Start dates
When to start seeds indoors
Subtract weeks from last frost. A national “start tomatoes March 15” article is written for someone else’s garden.
Zone matcher
Which seeds will grow in your garden
Enter a US ZIP. We map it to a USDA-style zone, typical frost dates, and what is worth sowing this week — not a dump of 600 packets.
Zone 6a · showing until you match a ZIP · last frost ~ Apr 18 · first frost ~ Oct 15
| Crop | Start indoors | Sow / transplant out | Fall sowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 7 | Apr 25 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 21 | May 2 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 21 | Mar 28 | Sep 5 |
| Basil | Mar 21 | May 2 | — |
| Zucchini | Mar 28 | Apr 25 | Aug 21 |
| Beans | Don’t — direct sow | Apr 25 | Aug 16 |
| Kale | Mar 14 | Mar 21 | Aug 26 |
| Spinach | Mar 28 | Mar 14 | Sep 5 |
| Radish | Don’t — direct sow | Mar 21 | Sep 17 |
| Carrots | Don’t — direct sow | Apr 4 | Aug 6 |
| Peas | Don’t — direct sow | Mar 7 | Aug 11 |
| Cilantro | Don’t — direct sow | Mar 28 | Sep 5 |
| Cucumber | Mar 28 | May 2 | Aug 16 |
| Sunflower | Don’t — direct sow | Apr 25 | — |
| Zinnia | Mar 21 | Apr 25 | — |
| Garlic | Don’t — direct sow | — | Sep 10 |
| Arugula | Don’t — direct sow | Mar 21 | Sep 15 |
| Broccoli | Mar 14 | Mar 28 | Aug 1 |
| Swiss chard | Mar 21 | Apr 4 | Aug 26 |
| Beets | Don’t — direct sow | Mar 28 | Aug 21 |
| Parsley | Feb 21 | Apr 4 | — |
| Dill | Don’t — direct sow | Apr 4 | Sep 5 |
| Marigold | Mar 21 | Apr 25 | — |
| Winter squash | Mar 28 | May 2 | — |
| Onions | Feb 7 | Mar 21 | — |
| Potatoes | Don’t — direct sow | Apr 4 | — |
Dates are typical 32°F frost math for the zone, not a forecast for your block. Harden off a week. Beans, peas, carrots, radish, beets, dill, and potatoes stay out of the tray.
How to count the weeks · Seed-starting bench
The sow list
A note when it is time to sow
Seasonal, not daily. We will send what to start in your zone, and skip the rest of the year.
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