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The following list presents about 150 annuals with the recommended sowing date for each one. If you see the mention “8 weeks,” that means you should sow it indoors 8 weeks before the date when you expect to be transplanting it to the garden. Note that this date is not necessarily 8 weeks before the last frost date, as the soil and air may still be very cold at that time, but probably about 7 to 14 days later.
For example, where I live, the official last frost date is June 1st, but that refers to the average date of last frost. About 50% of the time, there is frost after that date. That’s why I usually use June 10 as a safe planting-out date for the seedlings I started indoors and it’s the one I use in calculating when to start my seedlings.
Sowing Dates for Annuals
| Variety | Weeks Indoors |
|---|---|
| Agastache (Agastache rupestris, A. cana and others) | 8 weeks |
| Ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum) | 4 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Alternanthera (Alternanthera dentata and others) | 11 weeks |
| Alyssum, Sweet (Lobularia maritima) | 4 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus) | 4 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Amaranth, Globe (Gomphrena globosa and others) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia) | 8 weeks |
| Aster, China (Callistephus chinensis) 6 weeks or sow outdoors | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila spp.) | 4 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Baby’s Breath, Annual (Gypsophila elegans) | 4 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Baby’s Breath, Cushion (Gypsophila muralis) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Bachelor’s Button, Annual (Centaurea cyanus and others) | 4 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Bacopa (Sutera cordata) | 10 weeks |
| Balsam, Garden (Impatiens balsamina) | 4 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Bean, Castor (Ricinus communis) | 4 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Bean, Hyacinth (Lablab purpureus, syn. Dolichos lablab) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Bean, Scarlet Runner (Phaseolus coccineus) | 2 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Begonia, Tuberous (Begonia × tuberhybrida) | 16 weeks |
| Begonia, Wax (Begonia × semperflorens-cultorum, B. × benariensis and other non-tuberous varieties) | 12 weeks |
| Bells of Ireland (Moluccella laevis) | 10 weeks or sow outdoors early |
| Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Black-Eyed Susan Vine (Thunbergia alata) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Bloodleaf (Iresine spp.) | 10 weeks |
| Blue Stars (Isotoma axillaris, syn. Laurentia axillaris) | 14 weeks |
| Browallia (Browallia spp.) | 8 weeks |
| Bunny Tail (Lagurus ovatus) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Burning Bush (Bassia scoparia, syn. Kochia scoparia) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Cabbage, Ornamental (Brassica olearcea acephala) | 4 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Calibrachoa (Calibrachoa × hybrida) | 8 weeks |
| Calliopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria and others) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Canna (Canna spp.) | 8 weeks |
| Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus) | 10 weeks |
| Castor Oil Plant (Ricinus communis) | 4 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Cathedral Bells (Cobaea scandens) | 10 weeks |
| Celosia (Celosia argentea and others) | 4 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Chrysanthemum, Annual (Glebionis carinatum, syn. Chrysanthemum carinatum) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Chrysanthemum, Crown (Glebionis coronaria syn. Chrysanthemum coronarium) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Clarkia (Clarkia unguiculata, syn. C. elegans) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Cleome (Cleome hasslerana and others) | 4 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Coleus (Coleus scutellarioides) | 8 weeks |
| Coreopsis, Plains (Coreopsis tinctoria and others) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Corn-cockle (Agrostemma githago and others) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Cosmidium (Thelesperma burridgeanum, syn. Cosmidium burridgeanum) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus and C. sulphureus) | 4 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Cup-and-saucer Vine (Cobaea scandens) | 10 weeks |
| Cupflower (Nierembergia hippomanica and others) | 10 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Dahlia, Dwarf (Dahlia × hortensis) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Dahlia, Tall and Medium (Dahlia × hortensis) | 8 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Daisy, African (Arctotis × hybrida, formerly Venidium) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Daisy, African (Osteospermum ecklonis, syn. Dimorphotheca ecklonis) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Daisy, Dahlberg (Thymophylla tenuiloba, syn. Dyssodia tenuiloba) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Daisy, Livingston (Dorotheanthus bellidiformis and Mesembryanthemum crystallinum) | 10 weeks |
