This guide is designed to help growers determine the appropriate time to sow certain crops based on their region and unique growing climate. Use the “When to Plant Out” column below as a reference for each crop you want to grow from seed. If the column says “After Last Frost,” use the following formula to determine the sowing date for starting transplants:

Last Frost Date – “Start Transplants” Column = Sowing Date

For all other transplants and direct sowings, reference the “Soil Temp” column and your region’s plant hardiness zone to determine sowing dates. (Not sure which zone you’re in? Find your plant hardiness zone here for U.S. states and here for Canada.)

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Jump to:
Artichoke · Beans · Beet · Broccoli · Brussels Sprouts · Cabbage · Carrot · Cauliflower · Celery/Celeriac · Chard · Collards · Corn · Cucumbers · Eggplant · Fennel · Garlic · Greens · Herbs · Kale · Kohlrabi · Leek · Lettuce · Melon · Okra · Onions · Parsnip · Peas · Pepper · Potatoes · Pumpkin · Radish · Rutabaga · Spinach · Summer Squash · Winter Squash · Tomato · Turnip · Watermelon · Zucchini
Click the crop type in the chart to visit our varieties pages!

Planting Chart

Spacing requirements may vary. Due to the wide variety of tools and techniques available to both gardeners and commercial growers, this chart should only be used as a guide.
*Having trouble viewing the chart? Access the PDF version here.
 

CROP TYPE

 Initial Spacing for direct seeding Final Spacing for DS or TP Seed Planting Depth Row Spacing Direct Sow or Transplant Soil Temp (°F) for germination Start Transplants (before setting out) When to Plant Out

Artichokes

 1-2' same 1/4" 5' TP 60-80° 10-12 weeks After last frost
Bean, Bush, Dry 1-2" same 1-2" 28-36" DS 60-80° n/a After last frost
Bean, Bush, Snap 2-3" same 1-2" 18-36" DS 60-80° n/a After last frost
Bean, Pole 1-2" same 1-2" 12" DS 60-80° n/a After last frost

Bean, Soy

 2-3" same 1-2" 18-36" DS 70-90° n/a After last frost

Beet

 10 seeds/ft 2-3" 1-2" 12-18" DS 60-85° n/a As soon as soil can be worked
Broccoli 8-12” same 1/4-1/2" 18" DS or TP 65-85° 4-6 weeks After last hard frost

Broccoli, Sprouting

 3 seeds/ft 6-12" 1/2" 18" DS 50-65° n/a After last frost or in late summer

Brussels Sprouts

 18-24” same 1/4-1/2" 30" DS or TP 65-75° 4-6 weeks As soon as soil can be worked
Cabbage, Chinese/Napa 2-4 seeds/ft 10-16" 1/2" 18" DS or TP 70-95° 4-6 weeks When nights are at least 50°F
Cabbage, Fresh Market 2-4 seeds/ft 10-18" 1/2" 12-18" DS or TP 55-95° 4-6 weeks After last hard frost

Cabbage, Storage

 2-4 seeds/ft 18-24" 1/2" 18-38" DS or TP 55-95° 4-6 weeks 10 weeks before first frost

Carrot

 30 seeds/ft 1-2" 1/4-1/2" 18-24" DS 60-85° n/a As soon as soil can be worked

Cauliflower

 2-4" 12-18" 1/4-1/2" 18" DS or TP 55-80° 4-6 weeks After last hard frost

Celery/Celeriac

 6-10" same 1/8" 18-24" TP 60-70° 10-12 weeks 2-3 weeks before last frost
Chard, Bunching 6 seeds/ft 4-8" 1/2" 18-24" DS or TP 65-85° 4-6 weeks After last hard frost

Chard, Baby

 40 seeds/ft in 2-4" band same 1/2" 2-4" DS 65-85° n/a After last hard frost

Collards

 2" 8-10" 1/4-1/2" 18-30" DS or TP 70-95° 4 weeks As soon as soil can be worked
Corn, Early season 2-4" 8-10" 1-2" 30-36" DS or TP 60-95° 7-10 days When soil is at least 55°F

