Gardening Laidback Gardener Tip of the Day Sowing Seeds

Seeds to sow indoors in Mid-March

20170315A.jpgThe choice of seeds to sow indoors explodes in mid-March! This really is the time to start so many seeds… but not all of them. Note that several popular plants are still missing from the list: tomatoes, marigolds, cucumbers, etc. Why? It’s still too early, especially for most vegetables! The golden rule of seed starting is that you can be a bit late, as plants tend to catch up when planted outdoors, but you should never, ever start them too early! You want your seedlings to young and full of pep when you plant them out, not old, weak and stretching for the light.

Seeds to Sow in Mid-March*

  1. Amsonia or Bluestar (Amsonia)
  2. Bacopa (Sutera cordata)
  3. Bellflower (Campanula spp.)
  4. Bells of Ireland (Moluccella laevis)
  5. Bloodleaf (Iresine herbstii and others)
  6. Blue Throatwort (Trachelium caeruleum)
  7. Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus)
  8. Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus)
  9. Cup-and-saucer Vine or Cathedral Bells (Cobaea scandens)
  10. Delphinium (Delphinium)
  11. Dichondra (Dichondra repens)
  12. Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium, syn. Matricaria parthenium)
  13. Foamflower (Tiarella)
  14. Forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica and others)
  15. Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
  16. Globe Thistle (Echinops)
  17. Heliopsis (Heliopsis)
  18. Heliotrope (Heliotropium arborescens)
  19. Hollyhock (Alcea spp.)
  20. Honesty (Lunaria annua)
  21. Iceland Poppy (Papaver nudicaule)
  22. Iris (Iris spp.)
  23. Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
  24. Livingston Daisy (Dorotheanthus bellidiformisMesembryanthemum crystallinum)
  25. New Guinea Impatiens (Impatiens hawkeri)
  26. Nierembergia (Nierembergia hippomanica and others)
  27. Orange Coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida)
  28. Pasque Flower (Pulsatilla)
  29. Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum)
  30. Pepper (Capsicum annuum and others)
  31. Perennial Candytuft (Iberis)
  32. Perennial Cornflower (Centaurea)
  33. Petunia (Petunia x hybrida and others)
  34. Pink Knotweed (Persicaria capitatum, syn. Polygonum capitatum)
  35. Polkadot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachys)
  36. Red-leaf Hibiscus (Hibiscus acetosella)
  37. Saxifrage (Saxifraga)
  38. Soapwort (Saponaria)
  39. Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica)
  40. Verbena (most species) (Verbena hybrida)

*Note that this list was developed for gardeners from northern climates, such as Canada, the Northeastern United States and colder parts of Europe, where the date of the average last frost is in late May or early June. For readers who garden in more temperate regions, I suggest you consult a specialist in your area to know what to sow in mid-March.

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Garden writer and blogger, author of 65 gardening books, lecturer and communicator, the Laidback Gardener, Larry Hodgson, passed away in October 2022. Known for his great generosity, his thoroughness and his sense of humor, he reached several generations of amateur and professional gardeners over his 40-year career. Thanks to his son, Mathieu Hodgson, and a team of contributors, laidbackgardener.blog will continue its mission of demystifying gardening and making it more accessible to all.

2 comments on “Seeds to sow indoors in Mid-March

  1. Pingback: Seeds to Sow Indoors in Early March* – Laidback Gardener

  2. Pingback: Seeds to Sow Indoors: Mid-April – Laidback Gardener

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