When Should I Start My Vegetable Plants from Seeds?

At this time of year we are often asked, "When should I sow my seeds to start my vegetable transplants"?  Because our seed catalogs are delivered to all 50 states, and transplanting times arrive earlier in the Southern and Western U.S. than the Northern U.S., we usually answer this question with the number of weeks it takes to grow a transplantable seedling.

The chart below gives you the estimated time that it will take to produce vegetable plants from seed.   To determine the date for your area that it is safe to transplant a specific species to your garden, subtract the number of weeks it takes to grow the transplant, and then subtract the number of days it takes to germinate the seed to figure the date you should sow your seed.

If you don't know the recommended planting time for your region for a specific species, search the web for a vegetable planting guide specific to your area of the U.S. There are many useful websites that indicate the optimum transplanting time by species, for most every area in the U.S.

SPECIES Broccoli Brussels Sprouts Cabbage Cauliflower Collards Cucumber Eggplant Endive/Escarole Kale Kohlrabi Leek Lettuce Melons Mustard Okra Onion Pepper Pumpkin Squash (summer and winter) Tomato Watermelon

DAYS to GERMINATE 6-10 6-10 6-10 6-10 6-10 6-10 7-14 5-10 6-10 5-10 7-12 6-10 5-10 6-10 7-14 7-12 10-20 6-10 6-10 6-14 4-14

WEEKS to TRANSPLANT 4-5 4-5 5-6 5-6 4-6 3-4 6-7 5-7 4-6 4-6 6-8 4-5 2-3 4-6 6-8 5-6 6-8 2-3 2-3 5-6 3-5

Not enough time left to start plants from seed? Be sure to check out our garden-ready vegetable transplants!