As the days get longer and longer, gardeners start to get itchy fingers. Surely it must be time to start their seedlings for the summer garden?

Seasoned gardeners have learned to restrain themselves, but beginners often just let loose, sowing any seeds they can get their hands on as early as January or February. It seems logical to them that, if the label says to sow seed X 6 weeks before the transplant date, they’ll have better results if they sow it 12 or 14 weeks before the transplant date. But they are sooo wrong!

Seedlings started too early do not produce stronger and more mature plants as you’d think, but weak, etiolated, stringy plants with seriously compressed roots that will only recover with difficulty once they’re planted in the garden, if indeed they recover at all. What you want instead are short, compact seedlings, not yet in bloom, but full of energy and ready to explode into growth once they’re in the garden.

In other words, you have to use a little restraint in sowing. In gardening, small is often better!

Sowing Dates for Annuals

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 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 10 to 14 days later.

For example, where I live, the official last frost date is June 1^st, 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 date for me to plant seedlings outdoors and it’s the one I use in calculating when to start my seedlings.

Here you go!

1. Agastache (Agastache rupestris, A. cana and others) 8 weeks
2. Ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum) 4 weeks
3. Alternanthera (Alternanthera dentata and others) 11 weeks
4. Alyssum, Sweet (Lobularia maritima) 4 weeks
5. Amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus) 4 weeks
6. Amaranth, Globe (Gomphrena globosa and others) 6 weeks
7. Angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia) 8 weeks
8. Aster, China (Callistephus chinensis) 6 weeks
9. Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila spp.) 4 weeks
10. Baby’s Breath, Annual (Gypsophila elegans) 4 weeks
11. Baby’s Breath, Cushion (Gypsophila muralis) 6 weeks
12. Bachelor’s Button, Annual (Centaurea cyanus and others) 4 weeks
13. Bacopa (Sutera cordata) 10 weeks
14. Balsam, Garden (Impatiens balsamina) 4 weeks
15. Bean, Castor (Ricinus communis) 4 weeks
16. Bean, Hyacinth (Lablab purpureus, syn. Dolichos lablab) 6 weeks
17. Begonia, Tuberous (Begonia × tuberhybrida) 16 weeks
18. Begonia, Wax (Begonia × semperflorens-cultorum, B. × benariensis and other non-tuberous varieties) 12 weeks
19. Bells of Ireland (Moluccella laevis) 10 weeks
20. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) 6 weeks
21. Black-Eyed Susan Vine (Thunbergia alata) 6 weeks
22. Bloodleaf (Iresine spp.) 10 weeks
23. Browallia (Browallia spp.) 8 weeks
24. Bunny Tail (Lagurus ovatus) 6 weeks
25. Burning Bush (Bassia scoparia, syn. Kochia scoparia) 6 weeks
26. Cabbage, Ornamental (Brassica olearcea acephala) 4 weeks
27. Calibrachoa (Calibrachoa × hybrida) 8 weeks
28. Calliopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria and others) 6 weeks
29. Canna (Canna spp.) 8 weeks
30. Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus) 10 weeks
31. Castor Oil Plant (Ricinus communis) 4 weeks
32. Cathedral Bells (Cobaea scandens) 10 weeks
