The library · Seeds

When to start each seed.

Six weeks before your last frost, the garden year already begins — indoors, in a tray.

Direct-sow crops (radish, carrot, pea, spinach) are not listed here — they go straight in the ground and don't benefit from starting early indoors.

Enter your ZIP code to see dates tuned to your local last-frost window.

5-digit US ZIP code

Showing national-average dates (last frost May 10).

March

26 crops
Artichoke
10 weeks before last frost
Start indoors
Mar 1
Harden off
Apr 16
Move seedlings outdoors for increasing hours over 7–10 days.
Transplant out
Apr 26
2 weeks before last frost
Celeriac
10 weeks before last frost
Start indoors
Mar 1
Harden off
Apr 30
Move seedlings outdoors for increasing hours over 7–10 days.
Transplant out
May 10
at last frost
Celery
10 weeks before last frost
Start indoors
Mar 1
Harden off
Apr 30
Move seedlings outdoors for increasing hours over 7–10 days.
Transplant out
May 10
at last frost
Lavender
10 weeks before last frost
Start indoors
Mar 1
Harden off
May 14
Move seedlings outdoors for increasing hours over 7–10 days.
Transplant out
May 24
2 weeks after last frost
Leek
10 weeks before last frost
Start indoors
Mar 1
Harden off
Apr 30
Move seedlings outdoors for increasing hours over 7–10 days.
Transplant out
May 10
at last frost
Onion
10 weeks before last frost
Start indoors
Mar 1
Harden off
Apr 30
Move seedlings outdoors for increasing hours over 7–10 days.
Transplant out
May 10
at last frost
Parsley
10 weeks before last frost
Start indoors
Mar 1
Harden off
Apr 30
Move seedlings outdoors for increasing hours over 7–10 days.
Transplant out
May 10
at last frost
Sage
10 weeks before last frost
Start indoors
Mar 1
Harden off
May 14
Move seedlings outdoors for increasing hours over 7–10 days.
Transplant out
May 24
2 weeks after last frost
Snapdragon
10 weeks before last frost
Start indoors
Mar 1
Harden off
Apr 30
Move seedlings outdoors for increasing hours over 7–10 days.
Transplant out
May 10
at last frost
Eggplant
8 weeks before last frost
Start indoors
Mar 15
Harden off
May 14
Move seedlings outdoors for increasing hours over 7–10 days.
Transplant out
May 24
2 weeks after last frost
Lemon Balm
8 weeks before last frost
Start indoors
Mar 15
Harden off
May 7
Move seedlings outdoors for increasing hours over 7–10 days.
Transplant out
May 17
1 week after last frost
Oregano
8 weeks before last frost
Start indoors
Mar 15
Harden off
May 14
Move seedlings outdoors for increasing hours over 7–10 days.
Transplant out
May 24
2 weeks after last frost
Pepper
8 weeks before last frost
Start indoors
Mar 15
Harden off
May 14
Move seedlings outdoors for increasing hours over 7–10 days.
Transplant out
May 24
2 weeks after last frost
Thyme
8 weeks before last frost
Start indoors
Mar 15
Harden off
May 14
Move seedlings outdoors for increasing hours over 7–10 days.
Transplant out
May 24
2 weeks after last frost
China Aster
6 weeks before last frost
Start indoors
Mar 29
Harden off
May 7
Move seedlings outdoors for increasing hours over 7–10 days.
Transplant out
May 17
1 week after last frost
Basil
6 weeks before last frost
Start indoors
Mar 29
Harden off
May 14
Move seedlings outdoors for increasing hours over 7–10 days.
Transplant out
May 24
2 weeks after last frost
Broccoli
6 weeks before last frost
Start indoors
Mar 29
Harden off
Apr 30
Move seedlings outdoors for increasing hours over 7–10 days.
Transplant out
May 10
at last frost
Brussels Sprouts
6 weeks before last frost
Start indoors
Mar 29
Harden off
Apr 30
Move seedlings outdoors for increasing hours over 7–10 days.
Transplant out
May 10
at last frost
Cabbage
6 weeks before last frost
Start indoors
Mar 29
Harden off
Apr 30
Move seedlings outdoors for increasing hours over 7–10 days.
Transplant out
May 10
at last frost
Cauliflower
6 weeks before last frost
Start indoors
Mar 29
Harden off
Apr 30
Move seedlings outdoors for increasing hours over 7–10 days.
Transplant out
May 10
at last frost
Ground Cherry
6 weeks before last frost
Start indoors
Mar 29
Harden off
May 7
Move seedlings outdoors for increasing hours over 7–10 days.
Transplant out
May 17
1 week after last frost
Kale
6 weeks before last frost
Start indoors
Mar 29
Harden off
Apr 30
Move seedlings outdoors for increasing hours over 7–10 days.
Transplant out
May 10
at last frost
Malabar Spinach
6 weeks before last frost
Start indoors
Mar 29
Harden off
May 14
Move seedlings outdoors for increasing hours over 7–10 days.
Transplant out
May 24
2 weeks after last frost
Marigold
6 weeks before last frost
Start indoors
Mar 29
Harden off
May 7
Move seedlings outdoors for increasing hours over 7–10 days.
Transplant out
May 17
1 week after last frost
Tomatillo
6 weeks before last frost
Start indoors
Mar 29
Harden off
May 14
Move seedlings outdoors for increasing hours over 7–10 days.
Transplant out
May 24
2 weeks after last frost
Tomato
6 weeks before last frost
Start indoors
Mar 29
Harden off
May 14
Move seedlings outdoors for increasing hours over 7–10 days.
Transplant out
May 24
2 weeks after last frost

