Cold Winter Areas
Zones: 1–7a
These zones experience cold winters with extended periods of freezing temperatures. In March, monitor soil conditions, thaw cycles, and late frosts as you prepare for early outdoor sowing. Indoors, this is a busy month for starting cool-season crops and hardy flowers under lights or in a greenhouse so they are ready to transplant as soon as the weather warms.
Indoors (fresh harvests):
- Microgreens: peas, broccoli, sunflowers, arugula.
- Sprouts: alfalfa, broccoli, radish, mung
- Herbs & greens under lights: chives, parsley, mint
Crops to start indoors in good light: bunching onion, eggplant, tomato, pepper, zinnia, basil, Swiss chard, cosmos
Transplants to move outdoors (weather permitting - harden first): Onion, parsley, broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, arugula, pansy, viola
Crops that can be directly sown outdoors in March (assume intermittent frosts; a low tunnel or row cover makes most of these reliable): pak choi, cabbage, kale, mustard, fava bean, pea, turnip, parsnip, sweet pea
Cover crops: winter rye, fava bean, hairy vetch, red or white clover, and cover crop mixes.
Tip: This zone group covers a lot of territory. Nothing takes the place of talking with experienced gardeners in your area and, of course, watching the weather closely.
Use your USDA zone as a guide. Microclimates matter—coastal/urban spots run warmer; high elevation runs colder. 7b pockets can follow “Mild” recommendations with protection.
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Cucumber Seeds - Arkansas Little Leaf
55 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Arkansas Little Leaf Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, parthenocarpic, pickling cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots, raised beds,...
Basil Seeds - Sweet Dani
Non-GMO, Sweet Dani Basil Herb Seed from True Leaf Market. Ocimum basilicum. As basil has many different varieties, Sweet Dani Basil Herb is a popular sweet hybrid type that started...
Cucumber Seeds - West Indian Gherkin
55-65 Days to maturity. Cucumis anguria. West Indian Gherkin Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, monoecious, pickling cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots, raised beds,...
Tomatillo Seeds - Pineapple
Physalis ixocarpa (65-75 days) Approximately 150 seeds per package. This is a relative of the Mexican tomatillo that hails from Eastern Europe. It can be used as other tomatillos in...
Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Chadwick Cherry
70 to 90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Tomato - Chadwick Cherry Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, cherry tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised...
Melon Seeds - Collective Farm Woman
83 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Collective Farm Woman Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant specialty Melon. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Squash Seeds - Summer - Amberpic Hybrid
42 days to maturity. Cucurbita pepo. Amberpic Hybrid Summer Squash Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid. This is suitable for fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Early straightneck that sets...
Seed Starter Kit - Sweet Pepper
Sweet Pepper Seed Starter Kit. Heirloom. Open pollinated. Non-GMO. Sweet Pepper Starter Kit is handpicked of the sweetest and most readily used sweet peppers in the kitchen with a wide...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Early Doll Hybrid
59 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Early Doll Hybrid Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, F1 hybrid, determinate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Tomato Seeds - Salad - Tigerella
55-75 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Tigerella Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, salad tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Pumpkin Seeds - Thumpkin
120 days. A new pumpkin variety characterized by it's flattened or "Long Island Cheese" like shape, but with a dark orange color and an extra thick "handle" or stem. It...
Corn Seeds - Golden Bantam 8
75-85 Days to maturity. Zea mays. Golden Bantam 8 Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, Sweet Corn. Golden Bantam 8, a classic heirloom variety, is a testament to its rich...
Watermelon Seeds - Picnic - Mountain Sweet
85-100 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. Mountain Sweet Yellow Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, seeded, picnic watermelon. Suitable for growing in garden plots. 2004 Seed Saver Inventory...
Nicotiana Seeds - Starmaker Series (Pelleted)
63-70 days to maturity. Nicotiana alata. Nicotiana Starmaker Series Seeds. Non-GMO, Annual. Ornamental. Starmaker Series nicotiana seeds grow a classic, durable, and curious touch of the South American tropics in...
