Create Your Own Planting Calendar

Our Planting Planner gives you several options based on the probability of frost on that date. You can adjust the slider to see what dates result based on the risk you want to take.

For Spring Gardens:

1. 10% Chance of Frost. (Default) Generally, this setting will give you the best time to plant vegetables, especially seeds that are sensitive to cold or frost.
2. 30% Chance of Frost. Useful for cold-hardy, frost-tolerant varieties or anything that you want to start a little bit early for a long growing season. Be sure to protect your seedlings if there’s a cold snap!
3. 50% Chance of Frost. Most useful for winter sowing perennials or for those who use cold frames, greenhouses, or other specialized setups. Recommended only for experienced gardeners who are familiar with their landscape and microclimate.

For Fall gardens, the percentage corresponds to the chance of your first fall frost.

Some types of plants do not like to be transplanted, usually because they have taproots or a delicate root system. These seeds should be planted directly into their final growing location.

Some seeds need the cold and moisture of winter to germinate. You can mimic these conditions by cold stratifying your seeds in the refrigerator for several weeks prior to sowing.

Some seeds need more time than others to grow, so you may want to start them indoors. We have a complete guide on starting seeds indoors that includes information on soil mix, lighting and more.

Each different type of seed has a different period of germination.
Environment can play an important part in the length of germination. Check the instructions on your packet for estimated germination times.

If you have more gardening and seed starting questions, you might want to check out our:

• Blog
• Grower's Guide
• Garden Glossary