Clarence Booker
Seed pods and paper envelopes on a wooden table

January 11, 2026 · 5 min

Choosing tomato seed for the year

A short list of varieties, and why I stopped buying more than I can start.

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  1. The tomato bed

    Deep planting, tall cages and a thick mulch from May on.

    1. Jan
    2. Feb
    3. Mar
    4. Apr
    5. May
    6. Jun
    7. Jul
    8. Aug
    9. Sep
    10. Oct
    11. Nov
    12. Dec

  2. The bean and pea bed

    Peas in March, beans in May and seed saved in the autumn.

    1. The bean and pea bed, January: Planning a bean trellis I can reach
    2. Feb
    3. Mar
    4. Apr
    5. May
    6. Jun
    7. Jul
    8. Aug
    9. Sep
    10. Oct
    11. Nov
    12. Dec

  3. The greens bed

    Spinach, collards and kale cut at a comfortable height.

    1. Jan
    2. Feb
    3. Mar
    4. Apr
    5. May
    6. Jun
    7. Jul
    8. Aug
    9. Sep
    10. Oct
    11. Nov
    12. Dec

  4. The root bed

    Carrots, beets and sweet potatoes in a deep, loose bed.

    1. Jan
    2. Feb
    3. Mar
    4. Apr
    5. May
    6. Jun
    7. Jul
    8. Aug
    9. Sep
    10. Oct
    11. Nov
    12. Dec

  5. The squash bed

    A raised hill, a bottle of water and plenty of room to run.

    1. Jan
    2. Feb
    3. Mar
    4. Apr
    5. May
    6. Jun
    7. Jul
    8. Aug
    9. Sep
    10. Oct
    11. Nov
    12. Dec
Printed raised-bed plans on a workbench

The bean and pea bed · January 2026

Planning a bean trellis I can reach

Poles, string and the height I can tie to without a stretch.