London in March: what to plant
Over the last 5 years, March in London has run 4.7–12.1°C with about 53 mm of rain across the month. Here is what weather like that will carry to harvest.
Everything above is a five-year average. In the game it is this — the weather London is actually having, today.
Grow one in London's weather right now →❄️ In 4 of the last 5 years, London saw at least one night at or below 0°C in March (record low -3.6°C). Cold-sensitive crops need cover.
🗓️ This month sits inside the frost-free window. Average last spring frost around Mar 9, first autumn frost around Nov 21 — roughly 257 frost-free days. Sow tender crops after the last frost date and make sure they finish before the first.
☀️ About 7.0 h of sunshine a day this month. Within the month it warms by about 2.2°C from the first ten days to the last.
Sow this month — when would you harvest?
Assuming you sow in mid-March, then adding up the warmth London usually gets, one day at a time — which is why some of these run past the end of the month.
| Crop | Days | Harvest around |
|---|---|---|
| 🌿 Rocket | 56 | May 9 |
| 🌿 Spinach | 68 | May 21 |
| 🍒 Cherry Radish | 54 | May 7 |
| 🌱 Microgreens | 8 | Mar 22 |
| 🌿 Coriander | 71 | May 24 |
| 🧄 Garlic | 89 | Jun 11 |
| ⚪ Turnip | 73 | May 26 |
| 🫛 Peas | 87 | Jun 9 |
| 🟣 Beetroot | 87 | Jun 9 |
| 🫘 Broad bean | 98 | Jun 20 |
| 🍓 Strawberry | 91 | Jun 13 |
| 🍃 Mint | 29 | Apr 12 |
🌡️ Cucumber, Tomato, Chili Pepper, Yardlong bean, Bitter melon, Luffa, Winter melon, Aubergine, Okra never accumulate enough heat outdoors in London — not in any month. Locally these need a greenhouse or a warm windowsill.
Best crops to sow now
- 🌿 Rocket Ideal about 85 days to harvest Recent mean 8.4°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🌿 Spinach Ideal about 102 days to harvest Recent mean 8.4°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🍒 Cherry Radish Ideal about 89 days to harvest Recent mean 8.4°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🌱 Microgreens Ideal about 8 days to harvest 🪴 Windowsill pot — sheltered from outdoor weather
- 🌿 Coriander Ideal about 119 days to harvest Recent mean 8.4°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🧄 Garlic Ideal about 136 days to harvest Recent mean 8.4°C — right in the sweet spot
- ⚪ Turnip Good about 142 days to harvest Recent mean 8.4°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🫛 Peas Good about 160 days to harvest Recent mean 8.4°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🟣 Beetroot Good about 160 days to harvest Recent mean 8.4°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🫘 Broad bean Good about 176 days to harvest Recent mean 8.4°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🍓 Strawberry Marginal about 171 days to harvest Recent mean 8.4°C is too cold (ideal 10–27°C)
- 🍃 Mint Ideal about 30 days to harvest 🪴 Windowsill pot — sheltered from outdoor weather
Leave these for another month
- 🌶️ Okra — Recent mean 8.4°C is too cold (ideal 20–33°C)
- 🍆 Aubergine — Recent mean 8.4°C is too cold (ideal 18–32°C)
- 🍈 Winter melon — Recent mean 8.4°C is too cold (ideal 18–32°C)
Other months in London
📍 Somewhere else? Look up your own city →
Temperature and rainfall come from Open-Meteo's historical observations for London, averaged day by day over the last 5 years. Whether a crop finishes in time is worked out from its own starting temperature and heat requirement — those numbers are listed on each crop page if you want to check them.