Making the Most of Spring on the Farm
Spring is the busiest and most important season for any farmer or smallholder. The months of March, April, and May mark the transition from dormancy to growth — soils warm up, daylight lengthens, and the pressure to get seeds in the ground builds week by week. Having a clear plan for each month helps you stay ahead of the workload and set your farm up for a productive year.
March: Preparation and Early Sowing
March can be unpredictable — mild spells tempt you outside, followed by sharp frosts that remind you winter isn't truly over. Focus on preparation this month rather than rushing to plant out tender crops.
Soil and Land
- Begin soil preparation — dig over beds that weren't mulched over winter, removing weeds as you go
- Apply compost or well-rotted manure to beds that need enriching
- Test soil pH and adjust with lime if growing brassicas
- Repair fencing and field boundaries before livestock go back out to pasture
Sowing and Planting
- Start onions, leeks, and celery from seed indoors
- Sow broad beans and peas directly outside under cloches
- Chit seed potatoes on a light windowsill ready for April planting
- Sow tomatoes, peppers, and aubergines indoors with heat (propagator at 18–21°C)
Fruit Trees and Bushes
- Complete any remaining winter pruning of fruit trees before bud burst
- Apply a balanced fertiliser around the base of fruit trees and bushes
- Plant bare-root fruit trees and bushes — this is the last chance before they come into leaf
April: Sowing Intensifies
April is peak sowing season. Soil temperatures are rising, and most of the year's crops should be getting underway — either in modules indoors or directly outside.
Key Sowing and Planting Tasks
- Plant first early potatoes once frost risk eases (typically mid-April in most temperate regions)
- Direct sow carrots, parsnips, beetroot, lettuce, spinach, and radishes
- Sow courgettes, squash, and cucumbers indoors in modules
- Plant out hardened-off onion and leek seedlings
- Sow successive sowings of peas and salad leaves every 2–3 weeks for a continuous harvest
Orchard and Soft Fruit
- Monitor fruit trees for signs of pests — apply grease bands to tree trunks if not already in place
- Net brassicas and soft fruit against pigeons and birds
- Begin feeding strawberries with a high-potassium fertiliser as flowers develop
May: Growth Accelerates
By May, the farm is in full swing. Growth is rapid, weed pressure increases, and frosts should (mostly) be behind you. Stay vigilant about late frosts — a sharp frost in mid-May can still damage tender plants.
Planting Out
- After the last frost date, begin planting out tender crops: tomatoes, courgettes, squash, sweetcorn, and French beans
- Plant main crop and second early potatoes
- Harden off plants that have been raised indoors before planting out (leave outside for increasing periods over 10–14 days)
Ongoing Maintenance
- Weed regularly — competition from weeds early in the season can significantly reduce yields
- Water newly transplanted crops during dry spells
- Thin out direct-sown seedlings (carrots, beetroot) to proper spacings
- Earth up potatoes as shoots emerge
- Begin slug and snail control as temperatures rise — biological nematodes are effective at this time of year
Spring Livestock Tasks
- Turnout sheep, cattle, and goats to spring pasture as grass growth allows
- Monitor pasture to avoid overgrazing while grass is still establishing
- Spring worm/fluke treatments for sheep and cattle as advised by your vet
- Chicks from spring hatches need warmth and careful attention in their first weeks
A Checklist for Spring Success
- Soil prepared and enriched before key sowing dates
- Seed potatoes chitted and planted at the right time
- Successional sowings planned and scheduled to avoid gluts
- Fruit trees fed, pruned, and protected from pests
- Fences, water supplies, and shelters checked before livestock go out
- Propagation space (windowsills, cold frame, greenhouse) organised and in use