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Planting Guides
WHEN TO START YOUR SEEDS INDOORS
Welcome Gardeners! This is Diane Mumm , glad you stopped by!
If you are like me, and need a guideline of WHEN to start your seed Indoors . This will help you greatly
This page will be dedicated to growing from seed light requirements and number of weeks to start your seed indoors before your last frost date in your area zone.
I realize the days to germinate will vary depending on your setup , this is just a guideline for you to go by.
Bottom heat using a heating mat will speed up your days to germinate greatly so keep that in mind when growing.
Keep a Journal of Your Planting Dates Every Year this will help you greatly on productivity. You may need to adjust your dates , until you find the best date that works in your area.
Make sure and Check out My Seed Starting Videos and Full Details on Starting from Seed
Printable Flower Crop Guide Chart
Printable Vegetable Planting Guide Chart
This page is a work in progress, so keep checking back .
| Plant | Approximate Number of Weeks Before Last Frost Date to Start Seeds Indoors |
Time Seeds Take
to Germinate (Days)
This Can Really Fluctuate
|
Temp.
(oF)
|
Light/Dark
Requirement For Germination
|
| Abutilon | 11-13 | 14-21 | 70 | Light |
| Achillea | 12 | 7-14 | 65-70 | Light |
| Ageratum | 8 | 5 to 10 | 70 | Light |
| Alyssum | 8 | 5 to 10 | 70 | Light |
| Alternanthera | 10-12 | 3-7 days | 72-76 | Light |
| Angelina | 6-8 | 5-7 days | 70-75 | Light |
| Asclepias | 6-8 | 14-21 days | 70 | Dark |
| Aster | 6 | 5 to 10 | 70 | Dark or Light |
| Aquilegia | 8-10 | 21-28 | 70-76 | Light |
| Astilbe | 8-10 | 15-21 | 70 | Light |
| Bacopa | 8-10 | 4 days | 70 | Light |
| Balsam | 6 | 5 to 10 | 70 | Dark or Light |
| Begonia | 12+ | 10 to 15 | 70 | Light |
| Browallia | 12+ | 15 to 20 | 70 | Light |
| Buddleia | 8 | 14-21 | 65-70 | Dark or Light |
| Calendula | 4-6 | 7-10 | 60-70 | Dark |
| Campanula | 8 | 10-14 | 65-70 | Light |
| Cardinal Climber | 4-6 | 10 days | 70 | Dark or Light-Soak |
| Carnation | 8 | 8 to 10 | 70 | Light or Dark |
| Celosia | 8 | 5 to 10 | 70 | Light |
| Centaurea | 6 | 5 to 10 | 65 | Dark |
| Cleome | 4 | 14 | 75 | Light |
| Cobaea | 8-10 | 10-14 | 70 | Dark |
| Cosmos | 4 | 7 to 10 | 70 | Light or Dark |
| Coleus | 8 | 5 to 10 | 72 | Light |
| Columbine | 8 | 20 - 25 | 70 | Light |
| Coreopsis | 8-10 | 7-14 | 65-75 | Light |
| Cosmos | 4-5 | 5 to 10 | 70 | Dark or Light |
| Cuphea | 8-10 | 2-3 weeks | 70 | Light |
| Cyperus | 8 | 14 days | 72-75 | Light |
| Dahlia | 8 | 7 to 10 | 70 | Dark or Light |
| Datura | 8-12 | 15-45 | 70 | Light |
| Delphinium | 8 | 18 days | 70 | Dark or Light |
| Dianthus | 10 | 5 to 10 | 70 | Dark or Light |
| Diascia | 8 | 4-6 | 65-70 | Dark or Light |
| Dichondra | 8 | 4 days | 72-75 | Dark or Light |
| Dolichos(Hyacinth Bean) | 6-8 | 14-21 | 70-75 | Light-Soak |
| Dusty Miller | 8-10 | 10-15 | 70 | Light |
| Echinacea | 8-12 | 10-28 | 70 | Light |
| Eryngium | 8-12 | 7 to 10 | 60-65 | Light |
| Flowering Kale | 6-8 | 10 | 70 | Light |
| Foxglove | 10-12 | 14 days | 70 | Light |
| Gazania | 4-6 | 10-14 | 65 | Dark |
