Starting My Garden from Seed: What I’m Planting This Year

Every year, I look forward to planning my garden, but this year, I’ve decided to take on a new challenge—I’m starting everything from seed. Instead of buying starter plants, I’m growing my vegetables, herbs, and flowers right from the beginning. It’s a little intimidating, but I’m excited to watch my garden grow from tiny seeds into a flourishing space full of fresh produce and beautiful blooms.

What I’m Planting

I spent some time carefully choosing my seeds, making sure to include my favorites while also trying out a few new varieties. Here’s what will be growing in my garden this year:

Vegetables

• Tomatoes: I picked two varieties—cherry tomatoes for fresh snacking and Roma tomatoes for sauces and preserving.
• Cucumbers: I’m growing both English cucumbers for fresh eating and pickling cucumbers for homemade pickles.
• Peppers: I went with a mix of heat and sweetness—jalapeños, hot banana peppers, and a new variety of sweet peppers that I’m excited to try.

Flowers

I’m adding more flowers to my garden this year, both for their beauty and their benefits in attracting pollinators.

• Sunflowers: My absolute favorite flower! This year, I’m growing both traditional sunflowers and a variety called Fire Catcher, which has fiery red-orange petals that I can’t wait to see in bloom.
• Marigolds: A garden staple, these bright blooms not only add color but also help repel pests naturally.
• Snapdragons: I love their unique shape and vibrant colors—plus, they make great cut flowers!

Herbs

I love having fresh herbs on hand for cooking, so I’ll be filling my barrels with:

• Basil – A must-have for summer dishes, especially alongside those cherry tomatoes.
• Dill – Perfect for homemade pickles and adding a fresh flavor to dishes.
• Rosemary – A hardy herb that’s great for roasting vegetables and meats.

Why Start from Seed?

Starting from seed is something I’ve wanted to do for a while, and this year, I finally committed. There’s something incredibly rewarding about watching a plant grow from a tiny seed into a full, productive plant. It gives me the freedom to choose the exact varieties I want while also saving money compared to buying starter plants. Plus, it allows me to get an earlier start on the growing season and truly enjoy the satisfaction of growing everything from scratch.

Of course, my ultimate dream would be to have a large, beautiful greenhouse where I could start my seeds in a perfectly controlled environment, surrounded by shelves of tiny green sprouts basking in warm sunlight. But for now, my dining room table will have to do. I’m turning it into my little seed-starting station, where trays of soil-filled cells will soon be lined up, ready to sprout into my future garden. It may not be fancy, but I know it will be just as rewarding.

What’s Next?

Now that I have my seeds, it’s time to start planning my planting schedule. Some of these will need to be started indoors before the last frost, while others can be directly sown into the garden. I’ll also be figuring out the best way to organize my space to make sure everything has the room it needs to thrive.

I’m so excited to get started and see how this season turns out. Whether it’s a huge success or a learning experience, I know one thing for sure—there’s nothing better than growing your own food and flowers.

Are you starting anything from seed this year? Let me know what you’re planting—I’d love to hear about your garden plans!

— Thu Feb 06 2025