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