| Gaillardia | 6-8 | 20 days | 70 | Light |
| Geranium | 12-15 | 10 to 20 | 70 | Light |
| Gerbera | 10-12 | 10 days | 70-75 | Light |
| Gloxinia | 12+ | 14-21 | 70-75 | Light |
| Gypsophila | 14-21 | 60 | Light | |
| Gomphrena | 4-6 | 7-21 | 70 | Light |
| Helichrysum | 10-12 | 14 days | 65-70 | Light |
| Hibiscus | 10-12 | 14-21 | 75-80 | Dark or Light |
| Hollyhock | 6-8 | 14-21 | 60 | Dark or Light |
| Hypoestes | 6-8 | 7 days | 60 | Light |
| Impatiens | 10 | 7-14 | 70 | Light |
| Isolepis | 8-10 | 5-7 | 65-70 | Light |
| Juncus | 8-10 | 4-6 | 65-75 | Light |
| Larkspur | 6-8 | 5 to 10 | 55 | Dark |
| Lavatera | 6-8 | 7-14 | 70-75 | Dark |
| Linaria | 4-6 | 7-14 | 65 | Dark |
| Lisianthus | 12+ | 10 days | 70 | Light |
| Lobelia | 10-12 | 14-21 | 70 | Light |
| Lupine | 6-10 | 14-28 | 70 | Dark or Light |
| Malva | 6-8 | 14-21 | 60 | Dark |
| Marigold | 6 | 5 to 10 | 70 | Dark or Light |
| Melampodium | 8 | 10-14 | 65-70 | Dark |
| Millet | 6-8 | 3-7 | 70-75 | Light |
| Mina Firecracker Vine | 4-6 | 15-20 | 70-75 | Dark-Soak |
| Monarda | 6-8 | 21-28 | 65 | Light |
| Lunaria-Money Plant | 6-8 | 10-14 | 70 | Dark |
| Morning Glory | 4-6 | 1-14 | 70 | Dark or Light |
| Nasturtium | 4-6 | 10-14 | 70 | Dark or Light |
| Nicotiana | 6-8 | 10 to 15 | 70 | Light |
| Nierembergia | 8-10 | 15 days | 70-75 | Light |
| Osteospermum | 6-8 | 10-14 | 70-75 | Light |
| Pansy (Viola) | 8-10 | 5 to 10 | 65 | Dark |
| Passiflora | 10-15 | 30-90(?) | 70-85 | Light-Soak |
| Pennisetum | 8-10 | 14-21 | 70 | Light |
| Pentas | 8-10 | 14-21 | 65-70 | Light |
| Petunia | 10 | 5 to 10 | 70 | Light |
| Phlox | 8 | 5 to 10 | 65 | Dark |
| Platycodon | 8 | 6 to 10 | 70 | Light |
| Plectranthus | 4-6 | 5-7 | 70-75 | Light |
| Poppy | 6-8 | 14 days | 60-70 | Dark |
| Portulaca | 10 | 7-10 | 70 | Light |
| Potentilla | 8 | 21-28 | 65 | Light |
| Pyrethrum | 8-10 | 14-21 | 70 | Dark or Light |
| Rhodochiton | 8-10 | 14-45 | 70 | Light |
| Rudbeckia | 6-8 | 14 days | 70 | Dark or Light |
| Ruellia | 10-12 | 5 to 7 | 70-75 | Dark or Light |
| Salpiglossis | 8-10 | 20-30 | 60-70 | Dark |
| Salvia | 8-10 | 10-15 | 70-75 | Light |
| Sanvitalia | 6-8 | 7-14 | 70 | Dark |
| Sedum | 8-10 | 10-14 | 65-70 | Light |
| Shasta Daisy | 8-10 | 10-12 | 60-65 | Light |
| Silene | 8-10 | 7-14 | 65-70 | Light |
| Snapdragon | 10 | 5 to 10 | 65 | Light |
| Stipa | 8-10 | 4-6 | 65-75 | Light |
| Stock | 10 | 10 to 15 | 70 | Dark or Light |
| Statice | 6-8 | 14-21 | 70 | Dark or Light |
| Strawberry | 8-10 | 10-15 days | 70 | Dark |
| Sweet Pea | 6-8 | 14 days | 55 | Dark |
| Sunflowers | 4-6 | 7-14 | 70 | Dark or Light |
| Tecoma | 8 | 3-5 days | 70-75 | Light |
| Thunbergia | 6-8 | 7-12 | 70-80 | Dark |
| Tithonia | 6 | 7-14 | 70 | Dark or Light |
| Torenia | 10-12 | 7-10 | 70-75 | Light |
| Tritoma | 6-8 | 14-28 | 70 | Light |
| Verbena | 10 | 15 to 20 | 65 | Dark |
| Vinca | 12 | 10 to 15 | 70 | Dark |
| Viola | 6-8 | 12 days | 70 | Dark |
| Zinnia | 6 | 5 to 10 | 70-80 | Dark |
HERB CHART
| Plant | Approximate Number of Weeks Before Last Frost Date to Start Seeds Indoors |
Time Seeds Take
to Germinate (Days)
This Can Really Fluctuate
|
Temp.
