What to plant in March in Florida
In Florida (FL), March comes about 4 weeks after the average last frost (February 12). The state averages 301 frost-free days a year (last frost February 12, first frost December 10; USDA zones 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a).
58 crops have a sowing or planting window this month, including ground cherry, new zealand spinach, peanut, pumpkin, rosemary, shiso (perilla) - and 53 of those windows close during March.
Dates here come from Florida frost dates (last frost Feb 12, first frost Dec 10). For one crop in detail, see when to plant pumpkin, tomato or winter squash in Florida.
Florida covers a very wide range of climates, so dates near you can be two weeks or more either side of these. Enter your ZIP code in the planting calendar for dates tuned to your town.
Florida: planting activity through the year
Last chance in March
Ground Cherry (transplant outdoors, by Mar 1) · New Zealand Spinach (transplant outdoors, by Mar 1) · Peanut (transplant outdoors, by Mar 1) · Pumpkin (transplant outdoors, by Mar 1) · Rosemary (transplant outdoors, by Mar 1) · Shiso (Perilla) (transplant outdoors, by Mar 1) · Summer Savory (transplant outdoors, by Mar 1) · Sunflower (transplant outdoors, by Mar 1) · Sweet Marjoram (transplant outdoors, by Mar 1) · Tomatillo (transplant outdoors, by Mar 1) · Tomato (transplant outdoors, by Mar 1) · Winter Squash (transplant outdoors, by Mar 1) · Zucchini / Summer Squash (transplant outdoors, by Mar 1) · Amaranth (Leaf) (direct sow (spring), by Mar 5) · Bush Bean (direct sow (spring), by Mar 5) · Edamame (Soybean) (direct sow (spring), by Mar 5) · New Zealand Spinach (direct sow (spring), by Mar 5) · Pole Bean (direct sow (spring), by Mar 5) · Pumpkin (direct sow (spring), by Mar 5) · Shiso (Perilla) (direct sow (spring), by Mar 5) · Summer Savory (direct sow (spring), by Mar 5) · Sweet Corn (direct sow (spring), by Mar 5) · Sweet Marjoram (direct sow (spring), by Mar 5) · Winter Squash (direct sow (spring), by Mar 5) · Zucchini / Summer Squash (direct sow (spring), by Mar 5) · Basil (transplant outdoors, by Mar 8) · Bell Pepper (transplant outdoors, by Mar 8) · Bitter Melon (transplant outdoors, by Mar 8) · Cantaloupe / Muskmelon (transplant outdoors, by Mar 8) · Chili Pepper (transplant outdoors, by Mar 8) · Cucamelon (transplant outdoors, by Mar 8) · Cucumber (transplant outdoors, by Mar 8) · Luffa (Loofah Gourd) (transplant outdoors, by Mar 8) · Malabar Spinach (transplant outdoors, by Mar 8) · Okra (transplant outdoors, by Mar 8) · Watermelon (transplant outdoors, by Mar 8) · Basil (direct sow (spring), by Mar 12) · Bitter Melon (direct sow (spring), by Mar 12) · Cantaloupe / Muskmelon (direct sow (spring), by Mar 12) · Chayote (direct sow (spring), by Mar 12) · Cucamelon (direct sow (spring), by Mar 12) · Cucumber (direct sow (spring), by Mar 12) · Lima Bean (direct sow (spring), by Mar 12) · Luffa (Loofah Gourd) (direct sow (spring), by Mar 12) · Malabar Spinach (direct sow (spring), by Mar 12) · Okra (direct sow (spring), by Mar 12) · Peanut (direct sow (spring), by Mar 12) · Southern Pea (Cowpea) (direct sow (spring), by Mar 12) · Watermelon (direct sow (spring), by Mar 12) · Eggplant (transplant outdoors, by Mar 15) · Ginger (transplant outdoors, by Mar 15) · Sweet Potato (transplant outdoors, by Mar 15) · Turmeric (transplant outdoors, by Mar 15)
Sow or plant outdoors in March (53)
Direct sowing and transplanting windows that fall in March, most urgent first. Windows are one-to-two-week bands around the ideal date.
