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