Seed Starting Chart

seedlings 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 to 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 direct-seeded outdoors, but they can be started inside.