| Datura or Devil’s Trumpet (Datura metel and D. innoxia) | 16 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Dichondra (Dichondra repens) | 8 weeks |
| Dracaena, Spike (Cordyline australis, syn. C. indivisa) | 22 weeks |
| Dusty Miller (Senecio cineraria and others, Centaurea cineraria) | 12 weeks |
| Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus cinerea, E. globulus and others) | 10 weeks |
| Everlasting, Annual (Xeranthemum annuum) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Everlasting, Golden (Xerochrysum bracteatum, syn. Helichrysum bracteatum) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Everlasting, Winged (Ammobium alataum) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Felicia (Felicia bergeriana and F. heterophylla) | 4 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Flax (Linum grandiflorum, L. usitatissimum and others) | 3 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Flossflower (Ageratum houstonianum) | 4 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Forget-Me-Not, Chinese (Cynoglossum amabile) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Four O’Clock (Mirabilis jalapa) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Fuchsia (Fuchsia × hybrida) | 14 weeks |
| Gaillardia, Annual (Gaillardia pulchella) | 4 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Gazania (Gazania rigens) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Geranium, Ivy (Pelargonium peltatum) | 12 weeks |
| Geranium, Zonal (Pelargonium × hortorum) | 12 weeks |
| Godetia (Clarkia amoena, formerly Godetia amoena) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Gourd, Ornamental (Cucurbita pepo and Lagenaria siceraria) | 3 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Grass, Fountain (Pennisetum villosum, P. setaceum) | 6 week or sow outdoors |
| Grass, Hare’s Tail (Lagurus ovatus) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Heliotrope (Heliotropium arborescens) | 10 weeks |
| Hibiscus, Red-Leaf (Hibiscus acetosella) | 10 weeks |
| Honeywort (Cerinthe major) | 10 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Impatiens, African (Impatiens auricoma and its hybrids) | 8 weeks |
| Impatiens, Common (Impatiens walleriana) | 10 weeks |
| Impatiens, New Guinea (Impatiens × hawkeri) | 10 weeks |
| Jewels of Opar (Talinum paniculatum and others) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Jewelweed, Ornamental (Impatiens glandulifera) | 4 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Joseph’s Coat (Amaranthus tricolor) | 4 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Kale, Ornamental (Brassica olearcea acephala) | 4 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Kiss-Me-Over-the-Garden-Gate (Persicaria orientalis, syn. Polygonum orientale) | 4 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Knotweed, Pink (Persicaria capitata, syn. Polygonum capitatum) | 10 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Larkspur (Consolida ambigua and C. regalis, formerly Delphinium) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors early |
| Laurentia (Isotoma axillaris, syn. Laurentia axillaris) | 14 weeks |
| Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflora) | 18 weeks |
| Lobelia, Bedding (Lobelia erinus) | 8 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Love-in-a-Mist (Nigella damascena and others) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Love-lies-bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus) | 4 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Mallow, Rose (Malva trimestris, syn. Lavatera trimestris) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Maple, Flowering (Abutilon spp.) | 12 weeks |
| Marigold, African (Tagetes erecta) | 4 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Marigold, French (Tagetes patula and T. patula × erecta) | 4 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Marigold, Pot (Calendula officinalis) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Melampodium (Melampodium paludosum) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Mignonette (Reseda odorata) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Milkweed, Tropical (Asclepias curassavica) | 10 weeks |
| Millet, Ornamental (Pennisetum glaucum) | 8 weeks |
| Million Bells (Calibrachoa × hybrida) | 8 weeks |
| Mimulus (Mimulus × hybridus) | 8 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Morning Glory, Climbing (Ipomoea tricolor, I. nil, etc.) | 3 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Morning Glory, Dwarf (Convolvulus tricolor) | 5 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus and others) | 2 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Nemesia (Nemesia strumosa and others) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Nicandra (Nicandra physaloides) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Nierembergia (Nierembergia hippomanica and others) | 10 weeks |
| Nolana (Nolana paradoxa and N. humifusa) | 4 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Painted Tongue (Salpiglossis sinuata) | 8 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Palm, Cabbage (Cordyline australis, syn. C. indivisa) | 22 weeks |