| Crop | What to do | Window | This month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground Cherry | Transplant outdoors | Feb 12 – Mar 1 | Last chance - ends Mar 1 |
| New Zealand Spinach | Transplant outdoors | Feb 12 – Mar 1 | Last chance - ends Mar 1 |
| Peanut | Transplant outdoors | Feb 12 – Mar 1 | Last chance - ends Mar 1 |
| Pumpkin | Transplant outdoors | Feb 12 – Mar 1 | Last chance - ends Mar 1 |
| Rosemary | Transplant outdoors | Feb 12 – Mar 1 | Last chance - ends Mar 1 |
| Shiso (Perilla) | Transplant outdoors | Feb 12 – Mar 1 | Last chance - ends Mar 1 |
| Summer Savory | Transplant outdoors | Feb 12 – Mar 1 | Last chance - ends Mar 1 |
| Sunflower | Transplant outdoors | Feb 12 – Mar 1 | Last chance - ends Mar 1 |
| Sweet Marjoram | Transplant outdoors | Feb 12 – Mar 1 | Last chance - ends Mar 1 |
| Tomatillo | Transplant outdoors | Feb 12 – Mar 1 | Last chance - ends Mar 1 |
| Tomato | Transplant outdoors | Feb 12 – Mar 1 | Last chance - ends Mar 1 |
| Winter Squash | Transplant outdoors | Feb 12 – Mar 1 | Last chance - ends Mar 1 |
| Zucchini / Summer Squash | Transplant outdoors | Feb 12 – Mar 1 | Last chance - ends Mar 1 |
| Amaranth (Leaf) | Direct sow (spring) | Feb 14 – Mar 5 | Last chance - ends Mar 5 |
| Bush Bean | Direct sow (spring) | Feb 14 – Mar 5 | Last chance - ends Mar 5 |
| Edamame (Soybean) | Direct sow (spring) | Feb 14 – Mar 5 | Last chance - ends Mar 5 |
| New Zealand Spinach | Direct sow (spring) | Feb 14 – Mar 5 | Last chance - ends Mar 5 |
| Pole Bean | Direct sow (spring) | Feb 14 – Mar 5 | Last chance - ends Mar 5 |
| Pumpkin | Direct sow (spring) | Feb 14 – Mar 5 | Last chance - ends Mar 5 |
| Shiso (Perilla) | Direct sow (spring) | Feb 14 – Mar 5 | Last chance - ends Mar 5 |
| Summer Savory | Direct sow (spring) | Feb 14 – Mar 5 | Last chance - ends Mar 5 |
| Sweet Corn | Direct sow (spring) | Feb 14 – Mar 5 | Last chance - ends Mar 5 |
| Sweet Marjoram | Direct sow (spring) | Feb 14 – Mar 5 | Last chance - ends Mar 5 |
| Winter Squash | Direct sow (spring) | Feb 14 – Mar 5 | Last chance - ends Mar 5 |
| Zucchini / Summer Squash | Direct sow (spring) | Feb 14 – Mar 5 | Last chance - ends Mar 5 |
| Basil | Transplant outdoors | Feb 19 – Mar 8 | Last chance - ends Mar 8 |
| Bell Pepper | Transplant outdoors | Feb 19 – Mar 8 | Last chance - ends Mar 8 |
| Bitter Melon | Transplant outdoors | Feb 19 – Mar 8 | Last chance - ends Mar 8 |
| Cantaloupe / Muskmelon | Transplant outdoors | Feb 19 – Mar 8 | Last chance - ends Mar 8 |
| Chili Pepper | Transplant outdoors | Feb 19 – Mar 8 | Last chance - ends Mar 8 |
| Cucamelon | Transplant outdoors | Feb 19 – Mar 8 | Last chance - ends Mar 8 |
| Cucumber | Transplant outdoors | Feb 19 – Mar 8 | Last chance - ends Mar 8 |
| Luffa (Loofah Gourd) | Transplant outdoors | Feb 19 – Mar 8 | Last chance - ends Mar 8 |
| Malabar Spinach | Transplant outdoors | Feb 19 – Mar 8 | Last chance - ends Mar 8 |
| Okra | Transplant outdoors | Feb 19 – Mar 8 | Last chance - ends Mar 8 |
| Watermelon | Transplant outdoors | Feb 19 – Mar 8 | Last chance - ends Mar 8 |
| Basil | Direct sow (spring) | Feb 21 – Mar 12 | Last chance - ends Mar 12 |
| Bitter Melon | Direct sow (spring) | Feb 21 – Mar 12 | Last chance - ends Mar 12 |
| Cantaloupe / Muskmelon | Direct sow (spring) | Feb 21 – Mar 12 | Last chance - ends Mar 12 |
| Chayote | Direct sow (spring) | Feb 21 – Mar 12 | Last chance - ends Mar 12 |
| Cucamelon | Direct sow (spring) | Feb 21 – Mar 12 | Last chance - ends Mar 12 |
| Cucumber | Direct sow (spring) | Feb 21 – Mar 12 | Last chance - ends Mar 12 |
| Lima Bean | Direct sow (spring) | Feb 21 – Mar 12 | Last chance - ends Mar 12 |
| Luffa (Loofah Gourd) | Direct sow (spring) | Feb 21 – Mar 12 | Last chance - ends Mar 12 |
| Malabar Spinach | Direct sow (spring) | Feb 21 – Mar 12 | Last chance - ends Mar 12 |
| Okra | Direct sow (spring) | Feb 21 – Mar 12 | Last chance - ends Mar 12 |
| Peanut | Direct sow (spring) | Feb 21 – Mar 12 | Last chance - ends Mar 12 |
| Southern Pea (Cowpea) | Direct sow (spring) | Feb 21 – Mar 12 | Last chance - ends Mar 12 |
| Watermelon | Direct sow (spring) | Feb 21 – Mar 12 | Last chance - ends Mar 12 |
| Eggplant | Transplant outdoors | Feb 26 – Mar 15 | Last chance - ends Mar 15 |
| Ginger | Transplant outdoors | Feb 26 – Mar 15 | Last chance - ends Mar 15 |
| Sweet Potato | Transplant outdoors | Feb 26 – Mar 15 | Last chance - ends Mar 15 |
| Turmeric | Transplant outdoors | Feb 26 – Mar 15 | Last chance - ends Mar 15 |
Keep sowing (succession)
Repeat sowings of crops already in the ground, for a steady harvest instead of a glut.
