Spring is the right time to plant all of your seedlings, but make sure you plant each set at the right time of the season. Photo By iStockPhoto

Now is the perfect time to plan your greatest garden ever, and one of the best ways to ensure success is to plan ahead about when you’ll plant what. Some plants thrive in cooler soils, while others will only think about growing when it’s warmer. It’s important to plant your garden seeds and transplants at the right time so they can benefit from appropriate temperatures. New gardeners may want to begin by using purchased seedlings from a garden center or mail-order company, while those with proven green thumbs often like to start seeds indoors in advance of the garden season. Either way, this handy Spring Garden Worksheet will help you put the right plants into the ground at the right time.

Spring Garden Planting Guide

Step 1: Determine your last spring frost date

To estimate your date, use the range of dates on the map in the Image Gallery above. For a more precise date that takes microclimates into consideration, visit the National Climatic Data Center. (Your best bet is to choose their listing of a 90 percent probability of a freeze-free period.)

The spring frost-free date in my garden is ___________.

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Step 2: Calculate planting dates

If you want to start with seedlings: