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