I look forward to spring every year for SO many reasons, but over the past two years, my favorite thing I look forward to is started my Spring and Summer Garden. This post will walk through my home gardening tips for zone 8A and planting seeds for this area. Gardening is all by trial and error and I am not an expert. I have literally only TRULY kept a garden for two years.
Morgan started one when we lived in Raleigh many years ago, which has definitely sparked our interest in wanting to have one on a grander scale in a house we actually owned. My mother also always kept a little garden with a few things like tomatoes, green beans, and sunflowers every summer. I have learned so much about what works for our environment and how best to enrich the seeds we choose. Hopefully you find some inspiration to start your own home garden this year.
When & How To Start
We used the one shown above, and I know it goes in and out of stock frequently online but you might get lucky if you go into your local store too. This has proven successful for our gardens two years and a row so why change a good thing? You will need this to help your seeds early germinating stage and it makes it so easy to get them started!
You simply add in the amount of water it says in the instructions to expand the cells, and then you will add your seeds. You can see it in action by heading to my Reel on Instagram where I show my process by week! I always start mine in February. I am zone 8A so late winter is the best time for planting and I keep it around February earlier March to start any seeds. There are some plants I do prefer to buy and replant, and with those I do so around April. You can see how well our 2021 Garden did in my blog post here.
This is the kit I like to use to get my seeds started inside. I have also seen many gardeners use the heating pad I am linking below it. I personally have not used this yet, but I will be getting one for next year so that we can keep our cell starters in the garage next time instead of in our dining room. 🙂
What I Use
Indirect sunlight inside
Find a spot inside that offers indirect sunlight for the pods.
The goal is to keep the growing seeds warm so they can germinate. If they have direct sun, the soil/pods dry up faster or get scorched, causing a negative growing environment for the seedlings. Find an area in your home or heated garage that offers indirect sunlight. You can also use heating lamps or the heating pad I mentioned earlier to get the seeds started.
Be sure to give them a warm spot where you can easily check on them daily. Watching the progress is half the fun for me!
Increase The Plant’s Space Gradually
Over time, as the seeds germinate, some will burst growth and need a larger space for roots. I use solo cups as a transition from small space to garden.I drill three holes in the bottom of each cup for drainage and use nutrient rich soil for replanting. Some seeds sprout later than others. My green beans this year have burst out ahead of everything and are basically little mini bean stalks already.
Feed weekly
WITH A LIQUID SOLUBLE PLANT FOOD DILUTED TO QUARTER STRENGTH
I recommend to water with just a spray bottle as you don’t want to over water and wash the seeds out.You definitely have to be careful to not jostle the seeds around too much with hard hitting water, which is why I like to use an easy spray bottle. Each time you replant your seedlings (or anything you’re repotting) you want to water.
When It’s Time to Plant
After the Last Frost, Transition Plants Outside
A big issue with my zone is that I’m in North Carolina, the state where you could wake up to 34 degrees but by 12PM its 75. One day it will be high of 80, three days later the high will be 45. It can be a real roller coaster in the beginning of spring, so for me, it’s a constant inside outside move around until typically around April I can rely on the low temperature not exceeding 40-45. That’s still a bit cold for plants but the warmth throughout the day should balance them out.
When you first put your seedlings outside, start with a shaded area and gradually move them into the sun. This allows them to better acclimate to the outside elements. A good rule of thumb is to keep them there for about a week before transitioning to pots or in the ground, but you can gauge it as you see your plants responding to outside as well.
And that wraps up the steps I take to starting my Spring and Summer garden. That is what I have done so far this season in terms of starting them. I’ll be following this post up with the next steps which will be, transitioning to pots or in the ground, watering schedules, plant feed, keeping pests away and more!
Here are a few things you should look into having for when your seedlings are ready for planting!
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Thanks for hanging out!
FAQs
Some great early vegetables for zone 8 are lettuce, spinach, beets, peas, potatoes, radishes, onions and carrots. Perennial vegetables, such as asparagus and rhubarb, also grow in zone 8. Plant asparagus crowns and rhubarb in early spring.
What seeds to start indoors zone 8? ›
Start your first seeds inside for broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, head lettuce, onions, and parsley. Most perennial flowers should be started inside by the end of the month as well. You can also start flowers and herbs that have a long germination period, like rosemary, snapdragons, and begonias.
