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====== 🌱 Garden: Seed-Starting (2026 Plan) ======

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.

----

===== Overview =====

* **Location:** Sanford, NC — Zone 7b/8a  
  * **Indoor Starts:** Tomatoes & peppers  
  * **Direct Sown:** Cucumbers, zucchini, yellow squash

**Main Beds**
  * Tomatoes → *2 beds (4×8 each)*
  * Peppers → *1 bed (4×8)*
  * Cucumbers → *Edges of 2 beds on ramp trellis*
  * Squash → *1 bed (4×8)*

----

===== Week-by-Week Seed Starting Schedule =====

=== February 1–15 — Start Peppers Indoors ===
**Varieties**
  * Sweet Bells  
  * Jalafuego  
  * King Arthur  
  * Red Knight  
  * Big Bertha  
  * Sweet Banana

**Seed Details**
  * Depth: ¼"  
  * Germination: 7–14 days  
  * Heat Mat: **Yes** (80–85°F)

---

=== February 15 – March 1 — Start Tomatoes Indoors ===

**Varieties**
  * Tropic  
  * Amelia  
  * Mountain Rouge  
  * Mountain Merit  
  * Celebrity  
  * Roma VF  
  * Mountain Magic (fence-row)

**Seed Details**
  * Depth: ¼"  
  * Germination: 5–10 days  
  * Heat Mat: Recommended (75–80°F)

---

=== March 10–20 — Potting Up (Indoors) ===
  * Move tomatoes & peppers to **4" pots**
  * Tomatoes → bury stems deep  
  * Peppers → **do NOT** bury stems deeper

---

=== April 5–15 — Harden Off Tomatoes ===
  * Begin with 1–2 hours shade
  * Slowly increase sun exposure
  * Protect from wind and cold nights

---

=== April 10–20 — Harden Off Peppers ===
  * Same process as tomatoes  
  * Peppers take longer → heat-loving

---

=== April 15–25 — Transplant Tomatoes Outdoors ===
  * Night temps must be **≥ 50°F**
  * Install trellises before planting

---

=== April 25 – May 5 — Transplant Peppers Outdoors ===
  * Night temps must be **≥ 55°F**
  * Stake immediately (bells get heavy)

---

=== April 20 – May 10 — Direct Sow Cucumbers (Round 1) ===

**Varieties**
  * Diva  
  * County Fair Improved

**Planting Notes**
  * Depth: ½–¾"
  * Location: Base of ramp trellis

---

=== May 1–15 — Direct Sow Zucchini & Yellow Squash ===

**Varieties**
  * Dunja Zucchini  
  * Multipik Yellow Squash

**Planting Notes**
  * Depth: 1"  
  * Spacing: 36–40"  
  * Train vertically after 12–18"

---

=== July 10–20 — Replant Cucumbers (Round 2) ===

**Varieties**
  * Replant Diva  
  * Replant County Fair Improved

Extends cucumber harvest into fall.

----

===== Quick Timeline Overview =====

----

===== Final 2026 Pepper List (4×8 Bed) =====

**Total Plants:** 12

**Sweet Bells (10 total)**
  * 2 × Red Knight (F1)
  * 2 × King Arthur (F1)
  * 2 × California Wonder 300
  * 2 × Big Bertha (F1)
  * 2 × Sweet Banana

**Jalapeños (2 total)**
  * 2 × Jalafuego (F1)

**Spacing**
  * 18" between plants  
  * 24" between rows

**Support**
  * Stakes or cages  
  * Bells get heavy → support early

----

===== Tomato Bed Layouts (Two 4×8 Beds) =====

=== BED A — Indeterminate / Vertical Rope System ===

```text
====================================================
 BED A — 4×8 — Indeterminate / Vertical Rope System
====================================================

← North (Back Row)

+------------------------- 8 ft -------------------------+
   |                                                         |
   |   [Roma VF]   [Roma VF]   [Roma VF]   [Roma VF]        |
   |                                                         |
   |---------------------------------------------------------|
   |                                                         |
   |   [Mountain Magic]   [Mountain Magic]                   |
   |   [Tropic]           [Tropic]                           |
   |                                                         |
   +---------------------------------------------------------+
   
   Spacing

24" between plants

18" between rows

Trellis

Full-length 8 ft top bar

1 rope/string per plant

Weekly figure-8 wrap

Light pruning for Roma

=== BED B — Determinate Slicers (NC Winners) ===

====================================================
 BED B — 4×8 — Determinate Slicers (NC Winners)
====================================================

← North (Back Row)

+------------------------- 8 ft -------------------------+
   |                                                         |
   |   [Mountain Merit]   [Mountain Merit]                  |
   |   [Mountain Merit]   [Mountain Merit]                  |
   |                                                         |
   |---------------------------------------------------------|
   |                                                         |
   |   [Mountain Fresh+]   [Mountain Fresh+]                |
   |   [Amelia F1]         [Amelia F1]                      |
   |                                                         |
   +---------------------------------------------------------+

Spacing

20–24" between plants

18" between rows

Support

3–4 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

18" between plants

24" 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

36–40" between plants

Training

Vertical after 12–18"

===== Cucumber Trellis Layout (Bed Edges) =====

====================================================
 CUCUMBERS — Ramp Trellis (2 Bed Edges)
====================================================

April 20 – May 10 (Round 1)
   - Diva × 2
   - County Fair Improved × 2

July 10 – 20 (Round 2)
   - Replant Diva × 2
   - Replant County Fair × 2

Notes

Depth: ½–¾"

Train immediately up trellis

Keep lower 8–10" of vines pruned for airflow

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