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Seed-Starting Date Calculator
The right time to start your seeds indoors varies significantly by crop and location, ranging anywhere from
Enter spring frost-free date (include year):
| Crop | Number of weeks to start seeds before setting-out date | When to start inside | Setting-out date | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| From | To | Safe time to set out plants (relative to frost-free date) | From | To | ||
| VEGETABLES | ||||||
| Artichoke | 8 |
19-Jul |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
||
| Basil | 6 |
9-Aug |
1 week after |
20-Sep |
||
| Beets* | 4 to 6 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
2 weeks before |
30-Aug |
|
| Broccoli | 4 to 6 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
2 weeks before |
30-Aug |
|
| Cabbage | 4 to 6 |
5-Jul |
16-Aug |
4 weeks before |
16-Aug |
13-Sep |
| Cauliflower | 4 to 6 |
19-Jul |
16-Aug |
2 weeks before |
30-Aug |
13-Sep |
| Celery & Celeriac | 10 to 12 |
28-Jun |
12-Jul |
1 week after |
20-Sep |
|
| Collards | 4 to 6 |
5-Jul |
19-Jul |
4 weeks before |
16-Aug |
|
| Corn Salad/Mâche | 4 to 6 |
21-Jun |
26-Jul |
3 to 6 weeks before |
2-Aug |
23-Aug |
| Corn* | 2 to 4 |
16-Aug |
13-Sep |
0 to 2 weeks after |
13-Sep |
27-Sep |
| Cucumber | 3 to 4 |
23-Aug |
6-Sep |
1 to 2 weeks after |
20-Sep |
27-Sep |
| Eggplant | 8 to 10 |
19-Jul |
9-Aug |
2 to 3 weeks after |
27-Sep |
4-Oct |
| Kale | 4 to 6 |
5-Jul |
19-Jul |
4 weeks before |
16-Aug |
|
| Kohlrabi* | 4 to 6 |
5-Jul |
19-Jul |
4 weeks before |
16-Aug |
|
| Leeks | 8 to 10 |
21-Jun |
5-Jul |
2 weeks before |
30-Aug |
|
| Lettuce | 4 to 5 |
12-Jul |
26-Jul |
3 to 4 weeks before |
16-Aug |
23-Aug |
| Melons | 3 to 4 |
30-Aug |
6-Sep |
2 weeks after |
27-Sep |
|
| Mustard* | 4 to 6 |
5-Jul |
19-Jul |
4 weeks before |
16-Aug |
|
| Okra* | 4 to 6 |
16-Aug |
13-Sep |
2 to 4 weeks after |
27-Sep |
11-Oct |
| Onions | 8 to 10 |
7-Jun |
21-Jun |
4 weeks before |
16-Aug |
|
| Parsley | 9 to 10 |
14-Jun |
28-Jun |
2 to 3 weeks before |
23-Aug |
30-Aug |
| Peas* | 3 to 4 |
21-Jun |
12-Jul |
6 to 8 weeks before |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
| Peppers | 8 |
2-Aug |
2 weeks after |
27-Sep |
||
| Pumpkins | 3 to 4 |
30-Aug |
6-Sep |
2 weeks after |
27-Sep |
|
| Spinach | 4 to 6 |
21-Jun |
26-Jul |
3 to 6 weeks before |
2-Aug |
23-Aug |
| Squash | 3 to 4 |
30-Aug |
6-Sep |
2 weeks after |
27-Sep |
|
| Swiss Chard | 4 to 6 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
2 weeks before |
30-Aug |
|
| Tomatoes | 6 to 8 |
26-Jul |
16-Aug |
1 to 2 weeks after |
20-Sep |
27-Sep |
| Watermelon | 3 to 4 |
30-Aug |
6-Sep |
2 weeks after |
27-Sep |
|
| FLOWERS | ||||||
| Ageratum | 6 to 8 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Agrostemma (Corn Cockle)* | 6 to 8 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Amaranthus | 4 to 6 |
9-Aug |
23-Aug |
1 week after |
20-Sep |
|
| Ammi (False Queen Anne's Lace)* | 6 to 8 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Artemisia (Sweet Annie) | 6 to 8 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Asclepias (Butterfly Weed) | 10 to 12 |
21-Jun |
5-Jul |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Aster, China | 6 to 8 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Bells of Ireland** | 6 to 8 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Calendula* | 6 to 8 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Cardoon | 6 to 8 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Carthamus (Safflower)* | 4 to 6 |
2-Aug |
16-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Castor Bean | 6 to 8 |
26-Jul |
9-Aug |
1 week after |
20-Sep |
|
| Celosia | 6 to 8 |
26-Jul |
9-Aug |
1 week after |
20-Sep |
|
| Centaurea (Bachelor's Button)* | 6 to 8 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Chinese Lanterns | 8 to 12 |
21-Jun |
19-Jul |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Coleus | 8 |
26-Jul |
1 week after |
20-Sep |
||
| Cosmos* | 5 to 7 |
26-Jul |
9-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Craspedia (Drumstick Flower) | 8 to 10 |
5-Jul |
19-Jul |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Datura (Angel's Trumpet) | 8 to 12 |
5-Jul |
9-Aug |
2 to 3 weeks after |
27-Sep |
