Interactive growing tool
Seed-Starting Date Calculator: When to Start Seeds Indoors
Choose your expected spring frost-free date. This tool estimates indoor sowing and setting-out windows from the current 103-crop schedule. Dates are planning estimates; local weather and variety guidance may require adjustments.
Choose a frost-free date to calculate the schedule.
| Crop | Weeks before setting out | Start indoors — from | Start indoors — to | Safe setting-out time | Set out — from | Set out — to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vegetables | ||||||
| Artichoke | 8 to 12 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Beets * | 5 to 6 | — | — | 2 weeks before | — | — |
| Broccoli (standard) | 3 to 4 | — | — | 2 weeks before | — | — |
| Brussels Sprouts | 4 to 6 | — | — | 2 weeks before | — | — |
| Cabbage | 4 to 6 | — | — | 4 weeks before | — | — |
| Cauliflower | 4 to 6 | — | — | 2 weeks before | — | — |
| Celery & Celeriac | 10 to 12 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
| Collards | 4 to 6 | — | — | 4 weeks before | — | — |
| Cucumber | 3 to 4 | — | — | 1 to 2 weeks after | — | — |
| Eggplant | 6 to 8 | — | — | 2 to 3 weeks after | — | — |
| Kale | 4 to 6 | — | — | 4 weeks before | — | — |
| Kohlrabi * | 4 to 6 | — | — | 4 weeks before | — | — |
| Leeks | 8 to 10 | — | — | 2 weeks before | — | — |
| Lettuce | 4 to 5 | — | — | 3 to 4 weeks before | — | — |
| Melons | 3 to 4 | — | — | 2 weeks after | — | — |
| Okra * | 4 to 6 | — | — | 2 to 4 weeks after | — | — |
| Onions | 8 to 10 | — | — | 4 weeks before | — | — |
| Peppers | 8 | — | — | 2 weeks after | — | — |
| Pumpkins | 3 to 4 | — | — | 2 weeks after | — | — |
| Spinach | 4 to 6 | — | — | 3 to 6 weeks before | — | — |
| Squash | 3 to 4 | — | — | 2 weeks after | — | — |
| Swiss Chard | 5 to 6 | — | — | 2 weeks before | — | — |
| Tomatoes | 5 to 6 | — | — | 1 to 2 weeks after | — | — |
| Watermelon | 3 to 4 | — | — | 2 weeks after | — | — |
| Herbs | ||||||
| Basil * | 6 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
| Chamomile | 4 to 6 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
| Oregano | 8 to 10 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
| Parsley | 9 to 10 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
| Rosemary | 10 to 12 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
| Sage | 6 to 8 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
| Thyme | 8 to 10 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
| Flowers | ||||||
| Ageratum | 6 to 8 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Agrostemma (Corn Cockle) * | 4 to 5 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Alyssum | 4 to 5 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
| Amaranthus | 4 to 6 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
| Ammi (False Queen Anne's Lace) * | 4 to 6 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Ammobium | 5 to 6 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
| Artemisia (Sweet Annie) | 5 to 6 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Asclepias (Butterfly Weed) | 7 to 9 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Aster, China | 6 to 8 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Atriplex | 4 to 6 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
| Bells of Ireland * | 6 to 8 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Calendula * | 4 to 5 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Cardoon | 6 to 8 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Carthamus (Safflower) * | 4 to 5 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Celosia | 6 to 8 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
| Centaurea (Bachelor's Button) * | 3 to 4 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Cerinthe | 6 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
| Clarkia | 4 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
| Columbine | 8 to 10 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
| Cosmos * | 5 to 7 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Craspedia (Drumstick Flower) | 6 to 8 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Dahlia (from seed) | 4 to 5 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
| Delphinium | 10 to 16 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Dianthus (Sweet William) | 6 to 8 | — | — | 1 to 2 weeks before | — | — |
| Didiscus | 4 to 6 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
| Digitalis (Foxglove) | 10 to 12 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Dusty Miller | 8 to 10 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
| Echinacea | 8 to 10 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
| Echinops | 6 to 8 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
| Eryngium | 10 to 16 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
| Eucalyptus | 8 to 10 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Euphorbia (Snow-on-the-Mountain) * | 4 to 6 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Forget-Me-Not (Cynoglossom) | 3 to 4 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Geranium | 7 to 9 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
| Gomphrena (Globe Amaranth) | 6 to 8 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Gypsophila | 6 to 8 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
| Helianthus maximillianii | 8 to 10 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Helipterum | 6 to 8 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
| Hibiscus | 6 to 8 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
| Hyacinth Bean | 4 to 6 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
| Kale, Ornamental | 4 to 6 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Larkspur * | 5 to 7 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Lisianthus | 12 to 13 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Lupine | 4 to 8 | — | — | 2 weeks before | — | — |
| Marigold | 4 to 6 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
| Matricaria | 5 to 7 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
| Monarda (Bee Balm) | 7 to 9 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Morning Glory | 3 to 4 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
| Nasturtium | 3 to 4 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
| Nicotiana | 5 to 6 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
| Nigella * | 4 to 6 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Petunia | 4 to 6 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
| Portulaca | 4 to 6 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
| Phlox * | 4 to 6 | — | — | 1 to 2 weeks before | — | — |
| California Poppy * | 2 to 3 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Iceland Poppy | 6 to 8 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susan) | 5 to 7 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Salvia | 6 to 8 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Scabiosa (Pincushion Flower) | 4 to 8 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Scarlet Runner Bean | 2 to 3 | — | — | soil 60 degrees | — | — |
| Snapdragon | 8 to 10 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Statice | 5 to 6 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Stock | 5 to 6 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Strawflower | 4 to 6 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Sunflowers * | 2 to 3 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Sweet Pea | 4 to 6 | — | — | 1 to 2 weeks before | — | — |
| Tithonia (Mexican Sunflower) * | 6 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
| Verbena | 8 to 12 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Viola (Pansy) | 7 to 9 | — | — | 1 to 2 weeks before | — | — |
| Yarrow | 8 to 10 | — | — | on frost-free date | — | — |
| Xeranthemum | 5 to 8 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
| Zinnia | 4 | — | — | 1 week after | — | — |
* Usually direct-sown, but can be started indoors.
Note: The schedule is a planning aid. Check the growing information for the selected variety and adjust for local conditions.
