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]()
Beet Seeds - Ruby Queen (Organic)
50-55 Days to maturity. Beta vulgaris. Organic Ruby Queen Beet Seeds. Non-GMO, cool weather annual, organic, heirloom, open-pollinated, AAS winner 1957. This delicious multi-use beet can be used for the...
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...
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....
Pak Choi Seeds - Summer Zest - Hybrid
40-45 Days to maturity. Brassica rapa Chinensis group. Summer Zest Pak Choi Seeds. Cool-Warm Season Annual Hybrid. Summer Zest is considered a medium to large size cabbage or medium maturing...
Radish Seeds - Korean - Alpine Gold - Hybrid
60 days to maturity. Raphanus sativus. Alpine Gold Korean Radish Seeds. Hybrid, cool season annual, open pollinated. Alpine Gold radishes are a clean, crisp variety with smooth and polished roots....
Oenothera Seeds - Showy Evening Primrose
91-98 days to Maturity. Showy Evening Primrose oenothera seeds grow one of summer's most familiar, gentle, yet vigorous blooms. Showy Evening Primrose is easy to grow from seed and is...
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,...
Radish Seeds - Halloween Mix
Halloween Mix Radish Seeds. 20 - 30 days to maturity. Can be grown in containers. Raphanus sativus. Open Pollinated. Annual. Halloween Mix contains purple yellow black and white radishes. Approximately...
Beet Seeds - Lutz Green Leaf
Beta vugaris (70 days) Lutz Green Leaf is known for its long standing storage capabilities. Also known by many as "winterkeeper" beets. Lutz has roots that are about 6" in...
Pepper Seeds - Sweet - Manganji
80-90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Manganji Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, sweet pepper with mild heat levels. 0 to 100 Scoville Heat Units. Suitable for growing...
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...
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...
Mighty Mustard® White Gold - Cover Crop Seeds
35-40 Days. Sinapis alba. Cover Crop. Heirloom. Non-GMO. Mighty Mustard® White Gold seeds are one of the most beneficial, diverse, and quickly maturing cover crops for the home garden. Mighty...
Phacelia Seeds - California Bluebell
80 Days to maturity. Phacelia campanularia. Phacelia California Bluebell Seeds. Non-GMO, annual. California Bluebell phacelia seeds grow a classic, summer-hardy, and authentic touch of the untamed California desert in your...
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,...
Carrot Seeds - Parisian - Organic
(55 days) A great little round carrot that is a nineteenth-century French heirloom. Organic Parisian is an early orange-red carrot that grows almost more like the shape of a large...
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....
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...
Radish Seeds - German Giant - Organic
Raphanus R. sativus. (29 days) They call these radishes Giant for a reason! Delicious when they are the size of a quarter, but they can grow as large as a...
Eggplant Seeds - Petch Siam
40-50 days maturity after transplant. Solanum melongena ’Petch Siam’. Petch Siam Eggplant Seeds. Non-GMO, warm-season, annual, heirloom. This well-known and productive Matti Gulla variety is easy to grow. Matti is...
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...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Chef's Choice Red Hybrid AAS
80-85 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Chef’s Choice Red Hybrid Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, F1 hybrid, AAS winner, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden...
Swiss Chard Seeds - Pink Lipstick
60 days. Pink Lipstick Swiss Chard is named after the bright pink hue of its stems and veins. Plants grow green delicious leaves that can be used as bitter and...
Columbine Seeds - McKana Giant AAS
2nd-year maturity. Aquilegia x hybrida. Columbine McKana's Giant Seeds. Non-GMO, Perennial. Ornamental. McKana's Giant seeds grow the absolute tallest, brightest, and most vivid columbines in the country. McKana's Giant columbine...
Radish Seeds - Chinese - Green Meat Luobo
60 Days to maturity. Raphanus sativus. Green Meat Luobo Chinese Radish Heirloom Seeds. Cool Season Annual. Unlike other Chinese radishes, Green Luobos aren’t globe-shaped—instead, they grow as big as 10”...
Squash Seeds - Summer - Trieste White Zucchini
Trieste White Zucchini Squash produces short fruits that are very pale green in color, and are tender and delicious. Non- GMO Half Long White Zucchini are early producers, produce on...
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....
Corn Seeds - Dent - Ornamental - Bloody Butcher
110 Days to maturity. Zea mays. Bloody Butcher Ornamental Corn Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, Dent Corn. Suitable for growing in garden plots or raised beds. Corn tolerates heat and...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Scotch Bonnet Yellow
90-100 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum chinense. Scotch Bonnet Yellow Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, deer resistant, hot pepper with extra hot heat levels. 100,000 to 350,000 Scoville...
Competition Pumpkin Seeds - 400 lb plus
115+ Days to maturity. Non-GMO Competition Pumpkin 400 lb. Plus pumpkin seeds from True Leaf Market come from competition pumpkins that weighed 400 lbs. or more. Whether you want to...
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