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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![Legend: H for Heirloom, O for Organic, A for AAS Winner, F for staff favorites]()
Sunflower Seeds - Lemon Queen
80-100 Days to maturity. Helianthus annus. Lemon Queen Sunflower Seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, heirloom, annual, multi-branching sunflower. This bright sunflower features light, lemony petals and a light brown center that demands...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Caribe
85 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Caribe Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, determinate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant to...
Cucumber Seeds - Saladmore Bush Hybrid F1
55 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Saladmore Bush Hybrid Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, F1 hybrid, 2014 AAS winner. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden plots, raised beds,...
Alyssum Seeds - Easter Bonnet Series (Raw or MSP)
63-77 Days to maturity. Lobularia maritima. Easter Bonnet Series Alyssum Multi-seed Pelleted Seeds. Non-GMO, Open-Pollinated, Annual. Open-pollinated, multi-pelleted seeds. Easter Bonnet Series Alyssum seeds promise delicate and early spring blooms...
Cucumber Seeds - Suyo Long (Organic)
60 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus. Organic Suyo Long Cucumber Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, parthenocarpic, slicing, burpless, Asian cucumber. Suitable for growing in fields, containers (with support), garden...
Mustard - Tat Soi - Black Knight
Tat Soi - Black Knight Mustard Seeds. 45 - 55 days to maturity. Heirloom, Annual. Can be grown in containers. Can be grown as microgreens. Brassica rapa. A dark green...
Lettuce Seeds - Batavian, Great Lakes 118
80 - 90 days. These non-GMO Great Lakes 118 lettuce seeds grow into large green leaves and a white heart. Great Lakes 118 Lettuce, also known as Head Lettuce, is...
Swiss Chard Seeds - Orange
55 days. Orange Swiss Chard is a great ornamental vegetable. Don't just plant it in the garden, add some in the landscaping. These bright orange stalks will spice up any...
Radish Seeds - Chinese - Starburst - Hybrid
60 Days to maturity. Raphanus sativus. Starburst Chinese Radish Hybrid Seeds. Cool Season Annual. Starburst radishes are part of the watermelon radish group, which means that you’ll find bright red...
Cosmos Seeds - Cosmic Mix
56-63 Days to maturity. Cosmos sulphureus. Cosmic Mix Cosmos Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, Heirloom, Open Pollinated. Cosmic Mix seeds grow an elegant and award-winning cosmos that promises to invigorate any stale...
Swiss Chard Seeds - Magenta Sunset
60 days. Magenta Sunset Swiss chard has striking almost neon pink stems with dark green leaves. These leaves are both beautiful and practical to grow in the home garden. Their...
Pepper Seeds - Sweet - Jimmy Nardello
80-90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Organic Jimmy Nardello Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, sweet pepper with mild heat levels. 0 to 100 Scoville Heat Units....
Pepper Seeds - Sweet - Chinese Giant
73-90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Chinese Giant Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, sweet pepper with no heat. 0 Scoville Heat Units. Suitable for growing in garden...
Melon Seeds - Cantaloupe - Athena Hybrid
75 Days to maturity. Cucumis melo. Athena Hybrid Cantaloupe Melon Seeds. A non-GMO, annual, hybrid, heat-tolerant Cantaloupe Melon. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant to...
Lettuce Seeds - Romaine - Little Caesar
Little Caesar Lettuce Seeds. 70 days to maturity. Lactuca sativa. Heirloom, Annual. Little Caesar Lettuce is a very attractive, tall romaine type with crisp, bright green outer leaves and golden-blanched...
Mustard Seeds - Japanese Komatsuna
Japanese Komatsuna Mustard Seeds. 30 to 50 Days to full maturity. 8 to 12 days to microgreens harvest. Brassica rapa var. perviridis. Annual. Heirloom, Non-GMO, Open Pollinated. Komatsuna is popular...
Tomato Seeds - Salad - Moneymaker
75 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Moneymaker Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, indeterminate, salad tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds,...
Cucumber Seeds - Soarer - Hybrid
55-60 Days to maturity. Cucumis sativus ‘Soarer’. Soarer Cucumber Seeds. Warm-season annual hybrid. Non-GMO. Soarer is valued particularly for its flavor. This Japanese burpless cucumber hybrid is easy to grow...
Chinese Cabbage Seeds - Chun Yeon Gold - Hybrid
60-70 Days to maturity. Brassica rapa var pekinensis 'Chun Yeon Gold'. Chun Yeon Gold Hybrid Chinese Cabbage Seeds. Annual Hybrid. Chun Yeon Gold is a napa-type Chinese Cabbage that develops...
Tomato Seeds - Cherry - Sweetie (Organic)
65-70 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Organic Sweetie Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate cherry tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses....
Gourds Seeds - Large & Small Mix
Large and Small Gourd Mix is ready in 90-120 days. This mix of small and large, non-gmo gourd seeds is a collection of gourds that will grow into different shapes...
Beet Seeds - Green Top Bunching
Beta vulgaris (60 days) Green Top Bunching beets have flattened globe shaped roots. Beet roots are red and tasty. Perfect for cooking or pickling. Approx. 1,500 seeds/ounce. Beet Seeds -...
Beet Seeds - Crosby Egyptian
Beta vulgaris (60 days) Egyptian type beets were created in the 1860s by the Germans. The Crosby strain was selected by Josiah Crosby of Arlington, Massachusetts and introduced by The...
Carrot Seeds - Brilliance
The Brilliance Carrot typically grows to 8-10 inches long in root length, with another 10-12 inches top length. Plant the seeds directly outside in full sun. Best grown when planted...
Coleus Seeds - Chocolate Covered Cherry (Pelleted)
84-91 Days to maturity. Plectranthus scutellarioides. Coleus Chocolate Covered Cherry Seeds. Non-GMO, Annual. Chocolate Covered Cherry coleus seeds are a stunning, simple, and exotic tropical plant ideal for many hot...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Chile De Arbol
92 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Chile De Arbol Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, high yielding, deer resistant, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, hot pepper with medium heat...
Tomato Seeds - Paste - San Marzano Indeterminate (Organic)
85 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. San Marzano Indeterminate (Organic) Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, organic, heirloom, indeterminate, paste tomato. Often compared to the famous Roma tomato in...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Golden Wax (Organic)
50-55 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Organic Golden Wax Bush Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, high-yielding, bush, snap wax bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised...
Ageratum Seeds - Blue Horizon (Pelleted)
77-91 Days to maturity. Ageratum houstonianum. Blue Horizon Ageratum Seeds. Non-GMO, Ornamental, Annual. Open-pollinated flower seeds. Blue Horizon flower seeds grow one of the season’s most exclusive blooms of exotic...
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