March - First-Time Gardener - Lessons Learned, A Mini Greenhouse & Finally Some Sprouts!
Updated: Jun 23
After all the excitement of sowing seeds in February, March turned out to be a month of patience, problem-solving, and learning from my mistakes.
To be honest, there wasn't a huge amount of growth happening at the start of the month, and I was beginning to wonder whether I'd done something wrong.
As it turns out... I had.
It Turns Out I'm Better at Growing Mushrooms!
One of the first things I noticed was that some of my seed trays were developing mould, and to my surprise, I even started growing the odd mushroom!
Not quite the crop I'd been aiming for.
After a bit of research and asking family, I soon realised I was overwatering my seedlings.
Because the seed trays are quite shallow, they don't need a huge amount of water.
I had also been watering from the top, trying to keep the compost moist, but in reality I was creating a very damp, humid environment.
The result?
Mould appearing on the soil surface
Tiny flies buzzing around the trays
Mushrooms deciding to make themselves at home
Very little seedling growth
Looking back, it was a valuable lesson but great that i was keeping a close eye on the seeds.
Learning a Better Way to Water
After discovering my mistake, I decided to change my approach.
I purchased some quilted garden matting that could hold moisture underneath the trays. Instead of watering directly onto the soil, I began adding water to the base trays and allowing the compost to absorb moisture from below.
This made a huge difference. The seedlings were able to draw up the water they needed, while the surface of the compost remained much drier.
Almost immediately, I noticed improvements:
The mould stopped appearing
The mushrooms disappeared
The number of little flies reduced dramatically
The trays became much easier to manage
It was one of those moments where you realise that gardening is often about finding the balance between too much and too little.
Ventilation Matters More Than I Thought
Another lesson this month was the importance of ventilation.
With all my seedlings living in the conservatory and on various windowsills around the house, the environment had become quite warm and humid.
By opening windows and improving airflow, I was able to reduce some of the moisture build-up and create healthier growing conditions.
It's funny how many little things you don't even think about until you start gardening.
Every month seems to bring a new lesson!
My First Greenhouse
One exciting addition this month was the purchase of my very first greenhouse.
Well... greenhouse might be a slightly grand term.
It's actually one of the small five-tier versions with a plastic cover, but for a beginner gardener like me, it feels like a big step forward.
As this is my first year growing fruit and vegetables, I didn't want to invest heavily in a large permanent greenhouse just yet. I thought it made sense to start small, learn what works, and see how successful I am before making bigger investments.
Hopefully it will provide a useful space for hardening off plants and giving seedlings a little extra protection as the weather begins to improve.
Finally... Some Green Shoots!
Just when I was beginning to lose patience, something exciting happened.
Over the last few days, there has suddenly been movement.
Tiny green shoots have started appearing!
After weeks of staring at trays of compost and wondering whether anything was ever going to happen, seeing those first seedlings emerge felt incredibly rewarding.
It's amazing how excited you can get over something only a few centimetres tall.
I've also continued sowing additional seeds this month, so there are now even more trays waiting for their turn to emerge.
This month's additions include:
Cabbage
Beetroot
Lettuce
Rocket
Pumpkin
Runners
Alongside the strawberries, peppers, cucumbers, celery, carrots, and spinach I started earlier in the year, my growing collection is expanding quickly.
The conservatory is beginning to look increasingly like a miniature garden centre, with seedlings and seed trays occupying every available sunny spot. While it's wonderful to see everything coming together, I'm starting to realise just how much space these little plants are going to need once they're ready to move outdoors!
The conservatory is beginning to look increasingly like a miniature garden centre.
What I've Learned This Month
If March has taught me anything, it's that gardening is very much a learning process.
So far, I've learned:
Don't overwater seedlings
Bottom watering works much better for my setup
Good ventilation is essential
Patience is a gardener's greatest skill
Mushrooms are not always a sign of success!
Most importantly, I've learned that mistakes aren't failures—they're simply part of learning how to garden.
Final Thoughts This Month
March may not have been the month of huge growth, but it has been one of the most valuable months so far.
I've learned more about watering, ventilation, and seed care than I expected, and I've started to understand that gardening isn't about getting everything right first time.
It's about learning, adapting, improving as you go and a whole lot of patience.
And now that those first little green shoots have finally appeared, I'm feeling excited about what the next few months might bring.
Hopefully April will bring warmer weather, stronger seedlings, and plenty more progress to share.
Until next month, I'll be trying not to overwater anything and celebrating every tiny green shoot that appears!
Happy growing!
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