Spring Seed-Starting Schedule
Here is a list of annual plants (and some quick growing perennials) that can benefit from an early start indoors.
Common Name | Botanical Name | Start Weeks Early |
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 |