33. Celosia (Celosia argentea and others) 4 weeks
34. Chrysanthemum, Annual (Glebionis carinatum [formerly Chrysanthemum carinatum] and others) 6 weeks
35. Clarkia (Clarkia unguiculata, syn. C. elegans) 6 weeks
36. Cleome (Cleome hasslerana and others) 4 weeks
37. Coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides) 8 weeks
38. Coreopsis, Plains (Coreopsis tinctoria and others) 6 weeks
39. Corn-Cockle (Nigella damascena and others) 6 weeks
40. Cosmidium (Thelesperma burridgeanum, syn. Cosmidium burridgeanum) 6 weeks
41. Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus and C. sulphureus) 4 weeks
42. Cup-and-saucer Vine (Cobaea scandens) 10 weeks
43. Cupflower (Nierembergia hippomanica and others) 10 weeks
44. Dahlia, Dwarf (Dahlia × hortensis) 6 weeks
45. Dahlia, Tall and Medium (Dahlia × hortensis) 8 weeks
46. Daisy, African (Arctotis × hybrida, formerly Venidium) 6 weeks
47. Daisy, African (Osteospermum ecklonis, syn. Dimorphotheca ecklonis) 6 weeks
48. Daisy, Dahlberg (Thymophylla tenuiloba, syn. Dyssodia tenuiloba) 6 weeks
49. Daisy, Livingston (Dorotheanthus bellidiformis and Mesembryanthemum crystallinum) 10 weeks
50. Datura, Double (Datura metel and others) 16 weeks
51. Dichondra (Dichondra repens) 8 weeks
52. Dracaena, Spike (Cordyline australis, syn. C. indivisa) 22 weeks
53. Dusty Miller (Senecio cineraria and others, Centaurea cineraria) 12 weeks
54. Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus cinerea, E. globulus and others) 10 weeks
55. Everlasting, Annual (Xeranthemum annuum) 6 weeks
56. Everlasting, Golden (Xerochrysum bracteatum, syn. Helichrysum bracteatum) 6 weeks
57. Everlasting, Winged (Ammobium alataum) 6 weeks
58. Felicia (Felicia bergeriana and F. heterophylla) 4 weeks
59. Flax (Linum grandiflorum, L. usitatissimum and others) 3 weeks
60. Flossflower (Ageratum houstonianum) 4 weeks
61. Forget-Me-Not, Chinese (Cynoglossum amabile) 6 weeks
62. Four O’Clock (Mirabilis jalapa) 6 weeks
63. Fuchsia (Fuchsia × hybrida) 14 weeks
64. Gaillardia, Annual (Gaillardia pulchella) 4 weeks
65. Gazania (Gazania rigens) 6 weeks
66. Geranium, Ivy (Pelargonium peltatum) 12 weeks
67. Geranium, Zonal (Pelargonium × hortorum) 12 weeks
68. Godetia (Clarkia amoena, formerly Godetia amoena) 6 weeks
69. Gourd, Ornamental (Cucurbita pepo and Lagenaria siceraria) 3 weeks
70. Grass, Fountain (Pennisetum villosum, P. setaceum) 6 weeks
71. Grass, Hare’s Tail (Lagurus ovatus) 6 weeks
72. Heliotrope (Heliotropium arborescens) 10 weeks
73. Hibiscus, Red-Leaf (Hibiscus acetosella) 10 weeks
74. Honeywort (Cerinthe major) 10 weeks
75. Impatiens, African (Impatiens auricoma and its hybrids) 8 weeks
76. Impatiens, Common (Impatiens walleriana) 10 weeks
77. Impatiens, New Guinea (Impatiens × hawkeri) 10 weeks
78. Jewels of Opar (Talinum paniculatum and others) 6 weeks
79. Jewelweed, Ornamental (Impatiens glandulifera) 4 weeks
80. Joseph’s Coat (Amaranthus tricolor) 4 weeks
81. Kale, Ornamental (Brassica olearcea acephala) 4 weeks
82. Kiss-Me-Over-the-Garden-Gate (Persicaria orientale, syn. Polygonum orientale) 4 weeks
83. Knotweed, Pink (Persicaria capitatum, syn. Polygonum capitatum) 10 weeks
84. Larkspur (Consolida ambigua and C. regalis, formerly Delphinium) 6 weeks
