This and That in the Month of March
What’s in a Name?
The name of March comes from Latin Martius, the first month of the earliest Roman calendar. It was named for Mars, the Roman god of war who was also regarded as a guardian of agriculture and an ancestor of the Roman people through his sons Romulus and Remus. His month Martius was the beginning of the season for both farming and warfare, and the festivals held in his honor during the month were mirrored by others in October, when the season for these activities came to a close.
Martius remained the first month of the Roman calendar year perhaps as late as 153 BC, and several religious observances in the first half of the month were originally new year’s celebrations. Even in late antiquity, Roman mosaics picturing the months sometimes still placed March first.
Ushering in Change
In come the March winds,
They blow and blow,
They sweep up the brown leaves
That green ones may grow.
–George Washington Wright Houghton, American poet (1850–91)
Bleak winds assault us all around;
Dances aloft, or skims the ground:
See the school-boy—his hat in hand,
While on the path he scarce can stand.
–Unknown
Folklore for the Season
A wet spring, a dry harvest.
Thunder in spring, Cold will bring.
So many mists in March you see, So many frosts in May will be.
“A dry March and a wet May – fill barns and bays with corn and hay.”
In beginning or in end, March its gifts will send.
“When March comes in like a lion it goes out like a lamb.”
“As it rains in March so it rains in June.”
“March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers.”
Half Day – Half Night
On the 20th of this month, you will be able to witness 12 hours of day and 12 hours of night – this is because on the 20th of March, sun shines direct on the equator.
Here are some vegetable garden tasks for the month of March:
• Dig in green manures grown over the winter. Do this while stems are still soft.
• Dig compost, well-rotted manure or green waste into your vegetable beds to prepare for the growing season ahead. Dig in a 5cm (or more) layer when the soil becomes workable.
• Weed vegetable seed beds.
• Weed and mulch asparagus beds. Asparagus has shallow roots so weed by hand to prevent damage.
Foods Coming into Season
(depending upon where you live)
▪ Artichokes
▪ Cabbage
▪ Beets
▪ Brussels Sprouts
▪ Carrots
▪ Garlic
▪ Grapefruit
▪ Greens
▪ Maple Syrup
▪ Onions, Shallots
▪ Potatoes
▪ Squash
▪ Turnips
