New York in March: what to plant
Over the last 5 years, March in New York has run 1.7–11.6°C with about 142 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 New York is actually having, today.
Grow one in New York's weather right now →❄️ In 5 of the last 5 years, New York saw at least one night at or below 0°C in March (record low -9.9°C). Cold-sensitive crops need cover.
🗓️ This month still falls inside the frost season. Average last spring frost around Apr 5, first autumn frost around Nov 19 — roughly 228 frost-free days. Sow tender crops after the last frost date and make sure they finish before the first.
☀️ About 8.1 h of sunshine a day this month. Within the month it warms by about 2.1°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 New York usually gets, one day at a time — which is why some of these run past the end of the month.
| Crop | Days | Harvest around |
|---|---|---|
| 🌱 Microgreens | 8 | Mar 22 |
| 🌿 Rocket | 54 | May 7 |
| 🌿 Spinach | 64 | May 17 |
| 🧄 Garlic | 82 | Jun 4 |
| 🥬 Kale | 72 | May 25 |
| 🍃 Mint | 29 | Apr 12 |
| 🧅 Chives | 31 | Apr 14 |
| 🌿 Basil | 32 | Apr 15 |
| 🌿 Coriander | 66 | May 19 |
Best crops to sow now
- 🌱 Microgreens Ideal about 8 days to harvest 🪴 Windowsill pot — sheltered from outdoor weather
- 🌿 Rocket Ideal about 132 days to harvest Recent mean 6.7°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🌿 Spinach Good about 148 days to harvest Recent mean 6.7°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🧄 Garlic Good about 177 days to harvest Recent mean 6.7°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🥬 Kale Marginal about 213 days to harvest Recent mean 6.7°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🍃 Mint Ideal about 30 days to harvest 🪴 Windowsill pot — sheltered from outdoor weather
- 🧅 Chives Ideal about 31 days to harvest 🪴 Windowsill pot — sheltered from outdoor weather
- 🌿 Basil Ideal about 33 days to harvest 🪴 Windowsill pot — sheltered from outdoor weather
- 🌿 Coriander Marginal about 185 days to harvest Recent mean 6.7°C is too cold (ideal 8–24°C)
Leave these for another month
- 🌶️ Okra — Recent mean 6.7°C is too cold (ideal 20–33°C)
- 🍆 Aubergine — Recent mean 6.7°C is too cold (ideal 18–32°C)
- 🍈 Winter melon — Recent mean 6.7°C is too cold (ideal 18–32°C)
Other months in New York
📍 Somewhere else? Look up your own city →
Temperature and rainfall come from Open-Meteo's historical observations for New York, 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.