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