Zone 9A — March
What to Plant in March in Zone 9A
March in Zone 9A:
2 crops to start indoors,
87 to plant or direct sow outside, and
19 entering harvest window.
Last frost averages February 15. Reference city: Phoenix, AZ.
2 Start Indoors
87 Plant Outside
19 Harvest
Start Indoors in March
| Plant | Type | Start Indoors | Transplant Outside | Harvest Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chayote squash | chayote | Mar 1 | Mar 1 | Jun 29 – Jul 29 |
| Nopales pads | nopales | Mar 1 | Mar 1 | Apr 30 – Jun 29 |
Plant Outside in March
| Plant | Type | Action | Target Date | Harvest Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amish Paste Tomatoes | tomato | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 14 – May 25 |
| Anaheim Peppers | pepper | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 17 – May 25 |
| Anise hyssop leaves and flowers | anise hyssop | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 15 – May 30 |
| Bachelor's button edible flowers | bachelors button | Transplant | Mar 1 | Apr 30 – May 20 |
| Banana Peppers | pepper | Transplant | Mar 8 | May 7 – May 17 |
| Beefsteak Tomatoes | tomato | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 20 – May 25 |
| Bhut Jolokia Ghost Pepper | pepper | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 30 – Jun 29 |
| Big Jim Hatch Chile | pepper | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 10 – May 15 |
| Bitter melons | bitter melon | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 15 – May 30 |
| Black Cherry Tomato | tomato | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 4 – May 15 |
| Black Krim Tomatoes | tomato | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 15 – May 20 |
| Black Oil Sunflower Microgreens | microgreen | Transplant | Mar 1 | Mar 8 – Mar 13 |
| Brandywine Tomatoes | tomato | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 20 – May 30 |
| Broccolini | vegetable | Transplant | Mar 1 | Apr 20 – May 10 |
| Brussels Sprouts | vegetable | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 25 – Jun 19 |
| Butternut Squash | vegetable | Transplant | Mar 1 | Jun 9 – Jun 29 |
| California Wonder Peppers | pepper | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 12 – May 15 |
| Cantaloupe | vegetable | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 20 – May 30 |
| Caribbean Red Scotch Bonnet Pepper | pepper | Transplant | Mar 1 | Jun 4 – Jun 29 |
| Carolina Reaper peppers | hot pepper | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 30 – Jun 29 |
| Cayenne Peppers | pepper | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 25 – Jun 4 |
| Celeste Fig | fruit | Plant Out | Mar 1 | Mar 1 – Feb 29 |
| Chayote squash | chayote | Transplant | Mar 1 | Jun 29 – Jul 29 |
| Cherokee Purple Tomatoes | tomato | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 18 – May 25 |
| Cherry Bomb peppers | hot pepper | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 15 – May 20 |
| Chicago Hardy Fig | fruit | Plant Out | Mar 1 | Mar 1 – Feb 29 |
| Corno di Toro Pepper | pepper | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 15 – May 20 |
| Crosne tubers | crosne | Transplant | Mar 1 | Aug 28 – Oct 7 |
| Cubanelle Peppers | pepper | Transplant | Mar 8 | May 9 – May 17 |
| Culinary Turmeric | turmeric | Transplant | Mar 8 | Nov 3 – Jan 2 |
| Datil peppers | hot pepper | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 30 – Jun 19 |
| Delica kabocha squash | kabocha | Transplant | Mar 1 | Jun 4 – Jun 19 |
| Early Girl Tomatoes | tomato | Transplant | Mar 1 | Apr 22 – May 2 |
| Elephant garlic bulbs | elephant garlic | Transplant | Mar 1 | Aug 28 – Oct 27 |
| Fresno Peppers | pepper | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 15 – May 20 |
| Genovese Basil | herb | Transplant | Mar 1 | Apr 30 – May 10 |
| Ginger | ginger | Transplant | Mar 8 | Nov 3 – Jan 2 |
| Green Cabbage | vegetable | Transplant | Mar 1 | Apr 30 – Jun 9 |
| Green Zebra Tomatoes | tomato | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 15 – May 18 |
| Habanero Pepper | pepper | Transplant | Mar 8 | Jun 6 – Jul 6 |
| Hairy vetch cover crop stands | hairy vetch | Transplant | Mar 1 | Apr 30 – May 30 |
| Honeydew Melon | vegetable | Transplant | Mar 1 | Jun 9 – Jun 24 |
| Hungarian Hot Wax Pepper | pepper | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 5 – May 15 |
| Improved Meyer Lemon | fruit | Plant Out | Mar 1 | Feb 29 – Feb 28 |
| Jacob's Cattle beans | dry bean | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 20 – May 30 |
| Jalapeño Peppers | pepper | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 5 – May 15 |
| Jerusalem artichoke tubers | sunchoke | Transplant | Mar 1 | Jun 19 – Jul 29 |
| Jimmy Nardello Peppers | pepper | Transplant | Mar 8 | May 27 – Jun 6 |
