Zone 5B — March
What to Plant in March in Zone 5B
March in Zone 5B:
39 crops to start indoors,
23 to plant or direct sow outside, and
0 entering harvest window.
Last frost averages April 17. Reference city: Kansas City, MO.
39 Start Indoors
23 Plant Outside
0 Harvest
Start Indoors in March
| Plant | Type | Start Indoors | Transplant Outside | Harvest Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tatsoi | lettuce | Mar 6 | Mar 20 | Apr 14 – May 4 |
| Alexandria Alpine Strawberry | berry | Mar 13 | Apr 24 | Aug 2 – Aug 22 |
| Black Beauty Zucchini | squash | Mar 31 | Apr 28 | Jun 12 – Jun 22 |
| Brilliant Celeriac | root_vegetable | Mar 6 | Apr 17 | Aug 5 – Aug 15 |
| Curly Parsley | herb | Mar 13 | Apr 17 | Jun 26 – Jul 6 |
| Daikon Radishes | root_vegetable | Mar 27 | Apr 3 | May 18 – May 28 |
| Flat-Leaf Parsley | herb | Mar 13 | Apr 17 | Jun 26 – Jul 16 |
| Imperial Star Artichoke | vegetable | Mar 13 | Apr 17 | Jul 16 – Jul 26 |
| Isis Candy cherry tomatoes | tomato | Mar 27 | Apr 24 | Jul 13 – Jul 23 |
| Kellogg's Breakfast tomatoes | tomato | Mar 27 | Apr 24 | Jul 8 – Jul 18 |
| Matt's Wild Cherry tomatoes | tomato | Mar 27 | Apr 24 | Jun 18 – Jul 13 |
| Mrs. Burns Lemon Basil | herb | Mar 27 | Apr 24 | Jun 23 – Jul 3 |
| Paul Robeson tomatoes | tomato | Mar 27 | Apr 24 | Jul 3 – Jul 18 |
| Sweet Marjoram | herb | Mar 27 | Apr 24 | Jul 8 – Jul 23 |
| Anaheim Peppers | pepper | Mar 27 | May 1 | Jul 17 – Jul 25 |
| Bhut Jolokia Ghost Pepper | pepper | Mar 27 | May 1 | Jul 30 – Aug 29 |
| Big Jim Hatch Chile | pepper | Mar 27 | May 1 | Jul 10 – Jul 15 |
| Broccolini | brassica | Mar 27 | May 1 | Jun 20 – Jul 10 |
| Brussels Sprouts | brassica | Mar 27 | May 1 | Jul 25 – Aug 19 |
| Caribbean Red Scotch Bonnet Pepper | pepper | Mar 27 | May 1 | Aug 4 – Aug 29 |
| Carolina Reaper peppers | pepper | Mar 20 | May 1 | Jul 30 – Aug 29 |
| Cayenne Peppers | pepper | Mar 27 | May 1 | Jul 25 – Aug 4 |
| Cherry Bomb peppers | pepper | Mar 20 | May 1 | Jul 15 – Jul 20 |
| Corno di Toro Pepper | pepper | Mar 27 | May 1 | Jul 15 – Jul 20 |
| Datil peppers | pepper | Mar 20 | May 1 | Jul 30 – Aug 19 |
| Fresno Peppers | pepper | Mar 27 | May 1 | Jul 15 – Jul 20 |
| Green Cabbage | brassica | Mar 27 | May 1 | Jun 30 – Aug 9 |
| Habanero Pepper | pepper | Mar 27 | May 8 | Aug 6 – Sep 5 |
| Hungarian Hot Wax Pepper | pepper | Mar 27 | May 1 | Jul 5 – Jul 15 |
| Jalapeño Peppers | pepper | Mar 27 | May 1 | Jul 5 – Jul 15 |
| Pinkeye Purple Hull Pea | legume | Mar 6 | May 1 | Jun 25 – Jul 8 |
| Poblano Peppers | pepper | Mar 27 | May 1 | Jul 5 – Jul 15 |
| Red Cabbage | brassica | Mar 27 | May 1 | Jul 10 – Aug 19 |
| Romanesco | brassica | Mar 27 | May 1 | Jul 15 – Aug 9 |
| Serrano Peppers | pepper | Mar 27 | May 1 | Jul 10 – Jul 20 |
