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