Even though it might be a little chilly outside, it’s still a great time for gardening! This is especially true if you plan to have a spring or summer garden since lots of the seeds need to go ahead and get their start indoors at least six to eight weeks before the last frost of the year. Here are a few flowers, vegetables, and herbs that you can prepare to plant during Southern winters (Zone 8A).
Flowers
Asters are beautiful flowers that are typically planted in the ground from mid-February to early May. They come in lots of different colors, and they’re great for attracting butterflies, bees, and other insects that are important to our ecosystem. If you plan to have asters in your spring garden, it’s a good idea to start now and sow the seeds indoors. Here’s a great post from Gardening Know How all about starting your aster seeds on the right foot.
Black-eyed Susans are yellow and orange flowers that thrive in our warm Southern climate. It’s best to sow the seeds indoors about six weeks before the last frost, which is typically in February or March depending on the year. Need a little advice on sowing your black-eyed Susan seeds? Click here for more information.
Carnations are Southern flower garden staples that pack a punch in the fragrance department. You should start sowing your carnation seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost of the year. Then, they’ll be ready for planting between March and May. Click here for a guide to sowing carnation seeds.
Daisies are another Southern flower garden staple that you should really consider having in your spring garden. They’re simply beautiful, and they thrive in our warm Southern climate. Start strong now and sow your daisy seeds indoors so they’re ready to plant in your garden by late February. Here’s a post that will teach you everything you need to know about sowing daisy seeds.
Geraniums are gorgeous reddish-pink flowers that would make a great addition to any Southern flower garden. These seeds need to be sown indoors in early to mid-February so the flowers are ready for planting in spring. Click here to learn more about sowing geranium seeds indoors.
Marigolds are pretty easy to grow and care for, so they’re perfect for planting in a Southern garden. Marigold seeds should be sown indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost of the year. Want to add marigolds to your spring or summer garden? Read this post to learn where to start.
Zinnias, like marigolds, are fairly easy to grow and look after. These seeds need to be sown indoors any time between early January and mid-March so they’re ready to plant in your garden by May. Click here to read more about the right way to sow zinnia seeds indoors.
Vegetables
Artichokes are typically harvested between late March and late June, so it’s a good idea to go ahead and sow the seeds during early January. Make sure you start the sowing process in a deep container— artichoke roots can get really long! Click here to learn everything you need to know about sowing artichoke seeds.
Bell pepper seeds should be sown indoors between late January and early April if you want the plants to make it into your garden for harvesting by mid-May. Bell pepper plants tend to thrive in warm climates, so they’re perfect for planting in a Southern garden. Here’s a guide to sowing bell pepper seeds indoors that you might find helpful.
Brussels sprouts should be sown no later than early February if you want to be able to harvest them by late May. Click here for more information on sowing the seeds.
Green beans have a pretty short time frame between sowing the seeds and harvesting. If you want to harvest the beans by mid-April, the seeds need to be sown by late February. Click here for a guide to sowing green bean seeds indoors.
Lettuce also has a short timeframe between sowing and harvesting. You should plan to sow your lettuce seeds indoors no later than early February if you want to harvest the lettuce by mid-March. Here’s a guide to successfully sowing lettuce seeds indoors.
Onions are fairly easy to grow in the South. The seeds should be sown between early January and early February for harvesting by March. Click here for more information on sowing onion seeds indoors.
Tomato seeds can be sown indoors between early January and late March if you want to harvest the tomatoes by May. Click here to learn more about sowing tomato seeds.
Herbs
Cilantro seeds should be sown indoors no later than late February if you want the plants to make it into your spring garden. Remember: Cilantro doesn’t like heat, so this herb is best suited for planting before summer really gets started. Need a little help with sowing your cilantro seeds? Click here for more information.
Mint is a versatile herb that would work nicely in any Southern garden. The seeds should be sown indoors between early January and early March. Click here for a guide to sowing and planting mint seeds.
Parsley seeds need to be sown indoors from early to mid-January if you want the best results in the spring. It can take two to four weeks for the seedlings to appear, so this does require a little bit of patience. Here’s a post about the best way to sow parsley seeds.
Rosemary seeds should be sown indoors no later than early February for the best results. Click here for more information on sowing the seeds and ensuring the plants grow properly.
P.S. Here are a few local places where you can pick up your seeds and plants this winter for your spring and summer gardens:
Montgomery
- Divine Vines & Decor
- SweetCreek Farm Market
- Little Mountain Nursery
- Southern Homes & Gardens
- Harwell’s Green Thumb Nursery
- Montgomery Curb Market
- State Farmers Market
- EastChase Farmers Market