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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.