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