when to start sowing
Before we dive into seed-starting dates, please note that these dates can be very subjective. First up, find out your last and first frost dates. If you don’t know yours, it’s super easy to find out—check out Farmers’ Almanac Frost Date page. On average, our last frost day is the second week of May here in Maine (zone 5). But, there have been Mays when I’ve had to shovel out snowbound garden beds, and there have been Mays when I’ve already had the garden seeded and growing since April. So use these dates as a base, but keep a garden journal so you can see what dates really work best for you. Also note that your last frost date is definitely not a green flag to sow or transplant any warm-loving crops (beans, tomatoes, etc...) hold off on those until the soil warms up a few weeks later.
WHEN TO SOW
Beans: outside 2 weeks after last frost
Beets: outside 2-4 weeks before last frost
Broccoli: inside 4-6 weeks before last frost
Brussels sprouts: inside 4-6 weeks before last frost
Cabbage: inside 4-6 weeks before last frost
Carrots: outside 2-4 weeks before last frost
Corn: outside 2 weeks after last frost
Cucumbers: outside 3 weeks after last frost
Kale: inside 4-6 weeks before last frost
Lettuce: inside 4-6 weeks before last frost
Onions: inside 8-10 weeks before last frost
Peas: outside 4-6 weeks before last frost
Peppers: inside 6-8 weeks before last frost
Pumpkins: outside 2-4 weeks after last frost
Radishes: outside 4-6 weeks before last frost
Spinach: outside 4-6 weeks before last frost
Squash: outside 3 weeks after last frost
Tomatoes: inside 6-8 weeks before last frost
FLOWERS
Sow inside 10-12 weeks before last frost: Delphinium, Echinacea, Foxglove, Petunia, Sweet William, Verbena, Violas
Sow inside 8-10 weeks before last frost: Dahlias, Forget-Me-Nots, Hollyhocks, Impatiens, Pansy, Rudbeckia, Snapdragon, Statice, Stock, Yarrow
Sow inside 6-8 weeks before last frost: Asters, Balsam, Bee Balm, Bachelor’s Button, Bells of Ireland, Calendula, Celosia, Coleus, Gomphrena, Larkspur, Lupine, Marigolds, Phlox, Salvia, Strawflower, Sweet Annie
Sow inside 4-6 weeks before last frost: Alyssum, Amaranth, Cosmos, Scabiosa, Sweet Peas, Zinnia
Sow inside 2-4 weeks before last frost: Morning Glory, Nasturtium, Sunflower
Succession planting is a great way to keep yourself in fresh garden goodies for at least three seasons-long. Check out this post for some great tips towards succession success.
Visit my FAVORITE VARIETIES to grow to see what’s growing on in my garden this year.
Up next in Seed Starting 101, SETTING UP YOUR GROW STATION.