I am officially behind this year. It seems like no matter how much I plan, things sometimes just take longer… and that is okay. However, that means I am a full month behind in starting my seeds… ugh. There are some plants that have a longer growing period, so I know that this year my garden will either be behind or I will have to buy some plants. Either way, my garden will be fine and it’s another way for me to practice patience and flexibility.
That leads me today’s journal entry and that is, what seeds do I start and when? Here in zone 5, my frost-free date is mid-May, so anything that needs 8 weeks gets started in March; anything that needs 4 weeks gets started in April; and there are some seeds that like to be directly planted in any of those months and in May. (If you need help finding your zone and frost-free dates, check out my journal entry on Seed Starting 101.) Even though I have not started my March seeds, I will still share those with you as a March start, but know that I am forced to experiment with starting them this April.
(If “NEW” is next to the name, it is a new variety that I am trying this year)
March
Vegetables
– Pepper: Wisconsin Lakes
– Pepper: Ausilio Thin Skin Italian
– Pepper: Big Thai Hybrid (NEW)
– Pepper: Poblano
– Pepper: Early Jalapeno (NEW)
– Pepper: Chocolate Habanero (NEW)
– Pepper: Big Jim Hatch (NEW)
– Tomato: Early Girl Hybrid
– Tomato: Dr. Wyche’s Yellow
– Tomato: Martino’s Roma
– Tomato: Black Krim
– Tomato: A Grappoli D’Inverno (NEW)
– Butternut Golden Summer Squash
– Zucchini
– Shallot
– Onion: Yellow Sweet
– Onion: Walla Walla
– Onion: Flat of Italy
– Onion: Ailsa Craig
– Leek: Autumn Giant
– Rosita Eggplant
– Dill (Saved seeds)
– Celery (NEW)
– Cabbage: Golden Acre (NEW)
– Radicchio
– Broccoli: Waltham 29
– Basil: Genovese
– Parsley: Giant of Italy
Flowers
– Delphinium: Fantasia Mix
– Verbena: Tall Violet (NEW)
– Verbascum: Southern Charm Hybrid
– Blue Salvia (NEW)
– Trailing Soapwort (NEW)
– Marigolds: Colossus Red (Saved seeds)
– Verbena (NEW)
– Zinger Hibiscus (NEW)
– Wild Bee Bergamot (NEW)
– Lemon Bee Balm
– Showy Milkweed (NEW)
Direct Sow
– Calendula: Zeolights (NEW)
– Lettuce: Crisp Mint
– Lettuce: Devil’s Ear (NEW)
– Lettuce: May Queen (NEW)
– Kale: Dazzling Blue
– Bok Choy: Shanghai Green
– Cilantro Slo-Bolt
– Peas: Green Beauty
– Peas: Kelvedon Wonder
– Spinach: Monnopa (NEW)
– Radish: Pink Dawn
– Radish: Early Scarlet Globe
April
Vegetables
– Cucumber: Shimshon (NEW)
– Cucumber: Boston Pickling
– Fennel: Florence (NEW)
– Squash: Butternut Rogosa Violina (NEW)
– Squash: Connecticut Field Pumpkin
– Squash: Sweetnut Acorn (NEW)
– Melon: Sweet Passion Canteloupe
– Watermelon: Early Girl (NEW)
Flowers
– Stocks: Spray Antique Pink (NEW)
– Nasturtium: Tip Top Alaska Salmon (NEW)
– Calendula: Oktoberfest
– Yarrow: Summer Pastels (NEW)
– Sunflower: Teddy Bear
– Lavender
– Coreopsis: Incredible Swirl (NEW)
– Agastache: Apache Sunset (NEW)
– African Daisy: Blue Disc (NEW)
– Alyssum: Royal Carpet
– Calendula: Solar Flashback Mix (NEW)
May (Direct Sow)
Vegetables
– Beans: Golden Butterwax (NEW)
– Beans: Bush Bean Provider
– Edamame (NEW)
Flowers
– Cosmos: Apricot Lemonade (NEW)
– Dianthus: Flora Pearl Appleblossom (NEW)
– Butterfly Pea: Blue Tea (NEW)
– Zinnia: Mix
That is my seed list for 2026! I know it seems like a lot, but I enjoy the work and a lot of times/most of the time, the extended family joins in the fun and makes the work light. Being able to share this with the family and you, brings much joy. I hope that you will find joy in your garden season too.
Happy Gardening!
If you are wondering where to get seeds, here is where I look.
(This list is not sponsored or affiliated in any way… yet!)
Online:
– Baker Creek
– Seed Savers Exchange
– Burpee
– Johnny’s Seeds
In-Store
– Menards (Burpee brand)
– Lowes (Livingston brand)
– Local garden centers (Botanical Interests brand)