| Snow Crown Cauliflower | brassica | Mar 27 | May 1 | Jun 20 – Jun 30 |
| Thai Hot Peppers | pepper | Mar 27 | May 1 | Jul 15 – Jul 25 |
| Trinidad Moruga Scorpion peppers | pepper | Mar 20 | May 1 | Jul 20 – Aug 29 |
| Waltham 29 Broccoli | brassica | Mar 27 | May 1 | Jul 15 – Jul 30 |
Plant Outside in March
| Plant | Type | Action | Target Date | Harvest Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astro Arugula | lettuce | Direct Sow | Mar 28 | Apr 18 – May 7 |
| Bloomsdale Longstanding Spinach | lettuce | Direct Sow | Mar 28 | May 12 – May 19 |
| Bok Choy | lettuce | Direct Sow | Mar 28 | May 12 – May 27 |
| Butterhead Lettuce | lettuce | Direct Sow | Mar 28 | May 17 – Jun 1 |
| Chinese Broccoli (Gai Lan) | brassica | Direct Sow | Mar 28 | Apr 27 – May 17 |
| Curly Kale | lettuce | Direct Sow | Mar 28 | May 22 – Jun 1 |
| Endive / Escarole | lettuce | Direct Sow | Mar 28 | May 12 – Jun 1 |
| Georgia Southern Collard Greens | lettuce | Direct Sow | Mar 28 | May 27 – Jun 16 |
| Lacinato Kale | lettuce | Direct Sow | Mar 28 | May 27 – Jun 1 |
| Leaf Lettuce Mix | lettuce | Direct Sow | Mar 28 | May 12 – May 22 |
| Mesclun Mix | lettuce | Direct Sow | Mar 28 | Apr 18 – Apr 27 |
| Mizuna | lettuce | Direct Sow | Mar 28 | May 7 – May 17 |
| Mustard Greens | lettuce | Direct Sow | Mar 28 | May 2 – May 17 |
| Mâche (Corn Salad) | lettuce | Direct Sow | Mar 28 | May 27 – Jun 20 |
| Napa Cabbage | brassica | Direct Sow | Mar 28 | Jun 6 – Jun 26 |
| Radicchio | lettuce | Direct Sow | Mar 28 | May 27 – Jun 21 |
| Red Leaf Lettuce | lettuce | Direct Sow | Mar 28 | May 12 – May 22 |
| Red Russian Kale | lettuce | Direct Sow | Mar 28 | May 17 – May 27 |
| Romaine Lettuce | lettuce | Direct Sow | Mar 28 | Jun 1 – Jun 11 |
| Swiss Chard | lettuce | Direct Sow | Mar 28 | May 17 – May 27 |
| Tatsoi | lettuce | Transplant | Mar 20 | Apr 14 – May 4 |
| Texas 1015Y SuperSweet Onion | root_vegetable | Transplant | Mar 20 | Jul 3 – Jul 13 |
| Winner Kohlrabi | brassica | Direct Sow | Mar 28 | May 12 – May 17 |
Harvest in March
No crops entering harvest in March for Zone 5B.
Key Tasks for March in Zone 5B
- 1 Start 39 varieties indoors this month under grow lights or in a sunny south-facing window. Use a seed-starting mix and bottom heat (70–75°F) for best germination rates.
- 2 Harden off transplants before moving outdoors — set them outside in a sheltered spot for increasing hours over 7–10 days before planting in the ground.
- 3 Direct sow seeds at the recommended depth and spacing. Keep the seedbed consistently moist until germination is complete.
- 4 Check soil moisture before watering — stick a finger 2 inches into the soil. Water only when the soil is dry at that depth. Consistent moisture is more important than frequency.
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