Garden and Orchard

How to Set Up a Seed Starting Calendar

Set Up a Seed Starting Calendar

It isn’t difficult to set up a customized seed starting calendar according to your gardening zone. Setting up a seed starting schedule for your garden zone and climate will help you plant seeds at the optimal time. You’ll be able to move them outdoors to plant in your garden when the weather is right!

The first thing you need to know is the average date of your last frost in the spring. Here is a handy site to help you find that information. Keep in mind that the date given for your area is the average date of your last frost. You could be frost-free for a couple of weeks before or you could have frost for a couple of weeks after that date. There are no guarantees in nature.

For more information, read my articles How to Start Seedlings Indoors, and Caring For Newly Planted Beds.

Find a free calendar or print out the appropriate months from a free calendar printing site. Make a note of the last average frost date. Now you can count back from that point to find the dates to plant your seeds indoors or directly in the garden.

Here’s an example: I live in zone 4b and the average date of our last frost is May 13th. I have lots of sweet and hot pepper, eggplant, and tomato seeds to plant this spring. The seed packets call for starting these varieties indoors 6-8 weeks before the average date of our last frost.

Counting back from that day (May 13th) on my calendar, I find that these seeds should be planted indoors any time between March 20th and April 3rd. So I made notes on my calendar to start these plants during that time period. Easy, right?!

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Dates for Your Seed Starting Calendar

Now that you have a general idea, go through all of your seeds and plug in the dates that you need to plant them in the spring.

You can go even further and fill in the dates that you should start your fall crops. Some veggies can be planted twice, in spring and fall. These include lettuce, cabbage, peas, beets, and turnips…to name just a few.

Should I Start My Seeds Indoors or Direct Seed In My Garden?

Some plants will do best if the seeds are planted directly in the garden and others may need a head start on the season. A lot of information is available on the back of the seed packet.

Here is a general guideline to help you decide whether to transplant seedlings or direct seed.

Direct Seed:

  • Carrot
  • Beet
  • Turnip
  • Radish
  • Rutabaga
  • Pea
  • Bean
  • Spinach
  • Kale
  • Arugula
  • Corn
  • Quick growing herbs – cilantro, dill, parsley
  • Onion sets
  • Potato sets

Start Indoors 2-3 Weeks Before Last Frost ~ Or Direct Seed

  • Lettuce
  • Cucumber
  • Winter squash
  • Summer squash
  • Pumpkin
  • Melon

Start Indoors 4-6 Weeks Before Last Frost

  • Marigold, alyssum, and other annuals
  • Cabbage
  • Broccoli
  • Cauliflower
  • Brussels sprout
  • Basil
  • Summer Savory
  • Thyme
  • Oregano

Start Indoors 6-8 Weeks Before Last Frost

  • Tomato
  • Sweet pepper
  • Hot pepper
  • Eggplant
  • Onions and leeks from seed
Bottom heat helps with germination. Don’t let soil stay wet.

Are There Exceptions?

There are always exceptions! The general guidelines above apply to areas with shorter growing seasons… places like Illinois, where I live.  

If you live in southern areas with longer growing seasons, you may be able to direct seed most of your crops in your garden.

In fact, you will have a much different strategy for planting your garden. You’ll need to get certain crops harvested before the scorching heat of summer sets in.

It might be beneficial to start some of your seeds indoors at the end of summer to give them time to mature before the next heatwave.

Some varieties don’t fit these general guidelines, such as hybrids that mature early or old-fashioned varieties that need even more of a head start.

The back of the seed packet usually has information about when to plant.

Check the Seed Packet!

You’ll want to check each seed packet for instructions for the varieties you are planting. They may vary from the general guidelines.

For example, my hot pepper seeds need to be planted 6-8 weeks before my last frost, except jalapenos. The packet instructions specify starting these seeds indoors 2-4 weeks before the last frost. So be sure to read the instructions.

Early, Mid, and Late Spring ~ Planting in the Garden

Not all crops will be transplanted or direct seeded in your garden at the same time. Some crops like cool weather and can handle light frost, while others need warm soil and a frost-free environment.

Depending on your climate (and possibly your microclimate) you may be able to plant a bit earlier than your zone average.

Check with your local Extension Office for more information if you aren’t sure. Here are the general guidelines for planting your crops in the garden.

Early Spring (as Soon as Soil Can be Worked)

  • Onion seeds
  • Pea
  • Spinach
  • Kale
  • Salsify
  • Parsnip

Mid Spring

  • Lettuce
  • Arugula
  • Carrot
  • Beet
  • Radish
  • Dill
  • Cilantro
  • Calendula
  • Potato sets
  • Onion sets
  • Cabbage starts
  • Broccoli & Cauliflower starts
  • Brussel sprout starts
  • Pansy and Alyssum starts

After Danger of Frost

  • Bean
  • Corn
  • Cucumber
  • Melon
  • Pumpkin
  • Squash (winter and summer varieties)
  • Basil
  • Tomato starts
  • Pepper starts (once night time temps are over 60 F)
  • Eggplant starts
  • Marigold and Zinnia starts

Seed Starting Calendar for Organizing

This whole business may sound a bit complicated, but once you sit down and read the backs of the seed packs, read through these guidelines, and start filling in your calendar, you’ll find that it isn’t really all that complicated. It just requires a bit of organization…and if I can do it, then you can too.

You might even want to use Google Calendar or another online calendar that will send you reminders to plant your seeds.

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Once I get through the process of filling in my seed starting calendar, I like to gather up all of the packets of seeds that will be planted at the same time and put them together in a bag with a label on it.

I write the date that the seeds will be planted and whether they will be direct-seeded or started indoors. (You can also add planting notes if you like.)

Then I organize them in the order in which they will be planted. This really helps simplify my seed starting process. I hope this helps you too!

Do you have any tips for setting up a seed starting calendar? Do you start seeds indoors? Leave a comment!

How to Set Up a Seed Starting Calendar for Your Spring Garden!

10 Comments on “How to Set Up a Seed Starting Calendar

  1. Terrific, Lisa! Just want to say I haven’t been as active on your posts, but I don’t have chickens. I’ll always tune in to other subjects! Happy seeding! Great list!

    1. Hi Kaye,
      Lol…that’s ok! I know that there are a lot of folks who are into chickens. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and thank you for your kinds words!

  2. Thanks so much for this! Each year I try to improve on last year and this would certainly help. A little behind the curve, but on it!!!! 🙂 Thank you to Liz as well for sharing the spreadsheet.

  3. Great article, easy to follow and sensible! Sharing on the Green Circle Grove fb page (thank you!)

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