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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.
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