexican tarragon, and lemon balm, as they establish well in the warming soil.
In South Florida, the selection leans heavily toward tropical and heat-tolerant species. Annuals like Sunpatiens, Melampodium, and Pentas will provide continuous color under the strong sun and are excellent choices for March planting. Shrubs such as hibiscus and ixora are also ideal to plant, benefiting from the early spring establishment. The tropical environment supports the immediate transplanting of nearly all heat-loving herbs, including various basils, sage, and lavender.
Essential Care and Soil Preparation for Spring
Preparing the garden beds in March is a foundational step for success, especially considering Florida’s typically sandy soil structure. The soil should be thoroughly amended with organic matter like compost, worm castings, or well-rotted manure, mixing it into the top several inches. This improves the soil’s ability to retain moisture and essential nutrients, crucial for supporting heavy-feeding summer crops.
As temperatures rise, the need for consistent watering increases, and proper mulching becomes important. A two- to three-inch layer of organic mulch, such as pine straw or shredded leaves, should be applied around plants to regulate soil temperature and reduce water evaporation. New plantings should receive a balanced, slow-release fertilizer designed for Florida’s unique soil profile to provide nutrients over the coming months.
Early season pest management begins in March, focusing on proactive measures before summer infestations take hold. Inspecting emerging shoots for pests like whiteflies and addressing potential soil issues, such as root-knot nematodes, is important before planting vulnerable crops. Adding soil amendments like neem seed meal or beneficial nematodes can help manage soil-borne issues that worsen in the summer heat.