From Seed to Plate
Seedsavers take you on a journey.
From when you first get your seeds, prepare your soil for optimum growth, watch them grow into mature plants, harvest, prepare for eating, or seed saving and storage for the next growing season, we are with you all the way
SEED STARTING CHART
Timing is everything. To start your seeds on time, you need to know when in relation to the frost-free date in spring to plant them. If you need help determining your spring frost-free Seed Starting date, call your county extension agent who can tell you for certain.
Creating Your Plan
- Print the seed starting chart below
- Write your frost-free date in the blank space at the top of the chart.
- Get a calendar and add or subtract the number of weeks in the “Safe to Set Out Time” column. This is the “Setting Out Date” when you can safely plant the crop to the garden. Write it in the last column.
- Take each date from Column 5 (“Setting Out Date”), subtract the number of weeks shown for that crop in column 3 (“Weeks from Sowing”) and record that date in column
YOUR SEED-STARTING PLAN
The Spring Frost-Free Date in My Garden is…………………………..
| CROP | WHEN TO START INSIDE | WEEKS FROM SOWING | SAFE TO SET OUT TIME (RELATIVE TO FROST-FREE DATE) | SETTING OUT DATE |
| Basil | 6 | 1 week after | ||
| Beets* | 4-6 weeks | 2 weeks before | ||
| Broccoli | 4-6 weeks | 2 weeks before | ||
| Cabbage | 4-6 weeks | 4 weeks before | ||
| Cauliflower | 4-6 weeks | 2 weeks before | ||
| Collards | 4-6 weeks | 4 weeks before | ||
| Corn* | 2-4 weeks | 0-2 weeks after | ||
| Cucumber | 3-4 weeks | 1-2 weeks after | ||
| Eggplant | 8-10 weeks | 2-3 weeks after | ||
| Kale | 4-6 weeks | 4 weeks before | ||
| Kohlrabi | 4-6 weeks | 4 weeks before | ||
| Lettuce | 4-5 weeks | 3-4 weeks before | ||
| Melons | 3-4 weeks | 2 weeks before | ||
| Mustard* | 4-6 weeks | 4 weeks before | ||
| Okra* | 4-6 weeks | 2-4 weeks after | ||
| Onions | 6-8 weeks | 4 weeks before | ||
| Parsley | 9-10 weeks | 2-3 weeks before | ||
| Peas* | 3-4weeks | 6-8 before | ||
| Peppers | 6-14 weeks | 2 weeks after | ||
| Pumpkins | 3-4 weeks | 4 weeks after | ||
| Spinach | 4-6 weeks | 3-6 weeks before | ||
| Squash | 3-4weeks | 2 weeks after | ||
| Swiss Chard | 4-6 weeks | 2 weeks before | ||
| Tomatoes | 6-8 weeks | 1-2 weeks after |
* These crops are usually direct-seeded outdoors, but they can be started insid
 Follow the links below to see some pics |
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When to Plant |
| Involving the kids | Pollination | When to sow |
| September 2016 Seed savers pics | Edibles | From Seed to Plate- Mammoth melting snow peas |
| Bidgiwong Seed savers pics | From seed to plate- Choggia Striped Beetroot |