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]()
Radicchio Seeds - Rouge de Verona
Rouge De Verona Radicchio is an heirloom plant that can be compared to a cross between a cabbage and lettuce. Ready in about 80 days, Roufe De Verona can be...
Cress Seeds - Curled (Organic)
Non-GMO, Heirloom Organic Curled Cress Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Lepidium sativum. Cress is native to Persia, which is known as West Asia. Organic Curled Cress is herbaceous...
Lettuce Seeds - Red Romaine
Lactuca sativa (40 days) Red Romaine Lettuce has long crunchy spoon shaped leaves that start green and fade to profuse purple/red. Leaves are 12" tall and the plant is about...
Onion Seeds - Intermediate - Imai Early Yellow
150 days maturity after transplanting. Allium cepa. Imai Early Yellow Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, cool-season, annual, heirloom. This selection of Senshu Yellow matures 10-15 days earlier than original Imai. A medium-day...
Radish Seeds - Korean - Bora King - Hybrid
60 days to maturity. Raphanus sativus. Bora King Hybrid Korean Radish Seeds. Cool season annual. Bora King radishes live up to their royal name by being a gorgeous purple all...
Pumpkin Seeds - Jarrahdale (Organic)
Cucurbita maxima. (100 days) A New Zealand heirloom, Jarrahdale Pumpkin has a slate blue, ribbed exterior and a deep delicious orange interior flesh. The flesh is dry, string less, sweet...
Garbanzo Bean - Organic - Cover Crop Seeds
100 Days. Cicer arietinum. Cover Crop. Organic. Heirloom. Similar to Daikon radish and mustard cover crops, Organic garbanzo bean seed is grown for its uniquely deep taproot known to break...
Onion Seeds - Bunching - Kyoto Kujo Negi
80 Days to maturity. Allium fistulosum. Kyoto Kujo Negi Japanese Bunching Onion Seeds. Non-GMO, perennial, open-pollinated, heirloom, bunching onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised beds, and containers....
Zucchini Seeds - Caserta
Cucurbita pepo (65 days) An early bush cocozelle zucchini that produces huge yields of 16" fruit. Much better eaten at the 6-8" size. Zucchini Seeds - Caserta Light green skin...
Gomphrena Seeds - Gnome Series
2nd year maturity. Gomphrena globosa. Gomphrena Gnome Series Seeds. Non-GMO, Annual. Gnome Series seeds grow one of the summer's most unique, vigorous, and exclusive blooms, boasting exotic globe-shaped gomphrena heads....
Sunflower Seeds - Ring of Fire
90-110 Days to maturity. Helianthus annuus. Organic Ring of Fire Sunflower Seeds: Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. Ornamental. Annual. Ring of Fire sunflower seeds are an easy and award-winning grow for invigorating...
Lettuce Seeds - Crisphead - Great Lakes Mesa 659
Great Lakes Mesa 659 crisphead lettuce is often found at grocery stores. Round iceberg heads are strong and firm with uniform leaves. Download Free Vegetable Growing Guide PDF Lettuce Seeds...
Pumpkin Seeds - White Queen
90-120 days. Non-GMO. Open-pollinated. White Queen Pumpkin Seeds from True Leaf Market grow ghostly white pumpkins that reach 7" to 10" in diameter. Ornamental white pumpkins like White Queen can...
Watermelon Seeds - Picnic - Cal Sweet
90 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. Cal Sweet Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, seeded, Picnic watermelon. Cal Sweet Watermelon fruits typically weigh 20 to 25 pounds with...
Cabbage Seeds - All Seasons (Organic)
87 Days to maturity. Brassica oleracea var. capitata Organic All Seasons Cabbage was first listed by J.J.H. Gregory & Son, of Marblehead, Mass in 1886. A few years later it...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Cannellini (Organic)
75-85 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Organic Cannellini Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom, bush shelling bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Sometimes...
Sunflower Seeds - Teddy Bear
50-65 Days to maturity. Helianthus annuus. Teddy Bear Sunflower Seeds: Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. Ornamental. Annual. Teddy Bear sunflower seeds grow one of the most unique, lush, and brilliant blooms of...
Pea Seeds - Snap - Cascadia (Organic)
Non-GMO Organic Cascadia Snap Pea seeds are ready in 65 days. These snap peas are a dwarf variety that do not need staking. Stringless pods are 3 inches long with...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Black Russian
80-85 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Black Russian Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. This...
Bean Seeds - Bush - Stringless Green Pod (Burpee)
Up to 50 days. Formerly Burpee Stringless. Crisp pods are 5 to 6 inches long, slightly curved and entirely stringless. Dependable producer, even under adverse conditions! Each plan50-55 Days to...
Pepper Seeds - Sweet - Pimento L
95 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Pimento L Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, high-yielding, drought tolerant, sweet pepper with mild heat levels. 100 to 500 Scoville Heat...
Watermelon Seeds - Mini - Cal Sweet Bush AAS
90 Days to maturity. Citrullus lanatus. Cal Sweet Bush AAS Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, seeded, Mini watermelon. Suitable for growing in garden plots and large containers...
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Cayenne Purple
75-85 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Cayenne Purple Hot Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, high-yielding, deer-resistant, drought-tolerant, heat-tolerant, hot pepper with hot heat levels. 30,000-50,000 Scoville Heat Units....
Pepper Seeds - Hot - Thai Super Chili Hybrid
75 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Thai Super Chili Hybrid Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, hybrid, open-pollinated, high-yielding, deer-resistant, heat-tolerant, drought-tolerant, hot pepper with hot heat levels. 50,000 to...
Tomato Seeds - Salad - Green Zebra (Organic)
75-90 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Green Zebra (organic) Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic open-pollinated, heirloom, heat tolerant, indeterminate, salad tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised...
Morning Glory Seeds - Mixed Colors
112 Days to maturity. Ipomoea purpurea. Mixed Colors Morning Glory Seeds. Non-GMO, annual. Morning glory seeds are an essential and decorative plant for your summertime garden, home, or patio. Annual...
Lettuce Seeds - Heatwave Mix - Organic
The Heatwave Lettuce Mix lettuces that thrive in the heat and remain productive. Our choice" slow-bolt" varieties such as Great Lakes, Iya Sol, and Oakleaf Royal. These lettuce types texture...
Broccoli Seeds - Romanesco
75-100 Days to maturity. Brassica oleracea. Romanesco Broccoli Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, heirloom. The spiky heads of Romanesco Broccoli grow in an unusual fractal formation. Its Fibonacci-looking spirals create beautiful patterns...
Tomato Seeds - Slicing - Heirloom Rainbow Blend
80-100 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Heirloom Rainbow Blend Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, warm season annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds,...
Sunflower Seeds - Red Sun
90-110 Days to maturity. Helianthus annuus. Red Sun Sunflower Seeds: Non-GMO. Open Pollinated. Ornamental. Annual. Heirloom. Red Sun seeds grow one of the summer's rarest and most unique blooms, stunning...
Pepper Seeds, Sweet - Marconi Red (Organic)
73 Days to maturity (from transplant). Capsicum annuum. Marconi Red (Organic) Pepper Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, organic, heirloom, high-yielding, drought tolerant, sweet pepper with no heat. 0 Scoville Heat Units....
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