Seed-starting: when to plant vegetable crops

seed-startingI’m sure all of you are anxious to begin seed-starting and plant your veggie seeds so you can get the 2015 garden season under way! I completely understand, but correct timing is critical so you don’t end up with leggy, root-bound seedlings.

I live in Spokane, Wash., which is in USDA zone 5 (or 6, depending on which microclimate you live in). Our season typically has about 120 frost-free days, beginning in mid-May and ending in mid-September. Although with the climate change that has been going on for the past several years, our seasons often extend a month or so past the middle of September.

Here is a list of the vegetable crops I start from seed, whether I plant them indoors or directly outdoors (in parenthesis), along with the approximate dates I plant the seeds and when I transplant the seedlings out into the garden.

If you live in another region, my best suggestion is to read the back of the seed packet where you’ll find guidelines on how soon to plant the seeds indoors prior to the anticipated last frost date.

Arugula – outdoors Apr. 15 and/or Aug. 15

Artichoke – indoors March 1; transplant May 15

Basil – indoors Apr. 15; transplant May 30 (or sow outdoors May 30)

Beans (pole or bush) – indoors May 1; transplant  May 15 (or sow outdoors May 15)

Beets – outdoors Apr. 7 and/or outdoors Aug. 15

Carrots – outdoors Apr. 15

Celery – indoors Mar. 15; transplant May 15

Cilantro – outdoors first week of August so leaves are plentiful during tomato-harvest

Corn – indoors May 1, transplant May 15-20 (or sow outdoors May 15-20)

Cucumber – indoors May 1, transplant May 15 (with protection) to June 1

Eggplant – indoors Mar. 1; transplant May 15 (with protection) to June 1

Leeks – indoors Feb. 1 to Mar. 1; transplant May 1

Lettuce – outdoors Apr. 15

Melons – indoors May 1-15; transplant May 15 (with protection) to June 1

Parsnips – outdoors Apr. 15

Peas – indoors Apr. 10; transplant Apr. 15

Peppers – indoors Mar. 15; transplant May 15 (with protection) to June 1

Pumpkins – indoors May 1-15, transplant May 15 (with protection) to  June 1

Spinach – outdoors Apr. 15

Squash (summer or winter varieties) – indoors May 1-15, transplant May 15 (with protection) to June 1

Swiss chard – outdoors Apr. 15

Tomatillos – indoors Mar. 15-30; transplant May 15 (with protection) to June 1

Tomatoes – indoors Apr. 1; transplant May 15 (with protection)

Note that you don’t have to start your beans, peas or corn indoors. I get them off to a good start indoors because we have a lot of quail in the area that like to nibble on freshly-sprouted seeds. This way, I can to get the seedlings to a size where they can mostly fend for themselves before transplanting them into the garden.

I also wanted to give you a link to a seed-starting worksheet from Martha Stewart’s website that I use each year. It’s really handy because I can use it to stay on track with my plantings.

I hope all of this information will be helpful to you in your planning!