Gardening expert Fiona Jenkins revealed the three vegetables that are best sown in March. For an environmentally friendly alternative to store-bought veggies, which are also bursting with exquisite flavour, growing vegetables at home is the best way forward.

In March, one of the best vegetables to start growing is carrots, which are said to be a "straightforward crop" to grow from a seed. Fiona said: "Carrots are sweet, tasty, and packed with vitamins, making them a popular choice for growing at home. They are a straightforward crop to grow from seed, take up little space, and can be grown in containers."

Carrots can be sown in March "if protected with cloches or biodegradable fleece"; this type of vegetable grows best in "full sun and light, well-drained soil".

Fiona elaborated: "They should be sown directly outdoors, as moving and replanting can disturb the roots and lead the carrots to become forked or distorted once grown.

"Before sowing, fork through the soil to remove any stones, weeds, and hard lumps, and then rake it to a fine texture."

Fiona added: "Make a shallow drill along the base and sow the carrot seeds as thinly as possible along its length."

The gardening expert added that "patience is key" as carrot seeds can be "slow to germinate".

How to care for carrots

• Water fortnightly during dry spells
• Regularly remove weds nearby
• Put a barrier around the crops

Another vegetable to sow in March is broad beans, which can eventually be used in salads, stews and soup.

Fiona said broad beans can be "grown in the ground, raised beds, or large pots" either indoors or outdoors.

She explained: "If the weather is particularly cold, it is best to sow the seeds indoors in containers first and plant the young plants around six weeks later."

Before sowing, it's best to "fork plenty of compost into the planting area and rake the surface to a fine texture". The seeds need to be sown 5cm deep and about 2cm between each drill, then covered with soil and watered well.

"If beginning the sowing process indoors, fill small pots with peat-free multipurpose compost," advised Fiona. "Place one seed in each pot and place it in a cool area such as a windowsill or unheated greenhouse until the roots have filled the pot, and they are ready to be planted outside."

Another vegetable worth growing now is peas, as long as they're put in a "warm, sunny, and sheltered site with well-drained soil".

Gardening expert Fiona Jenkins provided these comments on behalf of MyJobQuote.co.uk, which seeks to connect homeowners with local tradespeople.