What to Plant this month: March
- judithstred
- Mar 3, 2015
- 2 min read
*For gardening in sub-tropical regions; for gardening schedule for other regions, check out www.gardenate.com
DILL & ROCKET
Rocket
is an annual plant, which means it has to be replanted each year, however its planting season runs from March to October so you can plant every 2 to 3 weeks throughout the year for a continuous supply of this slightly spicy, nutty green leafy lettuce.
Planting
Easy to grow. Sew seeds in garden at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. If planting seedlings/plants, space 6 - 8 inches apart.
Compatible with (can grow in same bed): Lettuce.
Care
Prefers partial sun. Keep well watered in well drained ground. Will go to flower rapidly in hot dry weather.
Harvest
After 21-35 days, the longer you wait to harvest the more spicy it will become!
Storage
Like any other lettuce, it is best used fresh. Store in a sealed bag in the crisper section of the fridge to keep crisp.
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Dill
is an annual, which means it needs to be replanted each year. It is used most commonly in soups, stews, salad dressing, and for pickling.
Planting
Sow seeds directly in garden at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. If planting multiple plants, space them 6 inches apart.
Compatible with (can grow in same bed): Cabbage, Coriander, Fennel, tomatoes, broccoli. Avoid growing near carrots.
Care
It grows best in the sun, but will tolerate afternoon shade. Water regularly (3 x week) to keep soil moist.
Harvest
Begin to harvest about eight weeks after sowing. As soon as the plant has four to five leaves, you can start harvesting. Pinch off the leaves or cut them off with scissors. If you have a lot of plants, you can pinch off entire stalks.
Once the plant will begins to produce flower heads, the leaf production will stop, so for an extended harvest, do not allow flowers to grow on the plants. Repeat sowing for a regular supply of leaves.
If you want to use dill seeds, let the seedheads develop and dry completely, then cut them and hang them upside down by the stems in a paper bag. The seeds will dry and fall into the bag. They can then be stored in a glass jar.
Storage
Dill is best used fresh, but can also be frozen. It can also be preserved by drying and storing in a sealed container or old spice jar!
Happy gardening!