March is a month of fresh beginnings, we witness the first signs of life.  This month delivers longer and warmer days giving the opportunity to get ahead with sowing, planting, pruning, and soil preparation. It’s the perfect month to prepare and energize you and your plot. If you spot weeds sprouting in your vegetable patch or beds, it a good sign that some of your hardy seedlings could withstand these conditions. What a greeting when you arrive at Woodside Avenue Allotments.  A previously overgrown area has been transformed into an abundance of glorious colour – what a welcome to their site – thank you to Kathie and friend.So, if you’re lucky enough to have a greenhouse, cold frames, or cloches start to sow early cauliflower, broccoli, celery, early cabbage, and lettuce, but protect seedlings from frost. .If you are using seed compost, which is now peat free, try adding Vermiculite and Perlite which are soil amendments that improve soil structure, aeration and water management, both sold in all our trading sheds. We also stock plant labels 100 for £1 and coco pots 10 for 75p (at Woodside) If you’ve not already sown broad beans it’s not too late, Sow directly into soil, we stock Aquadulce and Masterpiece. Plant onions and leeks, sets are faster. You can also sow Spinach, rocket and salad leaves in sheltered spots or under cloches for an early spring harvest; protect seedlings from pigeons. Start early carrots under cloches. Plant early potatoes, we still have a few varieties which are surplus at Underwood Road and Lakeside trading sheds at just £1.30 per kg. Sow hardy peas outdoors; we stock 3 varieties of peas, Kelvedon Wonder, Meteor and Onward. Soft fruit:  Start to prepare and plant your strawberry beds. Prune blackcurrants, redcurrants, and gooseberries before buds swell, removing old, weak, or crossing stems to encourage vigorous growth. Allotments aren’t all about vegetables, some plot holders favour flowers and in turn  supporting bees and pollinators plus adding colour.  Do consider planting early nectar-rich flowers like hellebores, winter aconites, or primroses to support pollinators. Prune Roses before spring growth.   Prepare beds for summer planting with compost or well-rotted manure, helps retain moisture and weed control.. Turn compost bins to aerate and speed decomposition if they aren’t ready to be emptied. We stock Spring/Summer/Moss Control at just £2.09 per litre, available at Woodside and Lakeside only.  BUT please remember if there is anything which isn’t available at the trading shed you usually use, just let us know and we will arrange to get it transferred.  If anyone has any queries please do make contact on the email below. Attached is our price list, which is subject to change as and when we receive new stock.  Please support our Trading Sheds. Trading sheds: Woodside SO50 9QX Sundays 10-12pm Lakeside SO50 5RQ Sundays 9-12 pm Underwood Rd SO50 6FX Saturday and Sunday 11-12.30pm Kind regards   Gilly – EDACA General Secretary EDACAgen.secretary@hotmail.com   Copyright © 2025 Eastleigh & District Allotments Cooperative Association Ltd, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 16 Orchard Road, Fair Oak, Eastleigh SO50 7AR