Pin 385 2K Shares

NEED HELP remembering when it’s safe and smart to start your first spring sowings of vegetable, flower and herb seeds indoors and out? This tool calculates when. Begin by entering your final spring frost date on the top right of the chart below. (Don’t know? Search by state with the tool at this link.)

The chart dates below suggest earliest springtime sowings, but there is no hard-and-fast rule whether lettuce needs 4 or 6 weeks indoors—or if you never give it a headstart, but simply direct-sow. This is my best guidance, not doctrine; that’s why my website is “A Way to Garden,” not “The Way to Garden.”

Note: Reemay or other protective row covers can “cheat” the earliest transplant dates by as much as 2 weeks, especially helpful with tender things like melons (or insect-prone brassicas and cucurbits).

Many crops (salads, carrots, beets, bush beans, cilantro…) are best sown in succession, a small amount every 2 weeks, starting at the chart date. In some climates, a later sowing timed for fall or winter harvest (e.g., Brussels sprouts) may do better than a spring one, or you can get a second sowing in of peas that you sowed in spring, then pulled.

I’ve added a list of how-to story links below, including some on stashing your harvest. Again: Start by entering your final spring frost date below (mine’s about Memorial Day). You can print your results using the button under the chart (it will be about 5 pages).

a spring garden calculator

crop name

select crops… {{plant.name}} {{plant.name}} Select All Select None weeks indoors before transplant transplant (or sow) date, relative to final frost sow indoors

from-to transplant

(or sow) vegetables arugula direct sow only 4 weeks before beans

(bush or pole) direct sow only at frost date beets* 5 to 6 2 weeks before broccoli 4 to 6 2 weeks before cabbage 4 to 6 2 to 4 weeks before carrot direct sow only 2 to 3 weeks before cauliflower 4 to 6 2 weeks before chard* 4 2 weeks before celery, celeriac 10 to 12 1 week after corn* 2 to 4 0 to 2 weeks after cucumber* 3 to 4 1 to 2 weeks after eggplant 6 to 8 2 weeks after kale*, collards* 4 to 6 2 to 4 weeks before kohlrabi* 4 to 6 2 to 4 weeks before leeks 8 to 10 2 weeks before lettuce* 4 2 to 4 weeks before melons

(muskmelons)* 3 to 4 1 to 2 weeks after melons

(watermelons)* 3 to 4 1 to 2 weeks after mustard* 4 2 to 4 weeks before onions 8 to 10 3 to 4 weeks before pak choi* 4 2 weeks before parsnip direct sow only 3 to 4 weeks before peas direct sow only 6 weeks before peppers 6 to 8 1 to 2 weeks after radish direct sow only 3 to 4 weeks before spinach direct sow only 4 to 6 weeks before squash

(summer)* 3 to 4 1 to 2 weeks after squash

(winter)* 3 to 4 1 to 2 weeks after tomatoes 6 to 8 1 to 2 weeks after turnip direct sow only 2 to 3 weeks before herbs basil* 4 to 6 1 week after cilantro direct sow only 0 to 3 weeks before dill direct sow only 0 to 3 weeks before parsley 8 to 10 2 weeks before annual flowers calendula* 6 1 week before cosmos* 6 at frost date hyacinth bean* 4 to 6 0 to 1 weeks after impatiens 8 to 10 1 week after marigold* 6 1 week after morning glory,

moonflower 4 2 weeks after sunflower* 3 to 4 at frost date sweet peas 4 to 6 1 to 2 weeks before viola, pansies 8 to 10 2 weeks before zinnia* 4 1 week after *Chard, collards, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard, plus many familiar herbs and annual flowers, are probably easiest direct-sown. In short-season Northern areas, starting heat-loving melons, cucumbers, and squash indoors (though all easy to direct sow) may offer a headstart.

Print Download as PDF

seed-starting gear i use for best results