Seed-Starting Date Calculator

The right time to start your seeds indoors varies significantly by crop and location, ranging anywhere from 2–16 weeks prior to transplanting. Use this calculator to ascertain when to start seeds indoors and then to transplant outside, based on the frost-free date in your area.

Enter spring frost-free date (include year):

mm/dd/yyyy
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
6-Mar
on frost-free date
1-May
Basil 6
27-Mar
1 week after
8-May
Beets* 4 to 6
6-Mar
20-Mar
2 weeks before
17-Apr
Broccoli 4 to 6
6-Mar
20-Mar
2 weeks before
17-Apr
Cabbage 4 to 6
20-Feb
3-Apr
4 weeks before
3-Apr
1-May
Cauliflower 4 to 6
6-Mar
3-Apr
2 weeks before
17-Apr
1-May
Celery & Celeriac 10 to 12
13-Feb
27-Feb
1 week after
8-May
Collards 4 to 6
20-Feb
6-Mar
4 weeks before
3-Apr
Corn Salad/Mâche 4 to 6
6-Feb
13-Mar
3 to 6 weeks before
20-Mar
10-Apr
Corn* 2 to 4
3-Apr
1-May
0 to 2 weeks after
1-May
15-May
Cucumber 3 to 4
10-Apr
24-Apr
1 to 2 weeks after
8-May
15-May
Eggplant 8 to 10
6-Mar
27-Mar
2 to 3 weeks after
15-May
22-May
Kale 4 to 6
20-Feb
6-Mar
4 weeks before
3-Apr
Kohlrabi* 4 to 6
20-Feb
6-Mar
4 weeks before
3-Apr
Leeks 8 to 10
6-Feb
20-Feb
2 weeks before
17-Apr
Lettuce 4 to 5
27-Feb
13-Mar
3 to 4 weeks before
3-Apr
10-Apr
Melons 3 to 4
17-Apr
24-Apr
2 weeks after
15-May
Mustard* 4 to 6
20-Feb
6-Mar
4 weeks before
3-Apr
Okra* 4 to 6
3-Apr
1-May
2 to 4 weeks after
15-May
29-May
Onions 8 to 10
23-Jan
6-Feb
4 weeks before
3-Apr
Parsley 9 to 10
30-Jan
13-Feb
2 to 3 weeks before
10-Apr
17-Apr
Peas* 3 to 4
6-Feb
27-Feb
6 to 8 weeks before
6-Mar
20-Mar
Peppers 8
20-Mar
2 weeks after
15-May
Pumpkins 3 to 4
17-Apr
24-Apr
2 weeks after
15-May
Spinach 4 to 6
6-Feb
13-Mar
3 to 6 weeks before
20-Mar
10-Apr
Squash 3 to 4
17-Apr
24-Apr
2 weeks after
15-May
Swiss Chard 4 to 6
6-Mar
20-Mar
2 weeks before
17-Apr
Tomatoes 6 to 8
13-Mar
3-Apr
1 to 2 weeks after
8-May
15-May
Watermelon 3 to 4
17-Apr
24-Apr
2 weeks after
15-May
FLOWERS
Ageratum 6 to 8
6-Mar
20-Mar
on frost-free date
1-May
Agrostemma (Corn Cockle)* 6 to 8
6-Mar
20-Mar
on frost-free date
1-May
Amaranthus 4 to 6
27-Mar
10-Apr
1 week after
8-May
Ammi (False Queen Anne's Lace)* 6 to 8
6-Mar
20-Mar
on frost-free date
1-May
Artemisia (Sweet Annie) 6 to 8
6-Mar
20-Mar
on frost-free date
1-May
Asclepias (Butterfly Weed) 10 to 12
6-Feb
20-Feb
on frost-free date
1-May
Aster, China 6 to 8
6-Mar
20-Mar
on frost-free date
1-May
Bells of Ireland** 6 to 8
6-Mar
20-Mar
on frost-free date
1-May
Calendula* 6 to 8
6-Mar
20-Mar
on frost-free date
1-May
Cardoon 6 to 8
6-Mar
20-Mar
on frost-free date
1-May
Carthamus (Safflower)* 4 to 6
20-Mar
3-Apr
on frost-free date
1-May
Castor Bean 6 to 8
13-Mar
27-Mar
1 week after
8-May
Celosia 6 to 8
13-Mar
27-Mar
1 week after
8-May
Centaurea (Bachelor's Button)* 6 to 8
6-Mar
20-Mar
on frost-free date
1-May
Chinese Lanterns 8 to 12
6-Feb
6-Mar
on frost-free date
1-May
Coleus 8
13-Mar
1 week after
8-May
Cosmos* 5 to 7
13-Mar
27-Mar
on frost-free date
1-May
Craspedia (Drumstick Flower) 8 to 10
20-Feb
6-Mar
on frost-free date
1-May
