When to Plant Seeds for Spring

Vegetable Seeds

• Planting seeds for spring vegetables depends on the hardiness of the vegetable and the frost history of your area. A true and accurate guide to climate conditions and seed planting will be on the back of every seed packet you buy.
  Many hardy vegetable seedlings like onions, peas and spinach can survive light frost. Those vegetable seeds can be planted in the ground as soon as the soil has thawed enough to be worked.
  Other cool weather loving vegetables such as lettuce, beets, carrots and broccoli should not be planted in your garden until closer to the average last frost date for your area.

Flower Seeds

• Like vegetable seeds, there are flower seeds that are hardier and can be planted in the early spring as soon as the ground thaws. Sweet peas, wild flowers and many perennial flower seeds can be planted before the threat of light frosts has passed. Other flower seeds, particularly annuals, are more sensitive to cold weather and need a warmer soil to germinate and should be sown two or more weeks after the last frost. Follow the planting guide on the back of the seed package for success.

Cold Climate Tips

• If you live in an area that receives hard, deep freezing and has a shorter growing season, starting your vegetable and flower seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost will give you a jump start on your garden. Plant them in a general potting mix that drains well. Follow the seed package directions, but you may wish to keep the pots in a closed plastic bag during germination to regulate an even moist level. Once the seeds have germinated and you see seedlings, remove the bag, keep the soil moist and set the pots in a well lit spot. When it is time to plant them outside, first acclimate the seedlings by daily placing the pots outside, increasing the length of time each day over a two-week span.