Corn, Mid-Late season

 2-4" 8-12" 1-2" 36" DS or TP 60-95° 7-10 days When soil is at least 55°F
Cucumber, Greenhouse 2-4" 20" 1/2" 5-6' TP 75-90° 3-4 weeks Trellis in greenhouse when at least 55°F
Cucumber, Pickling 2-4" 8-12" 1/2" 3-6' DS or TP 75-90° 3-4 weeks One week after last frost

Cucumber, Slicing

 2-4" 12-24" 1/2" 5-6' DS or TP 75-90° 3-4 weeks One week after last frost

Eggplant

 18-24" 18-24" 1/4" 24-36" TP 75-90° 8-12 weeks When nights are at least 50°F

Fennel

 2" 6-8" 1/4-1/2" 18" DS or TP 60-65° 4-5 weeks After last hard frost
Garlic, Softneck 3-6" same 2" with mulch, 3-4" without 18" DS 55-85° n/a After first frost and before ground freezes

Garlic, Hardneck

 3-6" same 2" with mulch, 3-4" without 18" DS 55-85° n/a After first frost and before ground freezes
Greens, Baby Leaf/Salad 60 seeds/ft in 2-4" bands same 1/8" 3-4" between bands DS 55-85° n/a As soon as soil can be worked
Greens, Arugula, Full size 10 seeds/ft 4-6" 1/4" 18" DS 65-85° n/a As soon as soil can be worked
Greens, Asian, Baby 60 seeds/ft in 2-4" bands same 1/4" 3-4" between bands DS 70-95° n/a As soon as soil can be worked
Greens, Beet 40 seeds/ft in 2-4" bands same 1-2" 2-4" between bands DS 60-85° n/a As soon as soil can be worked
Greens, Cress, Garden 1/2” apart in 2-4" bands same 1/4" 2-4" between bands DS 65-85° n/a As soon as soil can be worked
Greens, Cress, Upland 1" 4" 1/4" 12-18" DS 65-85° n/a After last frost
Greens, Belgian endive 6 seeds/ft 4-6" 1/8" 18-24" DS 65-85° n/a As soon as soil can be worked
Greens, Endive, baby 30 seeds/ft in 2-4” bands same 1/8" 3-4" between bands DS or TP 60-85° 6-8 weeks As soon as soil can be worked
Greens, Escarole, full size 2" 10-12" 1/8" 12-18" DS or TP 60-85° 6-8 weeks As soon as soil can be worked
Greens, Mustard 60 seeds/ft in 2-4" bands same 1/4" 3-4" between bands DS 65-85° n/a As soon as soil can be worked
Greens, Purslane 1/2" 4-6" 1/4" 16-20" DS 68-74° n/a After last frost
Greens, Radicchio 8 seeds/ft 8-12" 1/4" 24" DS or TP 68-85° 4-6 weeks After last frost

Greens, Radish

 60 seeds/ft in 2-4" bands same 1/4" 2-3" between bands DS 55-85° n/a As soon as soil can be worked
Herbs, Basil 4-8" same 1/4" 12-24" DS or TP 70-90° 4-6 weeks After last frost
Herbs, Chives 4-8" annual, 12-18" perennial same 1/4-1/2" 18-24" DS or TP 60-70° 10-12 weeks After last hard frost
Herbs, Parsley 1/4" 12-18" 1/4" 18-24" DS or TP 50-80° 6-8 weeks After last hard frost
Herbs, Dill 10 seeds/ft 2-4" 1/4" 18-24" DS 50-80° n/a After last hard frost

Herbs, Cilantro

 2" 4" 1/4" 12" DS or TP 50-80° 4-6 weeks After last hard frost
Kale, Full size 2" 10-18" 1/4-1/2" 18-30" DS or TP 70-95° 4 weeks After last hard frost

Kale, Baby

 60 seeds/ft in 2-4" bands same 1/4-1/2" 2" DS 70-95° n/a As soon as soil can be worked

