The 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*
- Amsonia or Bluestar (Amsonia)
- Bacopa (Sutera cordata)
- Bellflower (Campanula spp.)
- Bells of Ireland (Moluccella laevis)
- Bloodleaf (Iresine herbstii and others)
- Blue Throatwort (Trachelium caeruleum)
- Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus)
- Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus)
- Cup-and-saucer Vine or Cathedral Bells (Cobaea scandens)
- Delphinium (Delphinium)
- Dichondra (Dichondra repens)
- Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium, syn. Matricaria parthenium)
- Foamflower (Tiarella)
- Forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica and others)
- Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
- Globe Thistle (Echinops)
- Heliopsis (Heliopsis)
- Heliotrope (Heliotropium arborescens)
- Hollyhock (Alcea spp.)
- Honesty (Lunaria annua)
- Iceland Poppy (Papaver nudicaule)
- Iris (Iris spp.)
- Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
- Livingston Daisy (Dorotheanthus bellidiformis, Mesembryanthemum crystallinum)
- New Guinea Impatiens (Impatiens x hawkeri)
- Nierembergia (Nierembergia hippomanica and others)
- Orange Coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida)
- Pasque Flower (Pulsatilla)
- Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum)
- Pepper (Capsicum annuum and others)
- Perennial Candytuft (Iberis)
- Perennial Cornflower (Centaurea)
- Petunia (Petunia x hybrida and others)
- Pink Knotweed (Persicaria capitatum, syn. Polygonum capitatum)
- Polkadot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachys)
- Red-leaf Hibiscus (Hibiscus acetosella)
- Saxifrage (Saxifraga)
- Soapwort (Saponaria)
- Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica)
- Verbena (most species) (Verbena x 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.
Pingback: Seeds to Sow Indoors in Early March* – Laidback Gardener
Pingback: Seeds to Sow Indoors: Mid-April – Laidback Gardener