4-Oct |
| Delphinium | 10 to 16 |
24-May |
5-Jul |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Dianthus (Sweet William) | 10 to 12 |
7-Jun |
28-Jun |
1 to 2 weeks before |
30-Aug |
6-Sep |
| Digitalis (Foxglove) | 10 to 12 |
21-Jun |
5-Jul |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Eucalyptus | 10 to 12 |
21-Jun |
5-Jul |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Euphorbia (Snow-on-the-Mountain)* | 4 to 6 |
2-Aug |
16-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Flower Collections & Mixes* | 6 to 8 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Forget-Me-Not | 8 to 9 |
12-Jul |
19-Jul |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) | 8 to 10 |
5-Jul |
19-Jul |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Gomphrena (Globe Amaranth) | 6 to 8 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Helianthus maximillianii | 8 to 10 |
5-Jul |
19-Jul |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Hibiscus | 8 to 10 |
12-Jul |
26-Jul |
1 week after |
20-Sep |
|
| Hollyhock | 8 to 10 |
5-Jul |
19-Jul |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Hyacinth Bean | 4 to 6 |
9-Aug |
23-Aug |
1 week after |
20-Sep |
|
| Impatiens | 8 to 10 |
12-Jul |
26-Jul |
1 week after |
20-Sep |
|
| Kale, Ornamental | 6 to 8 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Larkspur* | 6 to 8 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Lisianthus | 12 to 13 |
14-Jun |
21-Jun |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Lupine | 6 to 8 |
5-Jul |
19-Jul |
2 weeks before |
30-Aug |
|
| Marigold | 6 to 8 |
26-Jul |
9-Aug |
1 week after |
20-Sep |
|
| Monarda (Bee Balm) | 6 to 8 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Morning Glory | 3 to 4 |
6-Sep |
20-Sep |
3 to 4 weeks after |
4-Oct |
11-Oct |
| Nigella* | 4 to 6 |
2-Aug |
16-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Phlox** | 4 |
19-Jul |
1 to 2 weeks before |
30-Aug |
6-Sep |
|
| Pepper, Ornamental | 8 |
26-Jul |
1 week after |
20-Sep |
||
| Petunia | 8 to 10 |
5-Jul |
19-Jul |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Polygonum (Prince's Feather) | 8 to 10 |
5-Jul |
19-Jul |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| California Poppy* | 2 to 3 |
23-Aug |
30-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Corn Poppy* | 2 to 3 |
23-Aug |
30-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Iceland Poppy | 6 to 8 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Ptilotus | 6 to 8 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susan) | 8 to 10 |
5-Jul |
19-Jul |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Salpiglossis (Painted Tongue) | 4 to 6 |
2-Aug |
16-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Salvia | 6 to 8 |
5-Jul |
2-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Sanvitalia | 6 to 8 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Scabiosa (Pincushion Flower) | 4 to 6 |
2-Aug |
16-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Scarlet Runner Bean | 2 to 3 | soil 60 degrees | ||||
| Snapdragon | 8 to 10 |
5-Jul |
19-Jul |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Statice | 8 |
19-Jul |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
||
| Stock | 8 to 10 |
5-Jul |
19-Jul |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Sunflowers* | 3-4 |
16-Aug |
23-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Strawflower | 6 to 8 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Sweet Pea* | 4 to 6 |
19-Jul |
9-Aug |
1 to 2 weeks before |
30-Aug |
6-Sep |
| Thunbergia (Black-Eyed Susan Vine) | 6 to 8 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Tithonia (Mexican Sunflower)* | 6 |
9-Aug |
1 week after |
20-Sep |
||
| Verbena | 8 to 12 |
21-Jun |
19-Jul |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Viola (Pansy) | 8 to 12 |
7-Jun |
12-Jul |
1 to 2 weeks before |
30-Aug |
6-Sep |
| Yarrow | 8 to 12 |
5-Jul |
19-Jul |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Zinnia | 4 |
23-Aug |
1 week after |
20-Sep |
||
| * Usually direct-sown, but can be started indoors | ||||||
| ** Specifically recommended for direct-seeding outdoors | ||||||
| Note: Dates are the same from year to year, but this table requires that a year be entered for computation simplicity. | ||||||