Kohlrabi

 1" 4" 1/4-1/2" 12-18" DS or TP 65-85° 4-6 weeks As soon as soil can be worked

Leek

 1-2" 6" 1/4" 24" TP 60-80° 10-12 weeks As soon as soil can be worked
Lettuce, Baby leaf 60 seeds/ft in 2" bands same 1/8" 3-4" between bands DS 40-80° n/a After last hard frost

Lettuce, Full Size

 3" 8-12" 1/8" 12-18" DS or TP 40-80° 3-4 weeks After last hard frost

Melon

 12-18" 12-18" 1/2" 6' DS or TP 75-95° 4 weeks After last frost

Okra

 6-12" 12-18" 1" 3' DS or TP 75-95° 6 weeks After last frost
Onions/Shallots 10 seeds/ft 3-6" 1/8-1/4" 18-30" TP 50-95° 8-12 weeks After last hard frost

Onions, Bunching/Scallions

 50 seeds/ft in 2-3" bands same 1/4-1/2" 12-18" DS 50-95° n/a As soon as soil can be worked

Parsnip

 20 seeds/ft in 2" bands 2-3" 1/2" 18-24" DS 50-65° n/a After last frost
Peas, Dwarf 1 1/2" same 1-2" 12-18" DS 50-75° n/a As soon as soil can be worked

Peas, Trellising

 2 1/2" same 1-2" 2-6' DS 50-75° n/a As soon as soil can be worked

Pepper

 same 1/4" 18-36" TP 68-95° 6-8 weeks 6-8 weeks After last frost
Potatoes, New/Fingerling 12" same 3-6" 36" DS 50-75° n/a 1-2 weeks before last frost

Potatoes, Full Size

 12" same 3-6" 36" DS 50-75° n/a 1-2 weeks before last frost
Pumpkin, Bush/Semi-Bush 2-3 seeds/18" 18" 1/2-1" 6' DS or TP 70-90° 3-4 weeks After last frost

Pumpkin, Vining

 2-3 seeds/36" 24-36" 1/2-1" 6' DS or TP 70-90° 3-4 weeks After last frost
Radish, Winter 4-6" same 1/4-1/2" 12-16" DS 55-85° n/a As soon as soil can be worked

Radish, Garden

 1" same 1/4-1/2" 8-12" DS 55-85° n/a As soon as soil can be worked

Rutabaga

 2" 6" 3/4" 18-24 DS 60-95° n/a Spring /early summer
Spinach, Baby leaf 40 seeds/ft in 2-4" bands same 1/8-1/4" 1-2" between bands DS 45-65° n/a As soon as soil can be worked until early fall

Spinach, Bunching

 10 seeds/ft 2" 1/8-1/4" 12-18" DS 45-65° n/a As soon as soil can be worked until early fall

Squash, Summer

 6-12" 12-24" 1/2-1" 5-6' DS or TP 70-90° 3-4 weeks After last frost
Squash, Winter, Bush 6-12" 18-24" 1/2-1" 6' DS or TP 70-90° 3-4 weeks After last frost

Squash, Winter, Vining

 6-12" 24-36" 1/2-1" 6' DS or TP 70-90° 3-4 weeks After last frost
Tomato, Determinate 12-18" same 1/4" 4-6' TP 60-85° 6-8 weeks After last frost
Tomato, Indeterminate 24-36" same 1/4" 4-6' TP 60-85° 6-8 weeks After last frost
Tomato, Greenhouse 16-24" same 1/4" 6' TP 60-85° 6-8 weeks Trellis in greenhouse when at least 65°F

Tomatillo

 12-18" same 1/4" 4-6' TP 60-85° 4-5 weeks After last frost

Turnip

 8 seeds/ft" 2-4" 3/4" 12-18" DS 60-95° n/a As soon as soil can be worked

Watermelon

 6-12" 12-18" 1/2" 6' DS or TP 75-95° 4 weeks After last frost

Zucchini

 6-12" 12-24" 1/2-1" 5-6' DS or TP 70-90° 3-4 weeks After last frost