April

10 crops
Collard Greens
5 weeks before last frost
Start indoors
Apr 5
Harden off
Apr 30
Move seedlings outdoors for increasing hours over 7–10 days.
Transplant out
May 10
at last frost
Celosia
4 weeks before last frost
Start indoors
Apr 12
Harden off
May 14
Move seedlings outdoors for increasing hours over 7–10 days.
Transplant out
May 24
2 weeks after last frost
Zinnia
4 weeks before last frost
Start indoors
Apr 12
Harden off
May 7
Move seedlings outdoors for increasing hours over 7–10 days.
Transplant out
May 17
1 week after last frost
Acorn Squash
3 weeks before last frost
Start indoors
Apr 19
Harden off
May 7
Move seedlings outdoors for increasing hours over 7–10 days.
Transplant out
May 17
1 week after last frost
Butternut Squash
3 weeks before last frost
Start indoors
Apr 19
Harden off
May 7
Move seedlings outdoors for increasing hours over 7–10 days.
Transplant out
May 17
1 week after last frost
Cantaloupe
3 weeks before last frost
Start indoors
Apr 19
Harden off
May 14
Move seedlings outdoors for increasing hours over 7–10 days.
Transplant out
May 24
2 weeks after last frost
Cucumber
3 weeks before last frost
Start indoors
Apr 19
Harden off
May 14
Move seedlings outdoors for increasing hours over 7–10 days.
Transplant out
May 24
2 weeks after last frost
Delicata Squash
3 weeks before last frost
Start indoors
Apr 19
Harden off
May 7
Move seedlings outdoors for increasing hours over 7–10 days.
Transplant out
May 17
1 week after last frost
Watermelon
3 weeks before last frost
Start indoors
Apr 19
Harden off
May 14
Move seedlings outdoors for increasing hours over 7–10 days.
Transplant out
May 24
2 weeks after last frost
Zucchini
3 weeks before last frost
Start indoors
Apr 19
Harden off
May 7
Move seedlings outdoors for increasing hours over 7–10 days.
Transplant out
May 17
1 week after last frost

Dates are calculated from your average last spring frost. Warm your soil two weeks before transplanting and harden seedlings off outdoors for a week before they go in the ground.

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