| King Arthur Peppers | pepper | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 2 – May 8 |
| Luffa gourds | luffa | Transplant | Mar 1 | Jun 9 – Jun 29 |
| Lunchbox Mini Peppers | pepper | Transplant | Mar 8 | May 2 – May 7 |
| Marketmore 76 Cucumber | vegetable | Transplant | Mar 1 | Apr 28 – May 8 |
| Midnight Snack Tomato | tomato | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 5 – May 10 |
| Mortgage Lifter Tomatoes | tomato | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 20 – May 25 |
| Mountain Magic Tomatoes | tomato | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 12 – May 15 |
| Mucho Nacho Jalapeño Peppers | pepper | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 8 – May 10 |
| Nagami Kumquat | fruit | Plant Out | Mar 1 | Feb 29 – Feb 28 |
| Nopales pads | nopales | Transplant | Mar 1 | Apr 30 – Jun 29 |
| Padron Peppers | pepper | Transplant | Mar 8 | May 7 – May 12 |
| Phacelia cover crop and bee forage | phacelia | Transplant | Mar 1 | Apr 15 – Apr 30 |
| Pinkeye Purple Hull Pea | cowpea | Transplant | Mar 1 | Apr 25 – May 8 |
| Poblano Peppers | pepper | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 5 – May 15 |
| Potato onion clusters | potato onion | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 30 – Jun 29 |
| Purple Basil | herb | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 10 – May 25 |
| Rambo Radish Microgreens | microgreen | Transplant | Mar 1 | Mar 7 – Mar 11 |
| Red Cabbage | vegetable | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 10 – Jun 19 |
| Red-Stem Malabar Spinach | malabar spinach | Transplant | Mar 1 | Apr 25 – May 10 |
| Roma VF Tomatoes | tomato | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 15 – May 20 |
| Romanesco | vegetable | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 15 – Jun 9 |
| Rosemary | herb | Plant Out | Mar 1 | May 20 – Jun 9 |
| Rutgers Tomato | tomato | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 10 – May 20 |
| San Marzano Tomatoes | tomato | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 18 – May 28 |
| Serrano Peppers | pepper | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 10 – May 20 |
| Shishito Peppers | pepper | Transplant | Mar 8 | May 7 – May 12 |
| Signet marigold edible flowers | signet marigold | Transplant | Mar 1 | Apr 30 – May 5 |
| Snow Crown Cauliflower | vegetable | Transplant | Mar 1 | Apr 20 – Apr 30 |
| Speckled Pea Shoot Microgreens | microgreen | Transplant | Mar 1 | Mar 9 – Mar 15 |
| Sugar Baby Watermelon | vegetable | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 15 – May 20 |
| Sweet Million Tomato | tomato | Transplant | Mar 1 | Apr 30 – May 5 |
| Thai Basil | herb | Transplant | Mar 1 | Apr 30 – May 5 |
| Thai Hot Peppers | pepper | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 15 – May 25 |
| Tiny Tim Tomato | tomato | Transplant | Mar 1 | Apr 15 – Apr 25 |
| Trinidad Moruga Scorpion peppers | hot pepper | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 20 – Jun 29 |
| Tumbling Tom Red Tomato | tomato | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 5 – May 10 |
| Waltham 29 Broccoli | vegetable | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 15 – May 30 |
| White clover living mulch | white clover | Transplant | Mar 1 | May 10 – May 30 |
| Winter rye cover crop stands | winter rye | Transplant | Mar 1 | Aug 28 – Oct 7 |
Harvest in March
| Plant | Type | Planted / Sown | Harvest Window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Astro Arugula | vegetable | Feb 15 | Mar 8 – Mar 27 |
| Buckwheat | cover crop | Feb 15 | Mar 17 – Apr 1 |
| Cherry Belle Radish | root | Feb 22 | Mar 15 – Mar 24 |
| Chinese Broccoli (Gai Lan) | vegetable | Feb 15 | Mar 17 – Apr 6 |
| Daikon Radishes | daikon radish | Feb 1 | Mar 18 – Mar 28 |
| Dill | herb | Feb 15 | Mar 27 – Apr 11 |
| French Breakfast Radish | root | Feb 22 | Mar 15 – Mar 22 |
| Mesclun Mix | vegetable | Feb 15 | Mar 8 – Mar 17 |
| Mizuna | vegetable | Feb 15 | Mar 27 – Apr 6 |
| Mustard Greens | vegetable | Feb 15 | Mar 22 – Apr 6 |
| Peppermint | herb | Feb 15 | Mar 17 – Apr 1 |
| Spearmint | herb | Feb 15 | Mar 17 – Apr 1 |
| Sweet Alyssum | flower | Feb 15 | Mar 27 – Apr 11 |
| Water spinach stems and leaves | water spinach | Feb 15 | Mar 17 – Apr 1 |
| Black Oil Sunflower Microgreens | microgreen | Mar 1 | Mar 8 – Mar 13 |
| Celeste Fig | fruit | Mar 1 | Mar 1 – Feb 29 |
| Chicago Hardy Fig | fruit | Mar 1 | Mar 1 – Feb 29 |
| Rambo Radish Microgreens | microgreen | Mar 1 | Mar 7 – Mar 11 |
| Speckled Pea Shoot Microgreens | microgreen | Mar 1 | Mar 9 – Mar 15 |
Key Tasks for March in Zone 9A
- 1 Start 2 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 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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