That's it, winter is ending, the days are getting longer and the sun is getting a little warmer every day.
The planting season can begin, and it is with great pleasure that this article launches the start of a series.
Each month, we'll take a look at the vegetables, herbs, and other plants we can grow in our gardens! Together, we'll discover that we can plant, cultivate, and harvest almost all year round.
We will also be looking for techniques and little secrets for working the soil to provide our future plants with the best conditions to grow and thrive. To do this, we will meet with the best gardeners in the Villé Valley and hope that you will also share your own little secrets with us so that together we can improve and grow delicious meals from our vegetable gardens.
This series of articles will be presented as a true experiment, a way of life, but also and above all, a sharing experience. (What you will see in these articles will be recreated in my own garden; photos will accompany the articles.) Feel free to send us your own experiences and feedback.
Photo by © Zoe Schaeffer
Article 1 > March 2023 > Launch of the vegetable garden adventure in the Villé Valley.
If we follow a certain logic, the first thing to think about, whether in gardening or on many other subjects, is the working medium! Here, our medium will be the soil of our vegetable garden.
First, you need to make sure that your soil is sufficiently dry, that is to say, that it is sufficiently dry! When this is the case, you can start turning it over to aerate it and prepare for the arrival of the seedlings.
A little tip A tip gleaned from an elderly gardener who wishes to remain anonymous: A month before planting your tomatoes, dig your holes and place handfuls of nettle or comfrey leaves in them. Leave the holes open so the leaves can decompose properly in the air.
In the nursery (or on the windowsills of the house)
If you want to grow your own seedlings, many types of sowing are possible in March. These seedlings can be grown either in a greenhouse or indoors.
So you can germinate at home:
Eggplant / Basil / Celeriac / Summer and Autumn Cabbage / Cucumber / Squash / Lettuce / Melon / Leek / Bell Pepper / Tomato
Photo by © Zoe Schaeffer
Sowing seeds in the vegetable garden
In this half of March, you can also start sowing seeds directly in the ground.
If you have already prepared your soil as explained above, you can now sow:
Spinach : You can sow it until May. Make rows 20-25 cm apart and sow approximately every two centimeters. You can cover your seedlings with a thin layer of dry grass to retain moisture and provide some warmth.
Photo by © Elly Brian
Parsnips With a long and somewhat complicated germination process, you may need several attempts before harvesting this somewhat forgotten vegetable. Note that parsnips tolerate cold very well but drought very poorly. Adding fresh organic matter is strongly discouraged during their cultivation!
You can sow in rows spaced 30 cm apart, with a spacing of 15 cm between seeds. Make sure to keep your seedlings consistently moist until they have 2 or 3 leaves!
Combining parsnips with carrots seems to be paying off.
Photo by © Bernd 📷 Dittrich
Peas This vegetable is fairly easy to grow but prefers deep, loose soil that isn't too wet. A little wood ash will help your plants thrive.
Sow your peas in rows spaced 35cm apart and at a depth of 2 to 3 cm. Place the seeds every 5 cm.
Peas grow well with: carrots, turnips, radishes, potatoes, and cucumbers.
Photo by © Rachael Gorjestani
Planting in the vegetable garden
This month you can also do some planting such as garlic or new potatoes.
Garlic It grows everywhere and generally very well!
The key is to avoid mulching your garlic plants, as they could simply rot due to the moisture. A little wood ash will help them along.
Plant your pods (those on the outside of the head) with the head facing upwards at a depth of 2 cm. Your rows are spaced 20/25 cm apart and you place one pod every 10 cm.
Garlic can be grown in the middle of rows of other vegetables, except peas and beans.
Photo by © Tijana Drndarski
New potatoes : To do this, you will have previously sprouted your potatoes in a bright place, but not in direct sunlight, and at a temperature of 10/15°.
(If you haven't done so, reread this article in 2024) 
)
After preparing your soil well, place your plants in holes 10 cm deep spaced 25 cm apart.
You will harvest your new potatoes approximately 75 days after planting them.
Photo by © Eric Prouzet
I hope you enjoyed this article and that it inspired you to grow some vegetables.
You don't need a huge plot of land, even a few wooden containers are enough to get started in a corner of the garden or even on a balcony!
Feel free to write to us or comment on this article to give us your advice or techniques.