Seed-Starting Schedule
Some seeds benefit from an early start indoors. Check out our seed-starting schedule to help plan when to start!
Annuals usually have planned start dates in late winter, spring or early summer, depending on the variety. Perennials and tropicals can be started indoors at any time of year!
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 |
