Early Spring Garden Tasks in Zone 7 | Essential March Planting Guide
The short answer: Early spring in Zone 7 brings essential tasks like planting onions, monitoring perennial herbs, and starting early vegetables – all while keeping good notes for future reference. Y’all, March in Zone 7 is when the garden really starts waking up. Between the random snow flurries and those deceptively warm days, there’s plenty happening in the kitchen garden. I’ve been busy planting Renee’s Red Torpedo onions, watching perennial herbs emerge, and testing out some new planting techniques that are totally making my chaos gardening life easier.
Alliums Taking Center Stage
I’m all about those Red Torpedo onions from Renee’s Garden right now. Just got them in the ground and they’re already showing their first sprouts. Look, grocery store produce is gross and inflation is high – growing your own onions is totally worth it. Space them about 4 inches apart in rich soil, and make sure to note your planting date. Even us chaos gardeners need to track what works.
Perennial Herbs Making Their Comeback
The lemon balm, tarragon, and garlic chives are pushing through like nobody’s business. These hardy herbs are showing fresh growth through last season’s mulch, which is exactly what you want to see in early spring. Just remember to clear away dead growth but don’t get too aggressive – those dried stems actually protected the roots through winter.
New Tricks for Spring Planting
So here’s something cool I learned: using cornstarch to mark planting rows for tiny seeds like carrots. It’s genius, y’all. Mix cornstarch with a little water, draw your lines, plant your seeds along them. The cornstarch dissolves with the first watering, but by then your seeds are exactly where they need to be.
I’m also experimenting with celery leaf this year – not the standard grocery store celery, but the more intensely flavored herb variety. It’s perfect for small space gardens and adds amazing flavor to soups and stocks. Plus, it’s basically impossible to kill, which fits my gardening style perfectly.
Taking Notes (Yes, Really)
Look, I know I’m always talking about being a chaos gardener, but even I’ve learned the hard way that some things need tracking. March plantings determine summer harvests, so note what you plant and when. Future you will totally appreciate knowing when those Red Torpedos went in.
Keep track of what’s emerging where, especially with perennial herbs. It’s way too easy to accidentally dig up something important when you’re doing spring cleanup if you don’t remember what’s supposed to be there.
Looking Ahead to Spring
Whatever your gardening style, March in Zone 7 is crucial for setting up summer success. Keep an eye on those emerging plants, protect them from late frosts, and seriously – write stuff down. Your summer harvest will thank you. And remember, gardens are like paintings – they don’t have to be perfect to be beautiful and productive.
Friday
I don’t just love kitchen gardens — I live in them. Most of my growing happens in raised beds on concrete here in Tennessee, but my roots stretch farther: Hawaii, Oregon, Georgia, and now the South. And no matter the zone, I always end up back in the garden — mine or someone else’s. I’ve started photographing other kitchen gardens too — I just love seeing how other people grow.