Datura (Angel's Trumpet) 8 to 12
20-Feb
27-Mar
2 to 3 weeks after
15-May
22-May
Delphinium 10 to 16
9-Jan
20-Feb
on frost-free date
1-May
Dianthus (Sweet William) 10 to 12
23-Jan
13-Feb
1 to 2 weeks before
17-Apr
24-Apr
Digitalis (Foxglove) 10 to 12
6-Feb
20-Feb
on frost-free date
1-May
Eucalyptus 10 to 12
6-Feb
20-Feb
on frost-free date
1-May
Euphorbia (Snow-on-the-Mountain)* 4 to 6
20-Mar
3-Apr
on frost-free date
1-May
Flower Collections & Mixes* 6 to 8
6-Mar
20-Mar
on frost-free date
1-May
Forget-Me-Not 8 to 9
27-Feb
6-Mar
on frost-free date
1-May
Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) 8 to 10
20-Feb
6-Mar
on frost-free date
1-May
Gomphrena (Globe Amaranth) 6 to 8
6-Mar
20-Mar
on frost-free date
1-May
Helianthus maximillianii 8 to 10
20-Feb
6-Mar
on frost-free date
1-May
Hibiscus 8 to 10
27-Feb
13-Mar
1 week after
8-May
Hollyhock 8 to 10
20-Feb
6-Mar
on frost-free date
1-May
Hyacinth Bean 4 to 6
27-Mar
10-Apr
1 week after
8-May
Impatiens 8 to 10
27-Feb
13-Mar
1 week after
8-May
Kale, Ornamental 6 to 8
6-Mar
20-Mar
on frost-free date
1-May
Larkspur* 6 to 8
6-Mar
20-Mar
on frost-free date
1-May
Lisianthus 12 to 13
30-Jan
6-Feb
on frost-free date
1-May
Lupine 6 to 8
20-Feb
6-Mar
2 weeks before
17-Apr
Marigold 6 to 8
13-Mar
27-Mar
1 week after
8-May
Monarda (Bee Balm) 6 to 8
6-Mar
20-Mar
on frost-free date
1-May
Morning Glory 3 to 4
24-Apr
8-May
3 to 4 weeks after
22-May
29-May
Nigella* 4 to 6
20-Mar
3-Apr
on frost-free date
1-May
Phlox** 4
6-Mar
1 to 2 weeks before
17-Apr
24-Apr
Pepper, Ornamental 8
13-Mar
1 week after
8-May
Petunia 8 to 10
20-Feb
6-Mar
on frost-free date
1-May
Polygonum (Prince's Feather) 8 to 10
20-Feb
6-Mar
on frost-free date
1-May
California Poppy* 2 to 3
10-Apr
17-Apr
on frost-free date
1-May
Corn Poppy* 2 to 3
10-Apr
17-Apr
on frost-free date
1-May
Iceland Poppy 6 to 8
6-Mar
20-Mar
on frost-free date
1-May
Ptilotus 6 to 8
6-Mar
20-Mar
on frost-free date
1-May
Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susan) 8 to 10
20-Feb
6-Mar
on frost-free date
1-May
Salpiglossis (Painted Tongue) 4 to 6
20-Mar
3-Apr
on frost-free date
1-May
Salvia 6 to 8
20-Feb
20-Mar
on frost-free date
1-May
Sanvitalia 6 to 8
6-Mar
20-Mar
on frost-free date
1-May
Scabiosa (Pincushion Flower) 4 to 6
20-Mar
3-Apr
on frost-free date
1-May
Scarlet Runner Bean 2 to 3
soil 60 degrees
Snapdragon 8 to 10
20-Feb
6-Mar
on frost-free date
1-May
Statice 8
6-Mar
on frost-free date
1-May
Stock 8 to 10
20-Feb
6-Mar
on frost-free date
1-May
Sunflowers* 3-4
3-Apr
10-Apr
on frost-free date
1-May
Strawflower 6 to 8
6-Mar
20-Mar
on frost-free date
1-May
Sweet Pea* 4 to 6
6-Mar
27-Mar
1 to 2 weeks before
17-Apr
24-Apr
Thunbergia (Black-Eyed Susan Vine) 6 to 8
6-Mar
20-Mar
on frost-free date
1-May
Tithonia (Mexican Sunflower)* 6
27-Mar
1 week after
8-May
Verbena 8 to 12
6-Feb
6-Mar
on frost-free date
1-May
Viola (Pansy) 8 to 12
23-Jan
27-Feb
1 to 2 weeks before
17-Apr
24-Apr
Yarrow 8 to 12
20-Feb
6-Mar
on frost-free date
1-May
Zinnia 4
10-Apr
1 week after
8-May
* 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.