Gourd Seeds - Bitter Mara Hybrid
50-55 days maturity after transplanting. Momordica charantia ’Mara’. Mara Bitter Gourd Seeds. Non-GMO, warm-season, annual, hybrid. The Mara gourd is a classic bitter gourd that is much less bitter than...
Melon Seeds - Cantaloupe - Edisto 47
85 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Edisto 47 Cantaloupe Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat-tolerant, humidity-tolerant Cantaloupe Melon. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Gourd Seeds - Fong Show - Hybrid
55-65 days maturity after transplanting. Benincasa hispida var. chieh-qua ’Fong Show’. Fong Show Gourd Seeds. Non-GMO, warm-season, annual, hybrid. This jointed gourd, hairy melon, or mokwa variety is an early...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Giant Belgium Pink
82-90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Giant Belgium Pink Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds,...
Yu Choy Sum Seeds - Kosaitai - Hon Tsai Tai
Yu Choy Sum Seeds - Kosaitai - Hon Tsai Tai. Heirloom, Non-GMO. Brassica rapa var purpurea. 50 days. Cool season annual. This flowering purple stem choy sum, also known as...
Watermelon Seeds - Picnic - AU Producer
85 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. AU Producer Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, seeded, picnic watermelon. Suitable for growing in garden plots. Originally bred in Alabama, in...
Cucumber Seeds - Crystal Apple
65 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Crystal Apple Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, monoecious, slicing cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots, raised beds, and...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Old German (Organic)
75 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Organic Old German Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds,...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Fava (Organic)
70-85 Days to maturity. Vicia faba. Organic Fava Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, bush, shell, fava bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Verbena Flower Seeds - Tuscany Peach
8-10 inches high, spreads 16-20 inches. The replacement for Peaches and Cream boasts a naturally compact habit. Well branched and bush plants that fill in quickly. Same pale salmon-peach color...
Cucumber Seeds - Sumter
50-65 days. Non-GMO. Open-pollinated. Sumter Cucumber Seeds from True Leaf Market grow firm, 5" to 6" medium-green cucumbers with white spines. Sumter is a mildew- and scab-resistant cucumber variety that...
Bean Seeds - Pole - Purple Moon Hyacinth
90 Days to maturity. Lablab purpureus. Purple Moon Hyacinth Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, pole, snap, Asian, specialty bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden...
Pumpkin Seeds - Fall Rainbow Blend - Organic
Organic Fall Rainbow Blend Pumpkin Seeds. 60 to 105 days to maturity. Cucurbita maxima. Open Pollinated, Non-GMO, Annual. ~ 225 Seeds/ounce. Download Free Vegetable Growing Guide PDF Pumpkin Seeds -...
Squash Seeds - Winter - Sunshine Hybrid
Hybrid Sunshine Winter Squash is a kabocha squash that out-shines other varieties in side-by-side trials across North America. Sunshine is ready in 95 to 100 days. Hybrid Sunshine Squash has...
Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Isis Candy (Organic)
67 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Organic Isis Candy Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, organic, indeterminate cherry tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, greenhouses,...
Watermelon Seeds - Icebox - Hime Kansen Hybrid
95 Days to maturity. Citrullus vulgaris. Hime Kansen Hybrid Japanese Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, heat tolerant, seeded, icebox watermelon. Suitable for growing in garden plots. This Japanese watermelon is...
Hollyhock Seeds - Powderpuffs Double Mix
2nd-year maturity. Alcea rosea. Hollyhock Powderpuffs Double Mix Seeds. Non-GMO, Perennial/Biennial. Powderpuffs Double Mix hollyhock seeds are an ideal plant to rejuvenate a tired garden into a stunning and vibrant...
Hollyhock Seeds - Chaters Double Mixture
2nd-year maturity. Alcea rosea. Hollyhock Chater's Double Mixture Seeds. Non-GMO, Perennial/Biennial. Chater's Double Mixture hollyhock seeds promise to turn any stale bedding into a sensational and eye-catching garden this season....
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