Spring Seed-Starting Schedule
Here is a list of annual plants (and some quick growing perennials) that can benefit from an early start indoors. For growing tips, see our germination information page.
| Common Name | Botanical Name |
Start Weeks Before Last Frost |
| Achillea | Achillea spp. | 8-10 |
| Ageratum | Ageratum houstonianum | 6-8 |
| Alyssum | Lobularia maritima | 5-6 |
| Amaranth | A. cruentus, gangeticus | 6-7 |
| Aster, China | Callistephus chinensis | 12-14 |
| Baby’s Breath | Gypsophila paniculata | 8-10 |
| Bachelor’s Button | Centaurea cyanus | 8-9 |
| Balloon Flower | Platycodon grandiflorus | 6-8 |
| Bee Balm | Monarda didyma | 8-10 |
| Begonia | Begonia x tuberhybrida | 12-14 |
| Bells of Ireland | Moluccella laevis | 6-8 |
| Bouncing Bet | Saponaria officinalis | 8-10 |
| Bupleurum | Bupleurum rotundifolium | 8-10 |
| Calendula | Calendula officinalis | 6-8 |
| Campanula | Campanula carpatica | 8-10 |
| Canary Creeper | Tropaeolum pereginum | 6-8 |
| Catmint, Persian | Nepeta mussinii | 6-8 |
| Celosia, Plume/Spike | C. a. plumosa, spicata | 8-10 |
| Cerinthe | C. major purpurescens | 6-8 |
| Chinese Forget-Me-Not | Cynoglossum amabile | 6 |
| Chinese Lantern | Physalis alkekengi | 8 |
| Cleome | Cleome hassleriana | 4-6 |
| Coleus | Coleus scutellarioides | 8-10 |
| Columbine | Aquilegia spp. | 6-8 |
| Coneflower, Prairie | Ratibida columnifera | 6-8 |
| Coreopsis | Coreopsis grandiflora | 8-10 |
| Cosmos | Cosmos bipinnatus | 2-4 |
| Cosmos, Yellow | C. sulphureus | 2-4 |
| Dahlia | Dahlia x hybrida | 6-8 |
| Daisy | Leucanthemum x superbum | 6-8 |
| Delphinium | Delphinium x cultorum | 10 |
| Dianthus (Carnation, Pink) | Dianthus spp. | 8-10 |
| Didiscus | Trachymene coerulea | 8 |
| Drumstick Flower | Craspedia globosa | 6-8 |
| Dyer’s Coreopsis | Coreopsis tinctoria | 6-8 |
| Echinacea | Echinacea spp. | 8-10 |
| Flax, Blue | Linum perenne lewisii | 6-8 |
| Flowering Cabbage/Kale | Brassica oleracea | 5-7 |
| Forget-Me-Not | Myosotis sylvatica | 8-10 |
| Four O’Clock | Mirabilis jalapa | 6-8 |
| Gaillardia, annual | Gaillardia pulchella | 4-6 |
| Gaillardia, perennial | Gaillardia aristata | 6-8 |
| Gazania | Gazania rigens | 6-8 |
| Globe Amaranth | Gomphrena globosa | 8-12 |
| Godetia | Clarkia amoena | 4 |
| Helen’s Flower | Helenium autumnale | 6-8 |
| Heliopsis (False Sunflower) | H. scabra | 10-12 |
| Heliotrope | Heliotropium arborescens | 6-8 |
| Hibiscus | H. moscheutos | 8 |
| Hollyhock | Alcea rosea | 8-9 |
| Honesty (Silver Dollar) | Lunaria annua | 6 |
| Impatiens | Impatiens walleriana | 10 |
| Indigo, Japanese | Persicaria tinctoria | 6-8 |
| Jacob’s Ladder | Polemonium caeruleum | 8-10 |
| Kiss-Me-over-the-Garden-Gate | Polygonum orientale | 4-6 |
| Lace Flower | Orlaya grandiflora | 4-5 |
| Larkspur | Consolida spp. | 6-8 |
| Lavatera | Lavatera trimestris | 6-8 |
| Lavender | Lavandula angustifolia | 8-10 |
| Lobelia | Lobelia erinus | 6-8 |
| Love-in-a-Mist | Nigella spp. | 6 |
| Love-Lies-Bleeding | Amaranthus caudatus | 5-6 |
| Lupine | Lupinus polyphyllus | 6-8 |
| Madder | Rubia tinctorum | 6-8 |
| Maltese Cross | Lychnis chalcedonica | 8-10 |
| Marigold | Tagetes spp. | 3 |
| Milkweed | Asclepias syriaca | 3-4 |
| Millet, Purple Majesty | Pennisetum glaucum | 2-3 |
| Morning Glory | Ipomoea spp. | 3 |
| Nasturtium | Tropaeolum spp. | 3 |
| Nicotiana | Nicotiana sylvestris | 6-8 |
| Painted Tongue | Salpiglossis sinuata | 6-8 |
| Pansy | Viola spp. | 8-9 |
| Petunia | Petunia x hybrida | 8 |
| Phlox, annual | Phlox drummondii | 8 |
| Phlox, perennial | P. paniculata | 10-12 |
| Pincushion Flower | Scabiosa atropurpurea | 4-5 |
| Queen Anne's Lace | Daucus carota | 4-5 |
| Red Hot Poker | Kniphofia uvaria | 8-10 |
| Rudbeckia, annual | R. hirta | 6-10 |
| Rudbeckia, perennial | Rudbeckia fulgida | 6-8 |
| Salvia | Salvia spp. | 10-12 |
| Snapdragon | Antirrhinum majus | 8-10 |
| Statice | Limonium sinuatum | 8-9 |
| Stock | Matthiola incana | 6-8 |
| Strawflower | Xerochrysum bracteatum | 7-8 |
| Sunflower | Helianthus spp. | 3-4 |
| Sweet Annie | Artemisia annua | 6-8 |
| Sweet Pea, annual | L. odoratus | 6-8 |
| Sweet William | Dianthus barbatus | 6-8 |
| Thyme, Creeping | Thymus serpyllum | 8-9 |
| Tithonia | T. rotundifolia | 6 |
| Verbena | Verbena spp. | 6-8 |
| Wallflower | Cheiranthus allionii | 6-8 |
| Zinnia | Zinnia spp. | 3-4 |
