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Friday, December 19, 2025

Episode 188: The Best Seeds We’ve Ever Started

Meet Our Favorite Seeds to Start

The wonder of sowing seeds and watching tiny new plants emerging from the soil never gets old. In this episode, Danielle, Carol, and their guest compare notes on some of their favorite plants that can be grown easily (or not so easily) from seed. Whether you are an experienced seed propagator or a nervous newbie, you’ll be sure to find something in this episode that catches your interest and makes you look forward to spring. 

While we’re on the topic of plant propagation, check out this video about growing plants from cuttings, mentioned in this episode: Growing Cuttings for Gifts 

The lavender variety that Carol successfully grew from seed a couple of years ago is ‘Ellagance Purple’. 

Episode Expert: Christine Alexander is the executive digital editor for Fine Gardening. 

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Danielle’s Favorite Seeds to Start

  • ‘Amish Gold’ paste tomato  
  • ‘Mad Hatter’ pepper  
  • Chocolate cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguineus, Zones 7–9) 
  • ‘Hawaiian Currant’ tomato  
‘Amish Gold’ paste tomato
‘Mad Hatter’ pepper on the plant photo
‘Mad Hatter’ pepper on the plant  Photo courtesy of All America Selections
Chocolate cosmos
Chocolate cosmos after a rain
‘Hawaiian Currant’ tomato
‘Hawaiian Currant’ tomato

CarolFavorite Seeds to Start

  • ‘Pampas Plume’ celosia (Celosia argentea ‘Pampas Plume’, annual) 
  • Blackberry lily (Iris domestica, Zones 5–10) 
  • ‘Apricotta’ cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Apricotta’, annual) 
  • ‘Dandy Collarette’ dahlia (Dahlia ‘Dandy Collarette’, Zones 8–11) 
‘Pampas Plume’ celosia
‘Pampas Plume’ celosia
Blackberry lily flowers
Blackberry lily flowers
‘Apricotta’ cosmos
‘Apricotta’ cosmos blooms in the garden
‘Dandy Collarette’ dahlia
‘Dandy Collarette’ dahlia with bee
Floating dahlia display, including ‘Dandy Collarette’
Carol’s floating dahlia display, including ‘Dandy Collarette’

Expert Christines Favorite Seeds to Start

  • ‘Black Beauty’ eggplant 
  • ‘Bright Lights’ Swiss chard 
  • ‘Pepperbox’ breadseed poppy (Papaver somniferum ‘Pepperbox’, annual) 
  • ‘Provence’ lavender (Lavandula × intermedia ‘Provence’, Zones 5–9) 
‘Black Beauty’ eggplant flickr
‘Black Beauty’ eggplant
 ‘Provence’ lavender
‘Provence’ lavender
‘Bright Lights’ Swiss chard
‘Bright Lights’ Swiss chard
‘Pepperbox’ breadseed poppy 
‘Pepperbox’ breadseed poppy

All photos from the contributors unless noted otherwise. 

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