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Seed Starting Chart

by 
April Streeter
  Feb 3, 2025 8:55 AM

A handy chart for knowing when to plant.

Timing is everything. To start your seeds on time, you need to know when in relation to the frost-free date in spring to plant them. If you need help determining your spring frost-free date, call your county extension agent who can tell you for certain.

Creating Your Seed-Starting Plan

  • Print the seed starting chart below.
  • Write your frost-free date in the blank space at the top of the chart.
  • Get a calendar and add or subtract the number of weeks in the "Safe to Set Out Time" column. This is the "Setting Out Date" when you can safely plant the crop in the garden. Write it in the last column.
  • Take each date from Column 5 ("Setting Out Date"), subtract the number of weeks shown for that crop in column 3 ("Weeks from Sowing"), and record that date in column 2 ("When to Start Inside").

YOUR SEED-STARTING PLAN

The Spring Frost-Free Date in My Garden is...

CROP

WHEN TO
START INSIDE

WEEKS
FROM SOWING

SAFE TO SET OUT TIME (RELATIVE TO FROST-FREE DATE)

SETTING OUT DATE

Basil

 

6

1 week after

 

Beets*

 

4-6

2 weeks before

 

Broccoli

 

4-6

2 weeks before

 

Cabbage

 

4-6

4 weeks before

 

Cauliflower

 

4-6

2 weeks before

 

Collards

 

4-6

4 weeks before

 

Corn*

 

2-4

0 to 2 weeks after

 

Cucumber

 

3-4

1 to 2 weeks after

 

Eggplant

 

8-10

2 to 3 weeks after

 

Kale

 

4-6

4 weeks before

 

Kohlrabi*

 

4-6

4 weeks before

 

Lettuce

 

4-5

3 to 4 weeks before

 

Melons

 

3-4

2 weeks after

 

Mustard*

 

4-6

4 weeks before

 

Okra*

 

4-6

2 to 4 weeks after

 

Onions

 

6-8

4 weeks before

 

Parsley

 

9-10

2 to 3 weeks before

 

Peas*

 

3-4

6 to 8 weeks before

 

Peppers

 

6-14

2 weeks after

 

Pumpkins

 

3-4

2 weeks after

 

Spinach

 

4-6

3 to 6 weeks before

 

Squash

 

3-4

2 weeks after

 

Swiss chard

 

4-6

2 weeks before

 

Tomatoes

 

6-8

1 to 2 weeks after

 

* These crops are usually directly seeded outdoors, but they can be started inside.

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Last update on 2025-02-03 / Affiliate links / Images, Product Titles, and Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API

5
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April Streeter
WRITTEN BY
April Streeter