Autumn in the garden - March
Autumn is here and the growing season is slowing. March is a major harvesting period so the garden will be full of delicious crops to enjoy.
Download our planting poster
Our handy calendar shows you when to plant in your region, including harvest dates.
It's a great time to plant:
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Alyssum
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Apricot
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Beetroot
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Blueberries
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Bok choi
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Broccoli
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Brussels sprout
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Cabbage
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Calendula
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Carrots
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Cauliflower
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Chrysanthemum
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Coriander
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Cyclamen
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Daffodil
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Daisy
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Delphinium
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Dianthus
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Feijoas
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Forget-me-not
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Hyacinth
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Impatiens
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Kale
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Lavender
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Leeks
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Lemons
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Lettuce
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Limes
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Mandarins
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Marigold
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Mesclun
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Oranges
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Pansy & viola
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Parsley
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Parsnip
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Poppy
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Radish
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Rhubarb
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Rocket
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Silverbeet
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Snapdragon
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Spinach
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Spring onions
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Strawberries
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Sweetpea
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Tulip
The West Coast Vegetable Gardener's Diary
Change regionPlant
Beetroot, bok choi, broccoli, Brussels sprout, carrot, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, leek, lettuce, mesclun, parsley, parsnip, radish, rhubarb, rocket silverbeet, spinach, spring onions.
HARVEST
Basil, beetroot, beans, broccoli, carrot, capsicum, celery, chilli, coriander, courgette, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, mesclun, parsley, potatoes, pumpkin and squash, radish, rocket, silverbeet, spinach, spring onion, tomatoes, sweetcorn
Maintenance
- Pumpkins - harvest and store any remaining pumpkins.
- Many summer crops will be harvested and pulled out of the ground now. While any garden areas are empty take time to replenish the soil with a new layer of compost or Tui Sheep Pellets.
The West Coast Fruit Gardener's Diary
Change regionPlant
Blueberry, strawberry, Chilean guava, feijoa, lemon, orange, mandarin, lime.
HARVEST
Apples, pears, grapes, Chilean guava, passionfruit, blueberries, strawberries, apricots, peaches, plums.
Maintenance
- Remove runners from strawberry plants and pot into Tui Strawberry Mix, ready for planting out in the winter.
- When planting fruit trees keep in mind that fruit requires a position in full sun. Shelter from prevailing winds is preferable.
- Keep the soil moist and water fruit trees through dry periods.
- Add Debco SaturAid to soils to help hold onto water.
- Aphids, whitefly, mites and scale insects may be about, blast off with a hose or select a suitable spray from your garden centre.
- Birds will spot ripening grapes too, use netting to protect your crop.
- Bunches of grapes will begin to ripen, prune back excessive leaves to allow more sunlight into the crop.
- Once nectarines, peaches and plums have finished fruiting, prune to shape and to remove any dead or diseased branches.
- Add a layer of Tui Mulch & Feed around the base of fruit trees, this will enable the soil to better retain moisture and keep the area weed free.
The West Coast Flower Gardener's Diary
Change regionPlant
Alyssum, gerbera, lobelia, polyanthus, flowering kale, primula, snapdragon, wildflowers, sweet William, calendula, chrysanthemum, daffodil, tulip, hyacinth
impatiens, marigold, pansy and viola, poppy, sweet pea, snapdragon, daisy, delphinium, dianthus, lavender, forget-me-not.
PICK
Marguerite daisy, leucadendron, scabious, Peruvian lily, Japanese anemones, roses, coreopsis, echinacea, strawflowers, dahlias, lilies, gladiolus, sweet peas, gypsophila, cosmos, zinnia, cleome, agapanthus, hydrangeas.
Maintenance
- Apply Tui Bulb Food to bulbs already in the ground.
- Apply a side dressing of Tui NovaTec Premium fertiliser to shrub borders and flower gardens.
- Aphids and whitefly are all still moving about now, particularly if the weather is still very warm. Be vigilant and spray with a suitable spray as soon as they appear. If infestations are small blast them off with the hose.
- Lay Quash every few weeks to keep slugs and snails at bay.
