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--- garden:seed-starting [2026/01/24 14:17] – [🌱 Garden: Seed-Starting (2026 Plan)] nathna
+++ garden:seed-starting [2026/01/27 17:30] (current) – nathna
@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 This page documents the full **2026 seed-starting and planting schedule** for Sanford, NC
-(**Zone 7b/8a**), including tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, and timing for all stages.
+(**Zone 7b/8a**), including tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, onions, beans, peas, squash,
+and timing for all stages.
 ----
@@ Line 9: / Line 10: @@
   * **Location:** Sanford, NC — Zone 7b/8a
-  * **Indoor Starts:** Tomatoes & peppers
+  * **Indoor Starts:** Tomatoes, peppers, onions
-  * **Direct Sown:** Cucumbers, zucchini, yellow squash
+  * **Direct Sown:** Cucumbers, beans, peas, zucchini, yellow squash
-**Main Beds**
+**Main Beds / Areas**
   * Tomatoes → *2 beds (4×8 each)*
   * Peppers → *1 bed (4×8)*
+  * Onions → *1 dedicated 4×8 bed*
   * Cucumbers → *Edges of 2 beds on ramp trellis*
+  * Beans → *Fence/trellis line*
+  * Peas → *Fence/trellis line (cool season)*
   * Squash → *1 bed (4×8)*
@@ Line 21: / Line 25: @@
 ===== Week-by-Week Seed Starting Schedule =====
+=== January 10–25 — Start Onions Indoors ===
+**Varieties**
+  * Red Creole (short-day red)
+  * Granex Yellow (Vidalia-type)
+**Seed Details**
+  * Start in cells or open tray
+  * Trim tops weekly to 4–5"
+  * Harden off early (onions tolerate cool temps)
+  * Transplant late February–mid March
+---
 === February 1–15 — Start Peppers Indoors ===
@@ Line 28: / Line 45: @@
   * King Arthur
   * Red Knight
-  * Big Bertha
+  * Big Bertha (F1)
+  * Big Red (new variety from Seeds ’n Such)
   * Sweet Banana
@@ Line 39: / Line 57: @@
 === February 15 – March 1 — Start Tomatoes Indoors ===
 **Varieties**
   * Tropic
@@ Line 48: / Line 65: @@
   * Roma VF
   * Mountain Magic (fence-row)
+  * Independence Day (extra-early)
+  * Mortgage Lifter (large heirloom)
 **Seed Details**
@@ Line 60: / Line 79: @@
   * Tomatoes → bury stems deep
   * Peppers → **do NOT** bury stems deeper
+  * Onions → keep trimmed; slowly reduce indoor heat
+---
+=== February 20 – March 15 — Transplant Onions Outdoors ===
+  * Space 4–6" apart
+  * Rows 12–18" apart
+  * Water deeply first 2 weeks
+  * Frost hardy
 ---
 === April 5–15 — Harden Off Tomatoes ===
   * Begin with 1–2 hours shade
   * Slowly increase sun exposure
   * Protect from wind and cold nights
@@ Line 78: / Line 106: @@
 === April 15–25 — Transplant Tomatoes Outdoors ===
   * Night temps must be **≥ 50°F**
   * Install trellises before planting
+  * Place early tomato (*Independence Day*) in sunny spot
+  * Place large heirloom (*Mortgage Lifter*) on strong support
 ---
@@ Line 88: / Line 118: @@
 ---
-=== April 20 – May 10 — Direct Sow Cucumbers (Round 1) ===
+=== February 10 – March 10 — Direct Sow Peas (Cool Season) ===
+**Variety**
+  * Oregon Sugar Pod II
+**Notes**
+  * Plant as soon as soil is workable
+  * Depth: 1"
+  * Perfect for your fence line
+  * Heat ends production → plant early
+---
+=== April 1 – May 15 — Direct Sow Pole Beans ===
+**Variety**
+  * Kentucky Wonder Pole Bean
+**Notes**
+  * Depth: 1"
+  * Climb fence or trellis system
+  * Continue succession planting until July
+---
+=== April 20 – May 10 — Direct Sow Cucumbers (Round 1) ===
 **Varieties**
   * Diva
   * County Fair Improved
+  * Long Green Improved (new variety)
 **Planting Notes**
   * Depth: ½–¾"
   * Location: Base of ramp trellis
+  * All three varieties climb well
 ---
 === May 1–15 — Direct Sow Zucchini & Yellow Squash ===
 **Varieties**
   * Dunja Zucchini
@@ Line 114: / Line 167: @@
 === July 10–20 — Replant Cucumbers (Round 2) ===
 **Varieties**
   * Replant Diva
   * Replant County Fair Improved
+  * Optionally replant Long Green Improved
 Extends cucumber harvest into fall.
