Coming Out of Hiberation - 2014 Seed Starting Schedule

I guess you can say I've been hibernating for the past month.  Aside from assembling my seed orders and putting together my spring sowing schedule, it's been pretty quiet on the gardening front.  Then again, there's not much you can do with a foot of snow on the ground and sub-freezing temperatures.  

Now that February is here, however, things are sure to pick up rather quickly.  Aside from the odd veg or flower, all of my seeds are now in.  I purchased the bulk of my seeds (Renee's Garden and Botanical Interests) from a local gardening center and placed orders with Johnny Selected Seeds and Seed Savers Exchange.  I'm expecting this gardening year to be a rather challenging one for me.  I have many gardening projects planned - including building new vegetable raised beds, cutting down several old neglected trees, planting a dozen fruit trees,  installing new garden paths and patios, and establishing several perennial flower beds.  That being said, I haven't been this excited in a long time.

Here is my tentative vegetable seed-starting schedule for 2014. As you can see, I'm starting most of my seeds indoors.

2014 Spring Seed Starting Schedule

Frost Free Date (50% chance) – May 1st

                                                Indoor Starting            Set Out                        Direct Sow

Artichoke                                1/18                                5/3

Beans                                                                                                                  5/17 or 24

Beans – Fava                                                                                                      3/22

Beans – Runner                      4/26                                5/17                              5/17 or 24

Beets                                                                                                                   4/12, 5/3

Broccoli                                  3/8                                  4/19

Cabbage                                  3/15, 4/5                        4/19, 5/10                                   

Carrots                                                                                                                4/12, 7/26

Cauliflower                             3/15                               4/19

Celery                                      2/22                               4/19

Claytonia                                 7/19                               8/23

Corn                                         4/26                              5/17

Cucumber                                4/26, 5/17                     5/17, 6/7

Fennel                                      3/8                                4/12                               4/12

Kale                                         3/8                                4/19

Leeks                                       3/1                                5/17

Melons                                     4/26                              5/17

Parsnips                                                                                                               4/12

Peas                                                                                                                     3/22

Peppers                                    3/15                              5/17

Scallions                                  2/8                                4/5

Squash                                     4/26, 5/17                     5/17, 6/7

Strawberries                            2/22

Tomatoes                                 3/22 or 29                     5/17

Tomatillos                               3/22 or 29                     5/17

Spring Greens

Lettuce                                    2/15, successive            3/15 (under hoop)

Mizuna                                    2/15, successive            3/15 (under hoop)

Pac Choi – Shanghai               2/15, successive            3/15 (under hoop)

Pac Choi – Win-Win               2/15, successive            3/15 (under hoop)

Spinach                                                                                                              3/22 (under hoop)

Tatsoi                                       2/15, successive           3/15 (under hoop)

Turnips – Hakurei                                                                                              3/22 (under hoop)

Herbs

Basil                                        3/22                               5/3

Chives                                     2/8                                 4/5

Cilantro                                                                                                              4/12 (pots), successive

Cumin                                     3/29                               5/10 or 17

Dill                                                                                                                     3/22

Fennel                                     3/8                                 4/19                              4/19

Lovage                                    3/8                                 4/12

Oregano                                  3/8                                 4/12

Parsley                                    3/8                                 4/12

Sage                                        3/8                                 4/12

Thai Basil                               3/22                               5/3

In addition to this, I have lots of flower seeds to sow.  I haven't done a variety count, but at this point, I'm guessing that it's probably twice the number I've grown in years past.  Soon, I'll post the entire list.