I grow a few from seed every year, since my plants produce lots. They take about 3 years to bloom, in my experience, so I'd recommend growing them in pots for the first couple of years with good light and occasional feeding. After the vines die down (they may not make it a whole season the first year - the vegetative growth seems to last longer each year as they get older, much like that of Arisaemas), I keep the pots on the dry side and above freezing. The following spring I moisten the soil and wait for new growth to start. My mature plants are grown in large clay pots which are set out around the bases of small trees, shrubs, etc. and watered in spring. They then use these for support as they grow (my favorite combo has them growing through a Franklinia and blooming at about the same time). Once the vines bloom, fruit, and die back, I cut them off and move the pots into the garage, where they spend the winter. I've built up enough stock to try leaving a few in the ground this year; they're marginally hardy here, but I wouldn't suggest doing that in zone 4. Hope this helps!

Zuchini -probably bush style, will give you the huge leaves that you are looking for. The bush style will look fuller. In that size pot you should also get some harvest. There is also an early white bush scallop (its an heirloom) that would be full sized with big leaves by July if planted now-and the squash is delicious.

Hi derekh, I too sowed mine in a 4" pot...and yes they just keep germinating every so often:) I just prick them out when they get some size...and let the others continue to come up or get a bit bigger. Guess it is up to you what you want to do after that point. I'll probably let the ones pricked out get some size to them and then transplant a few spread out in their new home(for us pots to bring in over winter). I sow all my seed in 3.5 to 4" pots and prick out...think you're doing just fine. You'll just have to see if this is what you are comfortable doing...it works great for me. good luck m

I grow in a different situation that you. I have a raised bed garden but it is over limestone marl. I have no soil to speak of, so I do not want to say anything about technical stuff. I have grown armenian cucumber. It likes it hot. Have a hard time getting it to fruit and hold onto its fruit. I give it fertilizer to encourage flowering. That has helped. I use the long Chinese cucumber (whose name I forgot) because it performs well in heat and humidity. Rat tailed radish is a cool weather plant. I really like it. grows when pleas grow.It is Easy. I grew hairy vetch and australian pea as a green manure all last winter. It really improved my soil. I think now would be a good time top plant it , but not any later. They die off in the heat. Papalo: I grow it in a pot. It is a prolific seeder. It might become a weedy weed in a garden if not looked after. I was always dead heading it and throwing seeds in the pot. Seeds are the kind that blow away. I always had many sprouts. I like the flavor when it is young better than when it matures. Interesting flavor. I like it but my husband thinks it taste like soap. Calendula is another cool season plant. It would have made it through this winter. I would plant it now. I have not grown your variety of amaranth but they are all easy and seed themselves. I see them coming up in March. Malabar spinach: keep it wet. It might like a heavier soil than mine. It might prefer your clay soil.. Tatume squash... Delicious. It needs a good structure for climbing. Watch out for squash bugs of both kinds. I don't remember it being overly susceptible to the vine bore but man did it succumb to the army of squash bugs one year. I have stepped back from squash because I lost the battle bad one year and I am letting them go elsewhere. Bee balm: I collected wild and scattered seed in the fall and I have had it ever since.I use it as a wildflower. good luck on the white sage (Salvia alpiana). It really does not like heavy soil or our humidity. I have killed it in a very calcarious draining limestone soil in the Hillcountry three times. Lemon grass, I had a huge clump in Austin in a heavy clay soil that was amended , but I dies during the winter where I am now due to cold. I would always take insurance clumps and protect in the winter. Basil, I have some thai basel that has lived through this winter, but so has my peppers.. first time. I plant in spring and it is easy. all basils are easy. spinach : I grow in the winter. Peas : better have them in the ground now. The spring will probably be on us quick. I usually plant my peas in January and I protect them in the frosts, but they are still small and easy to pile the mulch on them. I use Rattlesnake beans and they are good in our heat and can deal with some dryness. Feverfew grows wild, but I have a native variety in my rock scree. I have not grown your specific varieties of many of these plants but similar plants. I follow the Agrilife schedule for Travis county and all seems to usually grow fine unless I run out of water or over ridden by bugs. As many squashes that you have, you will be spending a lot of time looking for squash bugs and squash vine bores. Some people grow them on the ground so they can keep them covered with a row cloth till they start flowering. I also keep a thing of soapy water around to kill any squash bugs and harlequin bugs. I prefer to use hardwood saw dust and I stay away from pine. I live and work in a woodshed. We toss the pine and other stuff out on the front field. I will be using cowpeas as a green manure this summer if we have enough rain. I do like the young pods as a green bean substitute. I do not water in the summer. I normally walk away from my garden and let things go and go for a swim. It looks like you have a large amount of plants. good luck and good growing.