| Pansy (Viola × wittrockiana) | 8 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Pelargonium, Ivy (Pelargonium peltatum) | 12 weeks |
| Pelargonium, Zonal (Pelargonium × hortorum) | 12 weeks |
| Penstemon, Annual (Penstemon hartwegii, P. × gloxinioides, etc.) | 12 weeks |
| Periwinkle, Madagascar (Catharanthus roseus) | 12 weeks |
| Petunia (Petunia × atkinsiana and others) | 10 weeks |
| Phacelia (Phacelia campanularia, P. tanacetifolia and others) | 4 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Phlox, Annual (Phlox drummondii) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Pincushion Flower, Annual (Scabiosa atropurpurea) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Pink, China (Dianthus chinensis) | 8 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Policeman’s Helmet (Impatiens glandulifera) | 4 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachys) | 10 weeks |
| Poppy, California (Eschscholzia californica) | 2 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Poppy, Mexican (Argemone mexicana and others) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Poppy, Opium (Papaver somniferum, syn. P. laciniatum, P. paeoniflorum) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Poppy, Shirley (Papaver rhoeas and P. commutatum) | Sow outdoors |
| Poppy, Tulip (Hunnemannia fumariifolia) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Portulaca (Portulaca grandiflora) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Sage, Mealy (Salvia farinacea) | 12 weeks |
| Sage, Painted (Salvia viridis, syn. S. horminus) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Sage, Scarlet (Salvia splendens) | 6 weeks |
| Sensitive Plant (Mimosa pudica) | 10 weeks |
| Shoo-Fly Plant (Nicandra physaloides) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Snapdragon, Climbing (Asarina, Lophospermum and Maurandya) | 11 weeks |
| Snapdragon, Fairy (Chaenorrhinum origanifolium, syn. C. glaerosum) | 16 weeks |
| Sneezeweed, Yellow (Helenium amarum) | 8 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Snow on the Mountain (Euphorbia marginata) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Spiderflower (Cleome hasslerana and others) | 4 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Star Flower (Isotoma axillaris, syn. Laurentia axillaris) | 14 weeks |
| Statice, Annual (Limonium sinuatum and others) | 4 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Stock, Brompton (Matthiola incana) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Stock, Virginia (Malcomia maritima) | 4 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Strawflower (Xerochrysum bracteatum, syn. Helichrysum bracteatum) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Sunflower (Helianthus annuus and others) | 4 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Sunflower, Mexican (Tithonia rotundifolia) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Sunray, Pink (Rhodanthe chlorocephala rosea and R. manglesii, syn. Acroclinium and Helipterum) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus) | 4 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) | 8 weeks |
| Thorn apple or jimsonweed (Datura stramomium and others) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Throatwort, Blue (Trachelium caeruleum) | 10 weeks |
| Tickseed (Bidens aurea, B. ferulifolia and others) | 6 weeks |
| Tickseed, Garden (Coreopsis tinctoria and others) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Toadflax (Linaria reticulata, L. maroccana, etc.) | 8 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Tobacco, Flowering (Nicotiana alata, N. sylvestris and others) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Toothache Plant (Acmella oleracea, syn. Spilanthes acmella) | 11 weeks |
| Verbena, Hybrid (Verbena × hybrida) | 10 weeks |
| Verbena, Tall (Verbena bonariensis) | 8 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Wishbone Flower (Torenia fournieri and others) | 8 weeks |
| Zinnia (Zinnia elegans, Z. haageana, Z. angustifolia, etc.) | 4 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Zinnia, African (Melampodium paludosum) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
| Zinnia, Creeping (Sanivitalia procumbens) | 6 weeks or sow outdoors |
If you follow the dates suggested in the list above, that should give you annuals of just the right size for transplanting to the garden.
Best of luck with all your seedlings!
Article partly based on one that appeared in this blog on January 17, 2018
Thank you, Larry! I wish I spoke French so I could read more of your books!
Do you have any advice for sowing annual poppies? (Somniferum?) I read conflicting things on various websites — do they need stratification? can I throw them on snow? do they hate transplanting?
What obviously happens is that different people try different processes… and some of them work. The same seed could have more than one set conditions for germination. So various bits of information float around. It would really be practical to have a central source for verified seed sprouting information, but I don’t know of one.
A handy reference!
?