Seed Starting in March: What’s Safe to Start Now (and What Can Wait)

March is where seed starting gets tempting. The light is improving, the seed packets are calling, and suddenly it feels like everything should be started right now. But this is also where a little restraint goes a long way.

At Lakeview, we think of March seed starting as expansion, not acceleration. You’re building on what you started in February—adding carefully, intentionally, and with an eye toward timing. The goal isn’t the biggest seedlings in the room. The goal is healthy plants that are ready when the garden is.

Here’s what’s safe, and smart, to start in March.

Vegetables That Do Well With a March Start

These crops benefit from a head start but won’t outgrow your space or become stressed before it’s time to plant outdoors.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are often the stars of seed starting season, and March is their sweet spot. Started now, they have enough time to develop strong roots without becoming leggy or oversized. Keep the light close, rotate trays regularly, and don’t rush the pot-ups.

Peppers

Peppers like warmth and consistency, and they take their time. A March start gives them a comfortable runway without forcing them to live indoors too long. Bottom heat helps, but patience matters more.

Eggplant

Eggplant behaves a lot like peppers, slow, steady, and happier when not rushed. Starting them in March sets them up for success without testing your indoor growing setup.

Broccoli, Cabbage & Cauliflower

If these weren’t started earlier, March is still workable. Just keep in mind they move quickly once they get going, so watch timing and plan to harden off as soon as conditions allow.

Herbs Worth Starting Now

March is an excellent month to start perennial and slow-to-germinate herbs. They may not look impressive at first, but they reward patience.

• Parsley – Slow to germinate, but worth the wait
• Sage – Steady grower with strong structure
• Thyme – Small seed, slow start, big payoff
• Rosemary – Takes time, but March is ideal
• Chives – Easygoing and forgiving

 

 

Flowers That Handle a March Start Well

These flowers appreciate a cooler start and don’t mind taking their time.

• Snapdragons – Cool-tolerant and tough
• Petunias – Slow at first, then steady
• Pansies & Violas – Built for early season success
• Verbena – Patient growers that benefit from an early start

What Not to Start Yet (Future You Will Thank You)

Fast-growing, heat-loving plants are better left for later. Starting them too early often leads to plants that are stressed, root-bound, or out of sync with outdoor conditions.

Hold off on:

• Cucumbers

• Squash

• Melons

• Zinnias

They grow fast. Really fast. Give them their moment closer to planting time.

🌱 Lakeview Plant Geek Tip

Seed starting success isn’t about how early you start—it’s about how well your timing matches the season.

If seedlings are getting tall, floppy, or frustrated, that’s usually a sign they’re ready for conditions you can’t give them yet. More light beats more fertilizer every time, and slower growth indoors often means stronger plants outdoors.

When in doubt, wait a week. Seeds are patient. Gardens reward that.

March Is About Balance

March seed starting should feel calm, not frantic. Add a few trays. Check your lights. Take notes. This is the month where good habits matter more than volume.

The best gardens aren’t started in a rush—they’re started with intention.

And if you’re ever unsure what to start, when to wait, or why something looks the way it does, just ask. Talking seeds is kind of our thing.