A guide to when to start sowing seed indoors. How to decide when to start seeds according to your growing zone.
When to Start Seeds.
To say that in February most gardeners are chomping at the bit to start seeds, would be an understatement. Starting seeds is one of the few gardening chores of the late winter that make us feel like gardeners and all across America, gardeners gleefully retrieve padded envelopes from the mailbox. When to start the seeds though, takes some thought and organization and is dependant on which area of the country you garden in.
First, look on the seed packet for a clue. Some packets will give approximate starting dates for your gardening zone. Gardening zones are based on how cold your winter is and how late your last frost arrives. Those gardeners in the south will rarely have a frost after March 31st, whereas for those gardeners in the northern gardening zones, the last frost is nearer May 31st. To find your specific last frost date, consult your local extension educator. The average last frost date is the target date for your planning. When you have that date verified, count backwards in weeks. Most tender annuals such as tomatoes and peppers, petunias and marigolds, will all need to be started 4 - 6 weeks before the last frost date. Perennials will frequently be slower to germinate, and need to be planted at least 8, or even 12 weeks before your last frost date.
If you start your seed later than the estimated date, that is fine. You can delay planting a seedling for one or two weeks until it is large enough. This is preferable to starting the seeds too early when they will get leggy and weak while waiting for the weather to settle.
If you do not have the information on the packet, consult the internet or the library for specific growing requirements for your plants.
So, those of you who garden in zone 6 or above, March is the time to really get those seeds started. Those in zone 3 or 4 may need to wait for the tender annuals, but March is a good time for the perennial seeds to be started.
©Text and photograph by Kate Copsey, March, 2006. Reproduction without permission prohibited.
