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Table of Contents
🌱 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.
✅ FULL MASTER SEED LIST (MERGED + VERIFIED) Tomatoes (7)
Tropic VFN
Amelia Hybrid
Mountain Rouge Hybrid
Mountain Merit F1
Roma VF
Celebrity Hybrid
Mountain Magic Hybrid
Peppers (6)
California Wonder 300
Sweet Banana
King Arthur F1
Red Knight F1
Big Bertha F1
Jalafuego F1
Cucumbers (2)
Marketmore 97
Diva
Squash (2)
Dunja F1
Multipik F1
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
| 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 | Sow zucchini & squash (1–15) |
| July | Replant cucumbers (10–20) |
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