Your seed-starting calendar
Plan indoors first. Move outside when conditions are ready.
Seed-starting calendar
A planning reference, not a weather forecast.
Direct sowing and transplanting are alternative ways to start a crop. Keep the tasks that match your method.
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 27 – Apr 10, 2027Suggested window | A reviewed rule is not available for this action. | May 8 – 15, 2027Suggested window |
| Pepper | Mar 20, 2027Suggested window | A reviewed rule is not available for this action. | May 15, 2027Suggested window |
| Basil | Mar 27, 2027Suggested window | May 1, 2027Earliest reference | May 8, 2027Suggested window |
Where these dates come from
Sowing windows combine possible transplant dates. Choose a paired transplant date to narrow the nursery window. Wait for suitable soil and local conditions.
Tomato
Start indoors
The nursery range is five to six weeks before the selected transplant date. With last frost on May 1, 2027, the combined indoor envelope is March 27–April 10 and transplanting is May 8–15. Choose paired dates that retain the nursery duration.
- These are reviewed planning references. Check the variety, local soil and weather before acting; a frost date is not a forecast.
- Set hardened-off plants outside only after frost danger has passed and the soil has warmed.
Direct sow
No reviewed numeric direct-sowing window is provided for this transplant-led method.
- These are reviewed planning references. Check the variety, local soil and weather before acting; a frost date is not a forecast.
- Direct sowing is not assigned a reviewed numeric window in this transplant-led record.
Transplant outside
The frost-relative setting-out range remains conditional on warm soil and no remaining frost danger.
- These are reviewed planning references. Check the variety, local soil and weather before acting; a frost date is not a forecast.
- Set hardened-off plants outside only after frost danger has passed and the soil has warmed.
Pepper
Start indoors
Count the eight-week nursery period back from the planned transplant date. May 15, 2027 gives March 20, 2027.
- These are reviewed planning references. Check the variety, local soil and weather before acting; a frost date is not a forecast.
- Wait until nighttime lows remain above 50°F; a calendar offset does not satisfy this temperature condition.
Direct sow
No reviewed direct-sowing date is assigned in this record.
- These are reviewed planning references. Check the variety, local soil and weather before acting; a frost date is not a forecast.
- This record schedules peppers from transplants, without a numeric direct-sowing preset.
Transplant outside
The two-week frost offset is a planning reference; check nighttime temperature before setting plants out.
- These are reviewed planning references. Check the variety, local soil and weather before acting; a frost date is not a forecast.
- Wait until nighttime lows remain above 50°F; a calendar offset does not satisfy this temperature condition.
Basil
Start indoors
Six weeks before a May 8, 2027 transplant gives March 27, 2027.
- These are reviewed planning references. Check the variety, local soil and weather before acting; a frost date is not a forecast.
- Set out after frost, using established young plants. The nursery offset is measured before transplanting.
Direct sow
The zero-day reference is the frost boundary; direct sowing still requires appropriate warmth.
- These are reviewed planning references. Check the variety, local soil and weather before acting; a frost date is not a forecast.
- Direct sow after the last frost in warm conditions.
Transplant outside
The selected chart places setting out one week after the frost-free date.
- These are reviewed planning references. Check the variety, local soil and weather before acting; a frost date is not a forecast.
- Set out after frost, using established young plants. The nursery offset is measured before transplanting.