@@ Line 126: / Line 179: @@
 ^ Month ^ Tasks ^
-| February | Start peppers (1–15), start tomatoes (15–Mar 1) |
+| January | Start onions (10–25) |
-| March    | Pot up seedlings (10–20) |
+| February | Start peppers (1–15), sow peas (10–Mar 10), start tomatoes (15–Mar 1) |
-| April    | Harden off (5–20), transplant tomatoes (15–25), transplant peppers (25–May 5), sow cucumbers (20–May 10) |
+| March    | Pot up seedlings (10–20), transplant onions (to Mar 15) |
+| April    | Harden off (5–20), transplant tomatoes (15–25), sow beans (1–May 15), transplant peppers (25–May 5), sow cucumbers (20–May 10) |
 | May      | Sow zucchini & squash (1–15) |
 | July     | Replant cucumbers (10–20) |
@@ Line 144: / Line 198: @@
   * 2 × Big Bertha (F1)
   * 2 × Sweet Banana
+  * + Optional rotation: Big Red (bonus pepper)
 **Jalapeños (2 total)**
   * 2 × Jalafuego (F1)
-**Spacing**
+Spacing
   * 18" between plants
   * 24" between rows
-**Support**
+Support
   * Stakes or cages
   * Bells get heavy → support early
@@ Line 161: / Line 216: @@
 === BED A — Indeterminate / Vertical Rope System ===
 ```text
 ====================================================
@@ Line 179: / Line 233: @@
    |                                                         |
    +---------------------------------------------------------+
-   Spacing
-" between plants
+Extra Options:
+   - Mortgage Lifter (heirloom) can replace 1 Roma or go in a container
+   - Independence Day (early) can be added at an end position for fast yield
-" between rows
+Spacing
+" between plants
+" between rows
 Trellis
+    Full-length 8 ft top bar
-Full-length 8 ft top bar
+rope/string per plant
+    Weekly figure-8 wrap
-rope/string per plant
+    Light pruning for Roma
-Weekly figure-8 wrap
-Light pruning for Roma
 === BED B — Determinate Slicers (NC Winners) ===
@@ Line 218: / Line 269: @@
 Spacing
 –24" between plants
 " between rows
 Support
 –4 twine levels
 Shorter vertical strings
-===== Pepper Bed (4×8) — 2026 Layout =====
-====================================================
- PEPPER BED — 4×8 — Sweet Bells & Jalapeños (12 plants)
-====================================================
-              ← North (Back Row)
-   +------------------------- 8 ft -------------------------+
-   |                                                         |
-   |  [Red Knight]   [Red Knight]   [King Arthur]           |
-   |  [King Arthur]  [Big Bertha]   [Big Bertha]            |
-   |                                                         |
-   |---------------------------------------------------------|
-   |                                                         |
-   |  [Sweet Banana] [Sweet Banana] [Cal. Wonder 300]       |
-   |  [Cal. Wonder]  [Jalafuego]     [Jalafuego]            |
-   |                                                         |
-   +---------------------------------------------------------+
-Spacing
-" between plants
-" between rows
-===== Squash Bed (4×8) — 2026 Layout =====
-====================================================
- ZUCCHINI & YELLOW SQUASH — 4×8 BED
-====================================================
-   +------------------------- 8 ft -------------------------+
-   |                                                         |
-   |      [Dunja Zucchini]       [Dunja Zucchini]           |
-   |                                                         |
-   |---------------------------------------------------------|
-   |                                                         |
-   |    [Multipik Yellow]       [Multipik Yellow]           |
-   |                                                         |
-   +---------------------------------------------------------+
-Spacing
-–40" between plants
-Training
-Vertical after 12–18"
 ===== Cucumber Trellis Layout (Bed Edges) =====
@@ Line 287: / Line 282: @@
 ====================================================
- April 20 – May 10 (Round 1)
+ Round 1 — April 20 – May 10
    - Diva × 2
    - County Fair Improved × 2
+   - Long Green Improved × 1 (new)
- July 10 – 20 (Round 2)
+ Round 2 — July 10 – 20
    - Replant Diva × 2
    - Replant County Fair × 2
+   - Optional: Long Green Improved × 1
 Notes
+    Depth: ½–¾"
-Depth: ½–¾"
+    Train immediately up trellis
+    Keep lower 8–10" pruned for airflow
-Train immediately up trellis
-Keep lower 8–10" of vines pruned for airflow