Here in Zone 8, spring planting begins the last week of March. That’s only a week away!! My seedlings in the grow room got a late start (see Germination Failure), so they won’t be ready to plant outside next week. But that’s okay as I have so many other things to plant. And with working full time, there’s no way I could plant over 750 square feet of garden in one weekend! This year is definitely going to be a staggered planting. As I did for the winter planting, I’ll share with you what I’m planting with links to where you can get the seed.
This year, I got seeds from Jung Seed Company, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, Seed Savers Exchange, My Patriot Supply, Native Seeds/SEARCH, and Pinetree Garden Seeds & Accessories.
Here are the varieties I’ll be planting:
TOMATOES:
- Mortgage Lifter (bought plants locally)
- Black Krim (looking for plants locally)
- Rutgers Heirloom (bought plants locally – first year growing)
- Pear (I received free seed from a friend – first year growing)
- Wisconsin 55 – slicing tomato, first year growing
- Amish Paste
- Riesentraube – cherry tomato
SWEET PEPPERS:
- Emerald Giant Bell – my main bell pepper
- Sweet Yellow Stuffing – first year growing
- Red Mini Bell – first year growing
- Red Bell (bought plants locally)
CHILI PEPPERS:
- Mystery hot – I got seed from a friend that wasn’t what he said it was; but they were wonderfully hot and flavorful. I saved seed last year & I’m growing them again.
- Rocoto – I originally got these from Seed Savers, but they are no longer available. Glad I saved my seed last year!
- Lemon Drop
- Italian Pepperoncini
- Cubanelle
- Long Red Cayenne – first year growing
- Filius Blue – first year growing
- Fish
- Jalapeno
EGGPLANT:
- Black Beauty – bought plants locally
- Listada de Gandia
CORN:
BEANS:
- Black Valentine – snap or dry bean
- Beurre De Rocquencourt – wax snap
- Dragon Tongue – snap or shelled bean – first year growing
- Henderson’s Lima – shelled bean
- Dixie Speckled Butterpea – baby lima, shelled bean – first year growing
CUCUMBERS:
- Boston Pickling – first year growing
- Beit Alpha – Israeli cucumber, first year growing
SUMMER SQUASH:
- Tondo Scuro di Piacenza – round zucchini, first year growing
- Tromboncino – first year growing
WINTER SQUASH:
- White Acorn
- Black Futsu
- Burpee’s Butterbush – first year growing
- Seminole Pumpkin – first year growing
MELONS:
- Malali watermelon – red
- Cream of Saskatchewan watermelon – white
- Golden Midget watermelon – red with yellow rind, first year growing
- Early Moonbeam watermelon – yellow, first year growing
- Strawberry watermelon – red, first year growing
- Cantaloupe – I saved seed from my fruit last year
- Tam Dew Honeydew – first year growing
- Ice Cream (Green Machine) muskmelon – first year growing
- Noir de Carmes melon – first year growing
- Tigger melon
- Rich Sweetness melon – first year growing
LETTUCE & SPRING GREENS:
I’m planting these around my pepper plants. I had great success last year doing this because the pepper plants offered the lettuce shade from the hot summer sun.
- Black Seeded Simpson
- Red Romaine
- Red Sails
- Tom Thumb
- Southern Giant Curled Mustard Greens – first year growing
- Batavian Full Heart Escarole – purchased seed locally by Burpee
SUMMER GREENS:
- Ruby Red Swiss Chard – first year growing
- Fordhook Swiss Chard
- Magenta Magic Orach – first year growing
- Perpetual Spinach – first year growing
- Green Purslane – first year growing
- Golden Purslane – first year growing
RADISHES:
I’m planting them around my squash and cucumbers to help keep the squash bugs away – and give me radishes for my spring salads.
- Watermelon – my favorite radishes!
- Purple Plum
- Beer – first year growing
MISCELLANEOUS:
- Schronce’s Deep Black Peanuts – first year growing, going to try them in 5-gallon buckets this year
- Buckwheat – first year growing (going to grow along my property line
HERBS:
- Chia – first year growing
- Chives – first year growing
- German Chamomile – first year growing
- Sage
- Tansy – first year growing
- Genovese Basil – buying plant locally
- Emily Basil – first year growing
- Dark Opal Basil – bought seed locally, first year growing
- Wild (Creeping) Thyme – first year growing
- Summer Thyme – first year growing
- Summer Savory
- Fernleaf Dill
- Mammoth Dill – bought seed locally
- Moss Curled Parsley
- Dark Green Italian Parsley
- Cilantro
- Greek Oregano
- Catnip – first year growing
- Hyssop – first year growing
- Anise Hyssop – first year growing
- Lemon Balm – purchased plants locally, first year growing
- Borage – first time growing
- Wild Bergamot – first time growing
- White Yarrow – first time growing
- Mad-Dog Skullcap – first time growing
- Resina Calendula – first time growing
FLOWERS:
- “My Love” Gladiolus – bought bulbs locally
- Moonflower – saved seed from last year’s moonflowers
- Petite Mix Marigold – first time growing this variety
- Harlequin Marigold – first time growing this variety
- Empress of India Nasturtium – first time growing
- Dwarf Jewel Mix Nasturtium – first time growing
- Amish Cockscomb
- Fireworks Blend Bachelor Buttons – first time growing this variety
- Sonata White Cosmos – first time growing
- Tudor Zinnia – first time growing
I have my work cut out for me, don’t I? But I can’t wait!
What are you planting this spring?