What is the difference between zone 8a and 8b? ›
Zone 8's minimum average temperatures, like the other USDA zones, are ten degrees warmer than those of Zone 7. It's also divided into two subzones: 8a and 8b. The minimum average temperature of Zone 8a is 10-15° Fahrenheit, and the minimum average temperature of Zone 8b is 15-20° Fahrenheit.
Is February too early to start seeds indoors? ›
If you can't wait to sink your hands into the dirt, don't wait any longer—at this point, you can begin planting some of your favorite veggies! There are plenty of seeds that you can start indoors in February, and even a few that you can direct-sow outdoors.
When should I start seeds inside zone 8a? ›
A last frost date of mid to late March and a first frost date of early November mean a frost-free growing season from early April to late October. These dates are general guidelines, so watch the weather forecasts before planting.
How do you grow tomatoes in Zone 8a? ›
In a garden bed, compost and mulching will produce a crop from one or two plants. In containers, use some suitable long term fertiliser pellets or feed regularly when you water. Feeding improves the flavour of the fruit. When you plant out, put the seedlings in a deep holes, up to the top set of leaves.
What are the easiest seeds to grow at home? ›
Easiest seeds to grow at home: sunflowers, radishes, lettuce, herbs (like basil), green beans, marigolds, zinnias, nasturtiums, sweet peas, chives. Follow planting instructions and provide proper growing conditions.
When should I start seeds in my zone? ›
Read your seed packet. Most will list when the seeds should be started indoors (or outdoors). For example, it may say, “Start indoors 8-10 weeks before the last expected frost date in your area.” You can simply count back from your frost-free date by checking the Almanac's Frost Date Calculator.
What month should I start my seeds indoors? ›
Planting seeds is also a great way to grow specific varieties. March is a great time to start seedlings indoors. Generally, start planting seeds indoors 6-10 weeks before the last frost date.
What does it mean to be in zone 8a? ›
In zone 8a, low winter temps are expected to fall within the range of 10-15°F. If your plant is labeled for zone 8a or lower, then the odds of your plant surviving the winter are good. You may need to protect the plant, however, during an unseasonably cold winter, or if it's situated in an area exposed to winter winds.
USDA Hardiness Zone 8 is a warm zone with a long growing season, comprising hot summers and mild winters with the coldest annual temperatures between ten and twenty degrees Fahrenheit.
Is Austin zone 8a or 8b? ›
Central Texas/Austin falls under USDA hardiness zone 8b, which has a minimum average temperature range of 15 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
Is January too early to start seeds indoors? ›
First there is too little light at this time of year – If you rely on a sunny windowsill to start your seeds, you want to wait a little longer to start seed sowing. Most plants need at least 10 hours of light in order to grow well, and in January, much of the Northern Hemisphere receives less than that.
When should you start cucumber seeds indoors? ›
Cucumbers grow best in warm weather. Start seeds indoors in late April for transplants. Sow seed directly in the garden after soil has warmed, usually in May. Plastic mulch and row covers allow earlier planting.
Is it better to plant seeds in the morning or at night? ›
Sowing means planting a seed or putting the seed in the soil. Sow seeds early in the morning so the water has enough time to permeate the soil and get warm throughout the day. You can do it in the evening but make sure the seed flats stay warm overnight.
What fruit grow best in zone 8a? ›
However, because of the mild winters, zone 8 fruit trees also include some warmer climate and tropical fruits like:
- Grapefruit.
- Bananas.
- Figs.
- Lemons.
- Limequat.
- Tangerines.
- Kumquats.
- Jujubes.
Celery seedlings are ready to be planted outdoors when the weather has thoroughly settled and nights are above 50°F (often late May or mid-June in zones 6-8). It is very important that young plants are not exposed to temperatures below 55°F as they are prone to bolting (going to seed prematurely).
What potatoes grow best in zone 8a? ›
Some good zone 8 potato plants might be:
- Irish Cobbler.
- Red Pontiac.
- Yukon Gold.
- Caribe.
- Cranberry Red.
- Norchip.
- Kennebec.
Popular Berries for Zone 8 Gardens
Blackberries – Blackberry bushes are very well adapted to warm climates. Some varieties with low chill hour requirements are Arapaho, Kiowa, Ouachita, and Rosborough. Raspberries – Dormanred is the best adapted raspberry to zone 8, but Heritage may perform well too.