(oF)
|
Light/Dark
Requirement For Germination
|
| Basil | 6-8 | 5-10 | 70 | Dark |
| Catnip | 6-8 | 7 to 10 | 70 | Dark |
| Chamomile | 6-8 | 10-15 | 70 | Dark |
| Chives | 6-8 | 8-14 | 70 | Dark |
| Chevil | 6-8 | 10-14 | 60-70 | Dark |
| Coriander | 6-8 | 10-14 | 70 | Dark |
| Dill | 6 | 7 to 10 | 70 | Dark |
| Eucalyptus | 6-8 | 15-20 | 70 | Light |
| Feverfew | 6-8 | 7-14 | 70 | Dark |
| Fennel | 6-8 | 7-14 | 70 | Dark |
| Lavender | 6-8 | 10-20 | 70 | Dark |
| Lemon Balm | 6-8 | 14-21 | 70 | Dark |
| Mint | 6-8 | 10-15 | 70 | Dark |
| Oregano | 6-8 | 7-14 | 70 | Dark |
| Parsley | 6-8 | 14-21(Soak) | 70 | Dark |
| Sage | 8 | 6 to 10 | 70 | Dark |
| Thyme | 8-10 | 8-20 | 70 | Dark |
VEGETABLE CHART
| Plant | Approximate Number of Weeks Before Last Frost Date to Start Seeds Indoors |
Time Seeds Take
to Germinate (Days)
This Can Really Fluctuate
|
Temp.
(oF)
|
Light/Dark
Requirement For Germination
|
| Broccoli | 8 | 5 to 10 | 70 | Dark or Light |
| Brussel Sprouts | 8 | 10 days | 70 | Dark |
| Cabbage | 8 | 5 to 10 | 70 | Dark or Light |
| Cantelope-Melons | 3-4 | 10 days | 70-75 | Dark |
| Cauliflower | 8 | 5 to 10 | 70 | Dark or Light |
| Celery | 8-10 | 21 days | 70 | Light |
| Cucumber | 4-5 | 5 to 10 | 85 | Dark |
| Eggplant | 8 | 5 to 10 | 70 | Dark |
| Kohlrabi | 8 | 10 days | 70 | Dark |
| Leeks | 10-12 | 14-21 | 70 | Dark or Light |
| Lettuce | 8 | 5 to 10 | 70 | Light |
| Muskmelon | 3-4 | 5 to 10 | 85 | Dark |
| Okra | 2-4 | 7 days | 70-75 | Dark |
| Onions | 10-12 | 10 days | 70 | Dark |
| Pepper | 8 | 5 to 10 | 80 | Dark or Light |
| Pumpkins | 3-4 | 5 to 10 | 70 | Light |
| Squash | 3-4 | 5 to 10 | 85 | Dark |
| Tomato | 6 | 5 to 10 | 80 | Dark or Light |
| Watermelon | 3-4 | 5 to 10 | 85 | Dark |