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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 to 12 |
19-Jul |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
||
| Beets* | 5 to 6 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
2 weeks before |
30-Aug |
|
| Broccoli (standard) | 3 to 4 |
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 |
|
| Cucumber | 3 to 4 |
23-Aug |
6-Sep |
1 to 2 weeks after |
20-Sep |
27-Sep |
| Eggplant | 6 to 8 |
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 |
|
| 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 |
|
| 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 | 5 to 6 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
2 weeks before |
30-Aug |
|
| Tomatoes | 5 to 6 |
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 |
|
HERBS |
||||||
| Basil* | 6 |
9-Aug |
1 week after |
20-Sep |
||
| Chamomile | 4 to 6 |
14-Jun |
28-Jun |
1 week after |
23-Aug |
30-Aug |
| Parsley | 9 to 10 |
14-Jun |
28-Jun |
1 week after |
23-Aug |
30-Aug |
| Sage | 6 to 8 |
14-Jun |
28-Jun |
1 week after |
23-Aug |
30-Aug |
| Thyme | 8 to 10 |
14-Jun |
28-Jun |
1 week after |
23-Aug |
30-Aug |
FLOWERS |
||||||
| Ageratum | 6 to 8 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Agrostemma (Corn Cockle)* | 4 to 5 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Alyssum | 4 to 5 |
9-Aug |
23-Aug |
1 week after |
20-Sep |
|
| Amaranthus | 4 to 6 |
9-Aug |
23-Aug |
1 week after |
20-Sep |
|
| Ammi (False Queen Anne's Lace)* | 4 to 6 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Ammobium | 5 to 6 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
1 week after |
13-Sep |
|
| Artemisia (Sweet Annie) | 5 to 6 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Asclepias (Butterfly Weed) | 7 to 9 |
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 |
|
| Atriplex | 4 to 6 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
1 week after |
13-Sep |
|
| Bells of Ireland* | 6 to 8 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Calendula* | 4 to 5 |
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 5 |
2-Aug |
16-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Celosia | 6 to 8 |
26-Jul |
9-Aug |
1 week after |
20-Sep |
|
| Centaurea (Bachelor's Button)* | 3 to 4 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Cerinthe | 6 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
1 week after |
13-Sep |
|
| Clarkia | 4 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
1 week after |
13-Sep |
|
| Columbine | 8 to 10 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
1 week after |
13-Sep |
|
| Cosmos* | 5 to 7 |
26-Jul |
9-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Craspedia (Drumstick Flower) | 6 to 8 |
5-Jul |
19-Jul |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Dahlia (from seed) | 4 to 5 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
1 week after |
13-Sep |
|
| Delphinium | 10 to 16 |
24-May |
5-Jul |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Dianthus (Sweet William) | 6 to 8 |
7-Jun |
28-Jun |
1 to 2 weeks before |
30-Aug |
6-Sep |
| Didiscus | 4 to 6 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
1 week after |
13-Sep |
|
| Digitalis (Foxglove) | 10 to 12 |
21-Jun |
5-Jul |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Dusty Miller | 8 to 10 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
1 week after |
13-Sep |
|
| Echinacea | 8 to 10 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
1 week after |
13-Sep |
|
| Echinops | 6 to 8 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
1 week after |
13-Sep |
|
| Eryngium | 10 to 16 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
1 week after |
13-Sep |
|
| Eucalyptus | 8 to 10 |
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 |
|
| Forget-Me-Not (Cynoglossom) | 3 to 4 |
12-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 |
|
| Gypsophila | 6 to 8 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
1 week after |
13-Sep |
|
| Helianthus maximillianii | 8 to 10 |
5-Jul |
19-Jul |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Helipterum | 6 to 8 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
1 week after |
13-Sep |
|
| Hibiscus | 6 to 8 |
12-Jul |
26-Jul |
1 week after |
20-Sep |
|
| Hyacinth Bean | 4 to 6 |
9-Aug |
23-Aug |
1 week after |
20-Sep |
|
| Kale, Ornamental | 4 to 6 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Larkspur* | 5 to 7 |
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 | 4 to 8 |
5-Jul |
19-Jul |
2 weeks before |
30-Aug |
|
| Marigold | 4 to 6 |
26-Jul |
9-Aug |
1 week after |
20-Sep |
|
| Matricaria | 5 to 7 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
1 week after |
13-Sep |
|
| Monarda (Bee Balm) | 7 to 9 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Nasturtium | 3 to 4 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
1 week after |
13-Sep |
|
| Nicotiana | 5 to 6 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
1 week after |
13-Sep |
|
| Nigella* | 4 to 6 |
2-Aug |
16-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Phlox* | 4 to 6 |
19-Jul |
1 to 2 weeks before |
30-Aug |
6-Sep |
|
| California 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 |
|
| Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susan) | 5 to 7 |
5-Jul |
19-Jul |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Salvia | 6 to 8 |
5-Jul |
2-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Scabiosa (Pincushion Flower) | 4 to 8 |
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 | 5 to 6 |
19-Jul |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
||
| Stock | 5 to 6 |
5-Jul |
19-Jul |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Strawflower | 4 to 6 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Sunflowers* | 2 to 3 |
16-Aug |
23-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 |
| 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) | 7 to 9 |
7-Jun |
12-Jul |
1 to 2 weeks before |
30-Aug |
6-Sep |
| Yarrow | 8 to 10 |
5-Jul |
19-Jul |
on frost-free date |
13-Sep |
|
| Xeranthemum | 5 to 8 |
19-Jul |
2-Aug |
1 week after |
13-Sep |
|
| Zinnia | 4 |
23-Aug |
1 week after |
20-Sep |
||
| * Usually direct-sown, but can be started indoors | ||||||
| Note: Dates are the same from year to year, but this table requires that a year be entered for computation simplicity. | ||||||
Learn More
- Key Growing Information Pages • Index for all Crops
Essential instructions for planting & growing your vegetables, fruits, flowers, herbs & farm seed. - Guidelines for Starting Seeds Indoors • Article
Tips & troubleshooting advice for starting healthy seedlings. - Seed Quantity Calculator • Interactive Tool
This is an interactive tool to help you determine how many seeds or plants you will need for a given amount of space. - Succession Planting & Harvesting Programs • Charts
A set of succession-planting programs indicating which varieties of particular crops are best adapted for planting and harvesting across the span of seasonal slots. Based on multiyear trial data and curated for you by Johnny's Research Team.