TorresVault Documentation

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

This page documents your full 2026 seed-starting and planting schedule for Sanford, NC (Zone 7b/8a), including all tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, and all timing we planned.

==== 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 ===

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 ===

Tomatoes (Indeterminate + Determinate mix)

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) ===

Pot tomatoes & peppers up into 4" pots

Tomatoes: bury stems deep

Peppers: do not bury stems deeper

=== April 5–15 — Harden Off Tomatoes ===

Start with 1–2 hours shade

Slowly increase sun exposure

Protect from wind and cold nights

=== April 10–20 — Harden Off Peppers ===

Same process — slower because peppers are heat-sensitive

=== April 15–25 — Transplant Tomatoes Outdoors ===

Requires night temps ≥ 50°F

Install trellises before planting

=== April 25 – May 5 — Transplant Peppers Outdoors ===

Requires night temps ≥ 55°F

Install stakes immediately (bells get heavy)

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

Varieties:

Diva

County Fair Improved

Depth: ½–¾"
Location: Base of the ramp trellis

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

Varieties:

Dunja Zucchini

Multipik Yellow Squash

Depth: 1"
Spacing: 36–40"
Training: Vertical once 12–18" tall

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

Varieties:

Replant Diva

Replant County Fair Improved

Extends harvest into fall

==== Quick Timeline Overview ====
Month	Tasks
February	Start peppers (1–15), start tomatoes (15–Mar 1)
March	Pot up seedlings (10–20)
April	Harden off (5–20), transplant tomatoes (15–25), transplant peppers (25–May 5), sow cucumbers (20–May 10)
May	Direct sow zucchini & squash (1–15)
July	Replant cucumbers (10–20)
==== Final 2026 Pepper List (4×8 Bed) ====

Total Plants: 12

Sweet Bells (10 plants total)

2 × Red Knight (F1)

2 × King Arthur (F1)

2 × California Wonder 300

2 × Big Bertha (F1)

2 × Sweet Banana

Jalapeños (2 plants total)

2 × Jalafuego (F1)

Spacing

18" between plants

24" between rows

Bed fits 2 rows × 6 plants

Support

Stakes or cages

Bells load up heavy, support early

==== Tomato Bed Layouts (Two 4×8 Beds) ====
=== BED A (4×8) — Indeterminate / Vertical Rope System ===

Goal: Steady picking, best disease resistance, strong vertical growth.

Recommended Layout (8 plants)

Row of 4 (front)

2 × Mountain Magic

2 × Tropic

Row of 4 (back)

4 × Roma VF

Even though Roma is technically determinate, it climbs fine with pruning.

Spacing

24" between plants

18" between rows

Full 8-ft trellis

Trellis Setup

One top bar across the long side of the bed

One string per plant

Weekly “figure-8” wrapping

Remove suckers only from indeterminates (Tropic, Mountain Magic)

Very light sucker removal on Roma

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

Goal: Big, reliable slicers with excellent disease resistance.

Recommended Layout (8 plants)

Row of 4 (front)

2 × Mountain Fresh Plus

2 × Amelia F1

Row of 4 (back)

4 × Mountain Merit

Spacing

20–24" between plants

18" between front/back rows

Trellis Support for Determinates

Grow 4–5 ft tall → use shorter strings

Add 3–4 levels of horizontal twine as they bulk

Must support plants — they load up with fruit fast

==== Notes & Best Practices ====

Use fans indoors for strong stems

Water seedlings from the bottom

Mulch all outdoor beds heavily

Stake peppers immediately

Start trellising tomatoes & cucumbers early

Keep frost cloth on hand for surprise cold snaps

Plant basil in tomato beds and marigolds around all beds (your practice)

==== 2026 Seed List (Complete) ====
Tomatoes

Tropic

Amelia F1

Mountain Rouge

Mountain Merit

Celebrity

Roma VF

Mountain Magic

Peppers

Red Knight (F1)

King Arthur (F1)

Big Bertha (F1)

California Wonder 300

Sweet Banana

Jalafuego (F1)

Cucumbers

Diva

County Fair Improved

Squash

Dunja Zucchini

Multipik Yellow Squash

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