What to Plant in March 2026 (Zone-by-Zone Guide)

February 28, 2026

March is when gardening season truly begins for most of the country. But what you can plant — and when — depends entirely on your USDA hardiness zone. While gardeners in Zone 8 and 9 are already transplanting tomatoes, those in Zone 4 are still waiting for the ground to thaw.

Here’s your zone-by-zone breakdown for March planting.

Zones 3–4: Start Seeds Indoors

March in the northern tier means frozen ground and unpredictable weather. Don’t rush outdoor planting. Instead, focus on starting seeds indoors under lights or on a sunny windowsill. Our Complete Seed Starting Guide covers exact timing for every crop, based on your zone’s last frost date.

Start indoors now:

• Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant (8–10 weeks before last frost)
• Broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower
• Onions and leeks
• Annual flowers like marigolds and zinnias

Late March outdoor options:

• If the ground has thawed, you can direct-sow peas and spinach under row cover
• Bare-root trees and shrubs can go in as soon as the soil is workable

Zones 5–6: The Big Transition

This is prime “get ready” time. Your last frost is roughly mid-April to mid-May, so March is about indoor starts and cold-hardy direct sowing.

Direct sow outdoors (mid to late March):

• Peas, lettuce, spinach, radishes, and arugula
• Kale, collards, and Swiss chard
• Carrots and beets (late March in Zone 6)

Start indoors:

• Tomatoes and peppers (if you haven’t already)
• Herbs like basil and parsley
• Squash and cucumbers (late March, 4 weeks before transplant)

Don’t forget to harden off any seedlings you started in February before moving them outside. A week of gradual outdoor exposure prevents transplant shock.

Zone 7: Full Speed Ahead

Zone 7 gardeners have the luxury of a late March / early April last frost. March is your most productive planting month.

Direct sow:

• All cool-season crops: lettuce, spinach, peas, radishes, carrots, beets
• Potatoes (St. Patrick’s Day is the traditional planting date)
• Onion sets and transplants

Transplant outdoors:

• Broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower starts
• Strawberry plants
• Herb transplants (rosemary, thyme, oregano)

Start indoors (early March):

• Tomatoes, peppers, squash, melons

Zones 8–9: Warm-Season Planting Begins

Your last frost is behind you (or nearly so). March is when warm-season crops go in the ground.

Transplant outdoors:

• Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant
• Squash, cucumbers, and melons (late March)
• Herbs: basil, cilantro, dill

Direct sow:

• Beans (bush and pole)
• Corn (soil temp above 60°F)
• Okra and sweet potatoes (late March)
• Sunflowers and zinnias

Wrap up cool-season crops: Your lettuce, spinach, and peas from winter are on borrowed time. Harvest before the heat arrives.

Zone 10+: Manage the Heat

In the deep South and desert Southwest, March already brings warm days. Focus on heat management. See the complete Zone 10A planting guide for detailed month-by-month schedules.

Plant now:

• Warm-season vegetables: tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans, cucumbers
• Tropical herbs: basil, lemongrass
• Sweet potatoes and okra

Avoid planting:

• Cool-season crops are done — bolting is inevitable
• Hold off on melons until nighttime temps are consistently above 60°F

Pro tip: Shade cloth becomes your best friend from March onward in Zone 10+.

General March Tips for All Zones

Test your soil. Before the season kicks off, get a soil test done through your local extension office. It takes the guesswork out of fertilizing.

Plan for companions. Pairing the right plants together boosts yields and reduces pest pressure. For example, planting basil near tomatoes repels aphids, while companion flowers attract beneficial pollinators. For a full breakdown of what to grow together (and what to keep apart), see our Companion Planting Guide for Vegetables.

Don’t skip hardening off. Every seedling started indoors needs 5–7 days of gradual outdoor exposure. Start with a few hours of filtered light and work up to full sun.

Sign up for frost alerts. Late frosts are a real risk through April in most zones. Our free frost alert service emails you when freezing temperatures are forecast for your zip code — so you’re never caught off guard.

Mulch early. A 2–3 inch layer of straw or shredded leaves suppresses weeds, retains moisture, and moderates soil temperature as spring weather swings between warm and cold.

Go Deeper with Regional Guides

If you want detailed, zone-specific planting schedules for vegetables, check out the Harvest Home Guides — they cover exactly what to plant and when for your region, with month-by-month calendars.

Related Reading

• What to Plant in April by Zone — the next month in the series
• Best Spring Gardening Tools 2026 — gear up for the growing season
• Spring Planting Checklist by Zone
• How to Find Your USDA Hardiness Zone
• Prepare Your Garden Soil for Spring

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