Food Growing March 2026
Although spring can still feel a little way off, the clocks going forward in March means brighter, longer days are on the way. This makes it the perfect time to begin planning food growing activities in your setting. Growing fruits and vegetables is a brilliant way to weave in both the food and physical activity Startwell messages and it’s achievable whether you have a large outdoor space, a small space, or are a pack‑away setting.
Below are some easy, engaging ideas to help you explore food growing both outdoors and indoors.
Outdoor Activities
Outdoor planting gives children the chance to move more at a moderate intensity, supporting our Active Azra message. It also helps develop a wide range of core fundamental movement skills promoted through Sammy Skills. Children can get involved in lots of ways:
- Planting
Supports squatting, balance, and core strength. Children practise digging, scooping, eye tracking, and hand eye coordination.
- Watering
Encourage children to fill their own watering cans. Setting up the water source in a different area of the garden helps them move around, building skills in transferring, filling, and emptying.
- Picking
Picking fruit or vegetables develops fine‑motor skills and pincer grip. Afterwards, involve children in washing their produce and carrying it indoors, great for independence and responsibility.
Once your crops are harvested, use them in tasting activities and simple cooking sessions. For vegetables that may not grow quite as expected, use them in craft activities such as printing or comparing home‑grown vs. shop bought produce. Link these activities to Fay 5‑A‑Day and 2 Snacks Max to reinforce positive food messages.
What to sow in March
March is a good month to plant:
- Outdoors: early potatoes, carrots, onions, spinach, lettuce, beetroot, cabbage
- Indoors/windowsill: peppers, tomatoes, chillies, aubergines, courgettes, cucumbers
For a full list of vegetables to sow each month, visit the National Trust’s. Guide to seasonal food | National Trust.
Indoor Activities
If outdoor growing is limited, or the weather isn’t playing along, try these indoor ideas:
- Regrowing vegetables
Regrow celery bases, carrot tops, lettuce, spring onions, leeks, cabbage and herbs by placing them in shallow water.
- Sensory tuff trays
Use soil, gardening tools, herbs, seeds we eat, and seeds inside fruit/veg (e.g., apples, avocados, melons, mangos) to explore smell, texture and shape.
- Baby activities
Seed-filled shakers, trays with flowers and herbs, and a mud tray for early sensory digging support pre‑planting skills.
- Story time
Books such as Oliver’s Vegetables or From the Garden support learning around food, growing and nature.
- Songs and rhymes
Try A Little Seed, The Flower Song, Spring Song or The Enormous Turnip to bring planting themes to life.
- Hydration discussions
Talk about how plants and people need water to grow. Combine this with 180 Katie high‑intensity activities and the importance of drinking water when doing exercise. Show children the Startwell hydration characters, display them around your drinking station for daily reminders.
- Promote Healthy Start Vitamins
Highlight vitamin D (the “sunshine vitamin”) to parents and carers. Early Years settings can order and distribute their own stock of Healthy Start vitamins. Contact the Startwell team if you’d like to register.
Resources to Support You
Visit our Food Growing webpage to download the Food Growing Survival Toolkit and explore further helpful links. And remember, include the Startwell characters in your growing activities and tag us on social media so we can see what you’ve been up to!