- Pea: sow again on Mar 9
- Lettuce: sow again on Mar 6 and Mar 18
- Spinach: sow again on Mar 9
- Carrot: sow again on Mar 17
- Beet: sow again on Mar 10
- Radish: sow again on Mar 6 and Mar 16
- Cilantro / Coriander: sow again on Mar 6
- Dill: sow again on Mar 5
- Arugula: sow again on Mar 4 and Mar 16
- Turnip: sow again on Mar 5 and Mar 19
- Kohlrabi: sow again on Mar 5 and Mar 19
- Bok Choy / Pak Choi: sow again on Mar 12
- Mustard Greens: sow again on Mar 5 and Mar 19
- Green Onion / Scallion: sow again on Mar 19
- Fennel (Bulb): sow again on Mar 19
- Endive & Escarole: sow again on Mar 12
- Mache (Corn Salad): sow again on Mar 5 and Mar 19
- Rapini (Broccoli Raab): sow again on Mar 5 and Mar 19
- Tatsoi: sow again on Mar 4 and Mar 16
- Mizuna: sow again on Mar 4 and Mar 16
- Chervil: sow again on Mar 5 and Mar 19
- Watercress: sow again on Mar 12
Harvesting in March
First harvests expected this month from crops sown or planted on time earlier in the season.
Planting dates for popular crops in Florida
Every crop has its own full-year dates for Florida: indoor start, transplant or direct sowing, and harvest.
Main planting month: March garden jobs in Florida
- With the average last frost on February 12, 36 crops can go in outdoors this month, including ground cherry, new zealand spinach, peanut, pumpkin.
- Transplant on a cloudy afternoon and water in well - see transplanting seedlings without shock.
- Once the soil has warmed, lay mulch around established plants to hold moisture and smother weeds.
- Sow quick crops little and often - lettuce, radish and beans every two to three weeks give a steady harvest instead of a glut (succession planting).
USDA zone chart for Florida
Florida spans USDA zones 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a. Colder zones, usually higher or further inland, have a later last spring frost and an earlier first fall frost than the state average.
Questions gardeners ask
What vegetables can I plant in Florida in March?
58 crops have a window in March: ground cherry, new zealand spinach, peanut, pumpkin, rosemary, shiso (perilla), summer savory, sunflower, sweet marjoram, tomatillo and more. The tables above give the exact dates for each.
Is it too late to plant tomatoes in Florida in March?
No - transplant outdoors runs Feb 12 – Mar 1 in Florida, so do it before March 1.
Is it too late to plant lettuce in Florida in March?
Not too late - it's actually a little early. In Florida the next lettuce window opens around October 5: sow for a fall crop.
When is the first frost in Florida?
The statewide average first fall frost is around December 10 and the last spring frost around February 12. Florida covers a wide range of climates, so local dates can differ by two weeks or more - look yours up by ZIP code.
What can I harvest in Florida in March?
From plantings made on time: tatsoi, mizuna, mustard greens, mache (corn salad), lettuce, turnip, rapini (broccoli raab), chervil, pea, bok choy / pak choi.
What to plant in March in other states
Dates are computed from Florida’s statewide average frost dates (from NOAA/NCEI climate normals) and each crop’s timing in our crop database. Your garden may be a week or two either side - for dates tuned to your ZIP code, use the planting calendar.