Lowcountry Almanac: March
Photographer Robert Ellis captured the familiar sight of four bicyclists gliding along Burkes Beach on a crisp March morning. With its perfectly balanced mild temperatures — neither too hot nor too cold — March is an ideal time to embrace the Lowcountry’s natural splendor. March 9 brings Daylight Saving Time — more daylight to explore!
Spring awakens in the Lowcountry with warmer days, mild breezes and endless opportunities for outdoor exploration.
March in the Lowcountry welcomes spring with mild, sunny days and plenty of outdoor adventure. Highs hover in the upper 60s to low 70s, humidity plays nice, and a coastal breeze adds to the charm, making it perfect for kayaking, golfing, biking, camping or strolling nature trails. Fun fact: March, named for Mars, the Roman god of war, was the first month of the Roman calendar — perfect timing for a resolution reboot. Armed with insights from the 2025 Old Farmer’s Almanac and Grow Great Vegetables South Carolina, this page is your ticket to embracing the magic of March’s outdoor magic.
Weather predictions
March ushers in a refreshing blend of spring showers and rising temperatures. This year, expect a bit more rain than usual, paired with slightly warmer days.
- Average temperature: 57 degrees (1 degree above average)
- Precipitation: 7 1/2 inches (3 inches above average)
- Water temperature: 58-62 degrees
Forecast by week
- March 1-6: Rain, heavy at times; warm then chilly
- March 7-9: Sunny, cool
- March 10-23: Rainy periods, mild
- March 24-31: Isolated showers, warm
Night & day
The average sunrise and sunset times in March gradually shift as the days grow longer, bringing more opportunities to enjoy the outdoors.
Sunrise: Around 6:30-7:30 a.m.; it shifts earlier after Daylight Saving Time begins on March 9.
Sunset: Around 6:20-7:40 p.m., with sunsets getting later after Daylight Saving Time.
Tides & Currents
Stay in sync with the rhythms of the Lowcountry coast. Click here for the latest tide and current predictions from NOAA.
Astronomical Events
March brings celestial wonders to illuminate the transition from winter to spring:
- March 8: Mercury at greatest eastern elongation
- March 14: This month’s full moon, also known as a crow moon, will light up the sky.
- March 20: March equinox
- March 29: A new moon phase begins, and the moon will be invisible.
- March 29: Partial solar eclipse
Gardening
Prep Side dress garlic and onions to prepare for rapid growth, order more potato seeds for late planting, prepare garden beds by adding compost and mulching to prevent weeds, cover prepared beds to pre-warm the soil for early tomatoes, peppers and eggplant plantings, and weed and fertilize perennials.
Plant The lengthening days, spring rains and warming temperatures mean it’s time to finish spring cleaning and get planting for the season ahead.
Indoors: Set sweet potatoes in flats under cover for making slips.
Outdoors: Direct sow radishes, carrots, beets, turnips, favas, last spinach and first beans. Finish transplanting collards, cabbage, broccoli, late Asian greens and remaining brassicas. Later in the month, transplant tomatoes, peppers and eggplants outside.
Harvest: Fresh harvest includes arugula, beets, carrots, collards, kale, leaf celery, lettuce, mustard greens and radishes. You may have also overwintered cilantro, leeks, onions, parsley, parsnips, radishes, rosemary, salsify and thyme.
Best days
Looking for the perfect timing? The moon’s phases suggest March’s best days for these activities:
- Fishing: March 1-14, 29-31
- Buying a house: March 3-4, 31
- Moving: March 5-6
- Traveling for pleasure: March 10-11
- Getting married: March 15-16
- Entertain guests: March 10-11
- Starting a project: March 30
- Go camping: March 20-21
- Lay shingles: March 10-11
- Paint: March 3-4
- Wash windows: March 1-2, 29-30
