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