I understand why most people only think about seeds in spring, but for serious seed-lovers, there’s something seedy to think about every month of the year. Here, I’ll give you an idea of what my month-by-month to-do list looks like for my southeastern Pennsylvania garden, beginning in January for convenience. (I’ll also give the equivalent meteorological seasons here, so you’ll have a better understanding of how I use them in my seed descriptions and germination information.) Keep in mind that the schedule will vary if you live in a different climate from mine.
January (mid winter)
- Finish outdoor sowing of perennial and woody-plant seeds that need chilling
- Finish ordering seeds of any annuals and edibles I missed earlier
- Finish cleaning fall-harvested seeds
February (late winter)
- Start direct-sowing seeds of cool-season annuals, like poppies (Papaver) and larkspur (Consolida ambigua)
- Set up plant lights and gather any needed seed-sowing supplies, like growing medium and labels
- Start artificial chilling period (in refrigerator) for any remaining hardy seeds I forgot to sow outdoors
March (early spring)
- Direct-sow seeds of cold-tolerant annuals and edibles, like garden peas (Pisum sativum) and sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus)
- Start indoor-sowing of slow-growing annuals and tender perennials (early to mid-March), as well as perennials that can flower the first year with an early start
- Start indoor sowing of most summer annuals and edibles, like peppers and tomatoes (mid- to late March)
- Check seeds that are chilling in the refrigerator for signs of sprouting; remove and pot up any that are starting to germinate
April (mid spring)
- Finish indoor sowing of fast-growing annuals and edibles, like marigolds (Tagetes) and zinnias
- Start hardening off indoor-started seedlings of cold-tolerant plants
- Check seeds that are chilling in the refrigerator for signs of sprouting; remove and pot up any that are starting to germinate
May (late spring)
- Start collecting seeds of spring ephemerals; clean, then store moist
- Start outdoor sowing (in pots) of fast-growing annuals for filling holes in the summer garden
- Figure on Mother’s Day for average last frost date
- Start planting out hardened-off most indoor-raised seedlings (mid- to late May)
- Direct-sow fast-growing annuals and edibles
- Pot up any remaining seeds that were chilling in the refrigerator
June (early summer)
- Finish collecting seeds of spring ephemerals; clean, then store moist
- Start collecting seeds of early perennial, spring bulbs, and cool-season annuals
- Start shopping for seeds of early-blooming perennials and wildflowers
- Sow seeds of biennials, like honesty (Lunaria annua), in pots outdoors
- Direct-sow fast-growing annuals and edibles
- Continue outdoor sowing (in pots) of fast-growing annuals for summer fillers or fall pots
- Plant out heat-loving annual and hardy perennial transplants (early June)
July (mid summer)
- Shop for seeds of early-flowering annuals and perennials
- Start sowing seeds of early-flowering winter annuals, like blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia verna)
- Sow freshly harvested seeds of hellebores (Helleborus) and other early-flowering perennials in pots outdoors
- Collect seeds
- Clean seeds
August (late summer)
- Start shopping for seeds of biennials and summer-flowering perennials
- Plant out biennial seedlings
- Sow seeds of later-flowering winter annuals, like giant collomia (Collomia grandiflora)
- Collect seeds
- Clean seeds
September (early fall)
- Shop for seeds of summer-flowering annuals, biennials, and perennials
- Finish sowing seeds of winter annuals (early to mid-September)
- Collect seeds
- Clean seeds
October (mid fall)
- Start checking online seed sources for their newly harvested seeds of all types
- Start sowing seeds that need winter chilling in pots or milk jugs (late October)
- Clean seeds
November (late fall)
- Continue checking online seed sources for their fresh seed harvest
- Sow seeds that need winter chilling outdoors in pots or milk jugs
- Clean seeds
December (early winter)
- Finish main seed shopping
- Sow seeds that need winter chilling outdoors in pots or milk jugs
- Clean seeds
