Our seed shop opens this winter for the 2027 season. Join the opening list
Crosby Rd NurseryMichigan · Seeds & Garden
Growing guides

Grow it right the first time

Plain instructions written for cold springs and short summers.

Seedlings under a window
Beginner

Starting seeds indoors

Most warm-weather crops need a head start inside in Michigan. Here's the simple setup.

Read the steps
  1. Use a sterile seed-starting mix, not garden soil.
  2. Sow at a depth of about twice the seed's width.
  3. Keep at 70–80°F until sprouts appear; a heat mat helps peppers.
  4. Give 14–16 hours of light a day, with a shop light 2–3 inches above the plants.
  5. Harden off for 7–10 days before transplanting outside.
Ripe tomatoes on the vine
Vegetables

Tomatoes in a short season

Choose early varieties, warm the soil, and stop new flowers in late August so the plant ripens what it has.

Read the steps
  1. Start indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost.
  2. Plant out when nights stay above 50°F, burying the stem deep.
  3. Mulch after the soil warms to hold moisture even.
  4. Water at the base 1–2 inches a week to prevent cracking and blossom-end rot.
  5. In late August pinch off new flowers to speed ripening.
Peppers on the plant
Vegetables

Peppers that actually ripen

Peppers want heat. Start them early and give them the warmest spot you have.

Read the steps
  1. Start 8–10 weeks before last frost on a heat mat at 80°F.
  2. Wait to plant out until the soil is 65°F, usually early June.
  3. Black plastic or a south wall adds heat.
  4. Pick the first few green to keep the plant setting fruit.
Native wildflower meadow
Natives

Planting a native meadow

Many Michigan natives need a cold, wet winter to sprout, which makes late fall the easiest sowing time.

Read the steps
  1. Clear grass and weeds completely.
  2. Sow on bare soil in November or December and press seed in; don't bury it.
  3. Let winter do the work: freezing and thawing breaks dormancy.
  4. Year one is mostly roots. Mow high in early summer to beat weeds.
  5. Expect real blooms in year two and three.
Rows of lettuce
Vegetables

Spring and fall greens

Lettuce and spinach love Michigan's cool shoulders of the year. Sow twice for two harvests.

Read the steps
  1. Sow 4–6 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
  2. Sow a short row every two weeks for steady picking.
  3. Stop in June when heat makes lettuce bolt.
  4. Sow again in mid-August for fall harvests until hard frost.
Marigolds edging a garden
Flowers

Flowers that help your vegetables

A border of flowers brings in pollinators and the insects that eat garden pests.

Read the steps
  1. Edge beds with marigolds and zinnias.
  2. Leave dill and parsley to flower for beneficial wasps.
  3. Plant a sunflower row on the north side so it won't shade crops.
  4. Add native coneflower and milkweed for bees and monarchs.
Seed-starting kit

What we use to start seeds

The basic gear for starting peppers and tomatoes indoors in a Michigan March.

Seedling heat mat

Peppers sprout in days instead of weeks at 80°F soil.

See options on Amazon →

LED grow light

A windowsill isn't enough light in March. Keep it 2–3 inches above seedlings.

See options on Amazon →

72-cell seed trays

Reusable trays with humidity domes.

See options on Amazon →

Seed-starting mix

Fine, sterile mix that prevents damping off.

See options on Amazon →

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

Be first when the shop opens

We open this winter, ahead of seed-starting season. Email us and we'll send one note when the shop and the Seed Box go live, plus a free Michigan planting calendar.

Email us to join the list

[email protected]