- Bulbs: as soon as the soil cools down, plant new bulbs or fertilise existing ones with Tui Bulb Food. Watch the Tui Bulb Growing Guide for more information.
- Roses: depending on how hot and dry the season has been is the last time to cut back roses to get another flush of flowers before winter.
- Prune back perennials that have finished for the season.
- Add thick layers of Tui Mulch & Feed or Tui Pea Straw Mulch to garden beds and pots to conserve water, reduce weeds and add valuable nutrients back to the soil.
- Mulching also keeps your garden looking tidy and cared for!
The West Coast Vegetable Gardener's Diary
Change regionPlant
Beetroot, bok choi, broccoli, Brussels sprout, carrot, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, leek, lettuce, mesclun, parsley, parsnip, radish, rhubarb, rocket silverbeet, spinach, spring onions.
HARVEST
Basil, beetroot, beans, broccoli, carrot, capsicum, celery, chilli, coriander, courgette, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, mesclun, parsley, potatoes, pumpkin and squash, radish, rocket, silverbeet, spinach, spring onion, tomatoes, sweetcorn
Maintenance
- Pumpkins - harvest and store any remaining pumpkins.
- Many summer crops will be harvested and pulled out of the ground now. While any garden areas are empty take time to replenish the soil with a new layer of compost or Tui Sheep Pellets.
The West Coast Fruit Gardener's Diary
Change regionPlant
Blueberry, strawberry, Chilean guava, feijoa, lemon, orange, mandarin, lime.
HARVEST
Apples, pears, grapes, Chilean guava, passionfruit, blueberries, strawberries, apricots, peaches, plums.
Maintenance
- Remove runners from strawberry plants and pot into Tui Strawberry Mix, ready for planting out in the winter.
- When planting fruit trees keep in mind that fruit requires a position in full sun. Shelter from prevailing winds is preferable.
- Keep the soil moist and water fruit trees through dry periods.
- Add Debco SaturAid to soils to help hold onto water.
- Aphids, whitefly, mites and scale insects may be about, blast off with a hose or select a suitable spray from your garden centre.
- Birds will spot ripening grapes too, use netting to protect your crop.
- Bunches of grapes will begin to ripen, prune back excessive leaves to allow more sunlight into the crop.
- Once nectarines, peaches and plums have finished fruiting, prune to shape and to remove any dead or diseased branches.
- Add a layer of Tui Mulch & Feed around the base of fruit trees, this will enable the soil to better retain moisture and keep the area weed free.
The West Coast Flower Gardener's Diary
Change regionPlant
Alyssum, gerbera, lobelia, polyanthus, flowering kale, primula, snapdragon, wildflowers, sweet William, calendula, chrysanthemum, daffodil, tulip, hyacinth
impatiens, marigold, pansy and viola, poppy, sweet pea, snapdragon, daisy, delphinium, dianthus, lavender, forget-me-not.
PICK
Marguerite daisy, leucadendron, scabious, Peruvian lily, Japanese anemones, roses, coreopsis, echinacea, strawflowers, dahlias, lilies, gladiolus, sweet peas, gypsophila, cosmos, zinnia, cleome, agapanthus, hydrangeas.
Maintenance
- Apply Tui Bulb Food to bulbs already in the ground.
- Apply a side dressing of Tui NovaTec Premium fertiliser to shrub borders and flower gardens.
- Aphids and whitefly are all still moving about now, particularly if the weather is still very warm. Be vigilant and spray with a suitable spray as soon as they appear. If infestations are small blast them off with the hose.
- Lay Quash every few weeks to keep slugs and snails at bay.
- Bulbs: as soon as the soil cools down, plant new bulbs or fertilise existing ones with Tui Bulb Food. Watch the Tui Bulb Growing Guide for more information.
- Roses: depending on how hot and dry the season has been is the last time to cut back roses to get another flush of flowers before winter.
- Prune back perennials that have finished for the season.
- Add thick layers of Tui Mulch & Feed or Tui Pea Straw Mulch to garden beds and pots to conserve water, reduce weeds and add valuable nutrients back to the soil.
- Mulching also keeps your garden looking tidy and cared for!