85. Laurentia (Laurentia axillaris, syn. Isotoma axillaris) 14 weeks
86. Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflora) 18 weeks
87. Lobelia, Bedding (Lobelia erinus) 8 weeks
88. Love-lies-bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus) 4 weeks
89. Mallow, Rose (Lavatera trimestris) 6 weeks
90. Maple, Flowering (Abutilon spp.) 12 weeks
91. Marigold, African (Tagetes erecta) 4 weeks
92. Marigold, French (Tagetes patula and T. patula × erecta) 4 weeks
93. Marigold, Pot (Calendula officinalis) 6 weeks=
94. Melampodium (Melampodium paludosum) 6 weeks
95. Mignonette (Reseda odorata) 6 weeks
96. Milkweed, Tropical (Asclepias curassavica) 10 weeks
97. Millet, Ornamental (Pennisetum glaucum) 8 weeks
98. Million Bells (Calibrachoa × hybrida) 8 weeks
99. Mimulus (Mimulus × hybridus) 8 weeks
100. Morning Glory, Climbing (Ipomoea tricolor, I. nil, etc.) 3 weeks
101. Morning-Glory, Dwarf (Convolvulus tricolor) 5 weeks
102. Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus and others) 2 weeks
103. Nemesia (Nemesia strumosa and others) 6 weeks
104. Nicandra (Nicandra physaloides) 6 weeks
105. Nielle des blés (Agrostemma githago and others) 6 weeks
106. Nierembergia (Nierembergia hippomanica and others) 10 weeks
107. Nolana (Nolana paradoxa and N. humifusa) 4 weeks
108. Palm, Cabbage (Cordyline australis, syn. C. indivisa) 20 weeks
109. Pansy (Viola × wittrockiana) 8 weeks
110. Pelargonium, Ivy (Pelargonium peltatum) 12 weeks
111. Pelargonium, Zonal (Pelargonium × hortorum) 12 weeks
112. Penstemon, Annual (Penstemon hartwegii, P. × gloxinioides, etc.) 12 weeks
113. Periwinkle, Madagascar (Catharanthus roseus) 12 weeks
114. Petunia (Petunia × atkinsiana and others) 10 weeks
115. Phacelia (Phacelia campanularia, P. tanacetifolia and others) 4 weeks
116. Phlox, Annual (Phlox drummondii) 6 weeks
117. Pincushion Flower, Annual (Scabiosa atropurpurea) 6 weeks
118. Pink, China (Dianthus chinensis) 8 weeks
119. Policeman’s Helmet (Impatiens glandulifera) 4 weeks
120. Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachys) 10 weeks
121. Poppy, California (Eschscholzia californica) 2 weeks
122. Poppy, Mexican (Argemone mexicana and others) 6 weeks
123. Poppy, Opium (Papaver somniferum, syn. P. laciniatum, P. paeoniflorum) 6 weeks
124. Poppy, Shirley (Papaver rhoeas and P. commutatum) Sow outdoors.
125. Poppy, Tulip (Hunnemannia fumariifolia) 6 weeks
126. Portulaca (Portulaca grandiflora) 6 weeks
127. Sage, Mealy (Salvia farinacea) 12 weeks
128. Sage, Painted (Salvia viridis, syn. S. horminus) 6 weeks
129. Sage, Scarlet (Salvia splendens) 6 weeks
130. Sensitive Plant (Mimosa pudica) 10 weeks
131. Shoo-Fly Plant (Nicandra physaloides) 6 weeks
132. Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) 6 weeks
133. Snapdragon, Climbing (Asarina, Lophospermum and Maurandya) 11 weeks
134. Snapdragon, Fairy (Chaenorrhinum origanifolium, syn. C. glaerosum) 16 weeks
135. Sneezeweed, Yellow (Helenium amarum) 8 weeks
136. Snow on the Mountain (Euphorbia marginata) 6 weeks
137. Spiderflower (Cleome hasslerana and others) 4 weeks
138. Statice, Annual (Limonium sinuatum and others) 4 weeks
139. Stock, Brompton (Matthiola incana) 6 weeks
140. Stock, Virginia (Malcomia maritima) 4 weeks
141. Strawflower (Xerochrysum bracteatum, syn. Helichrysum bracteatum) 6 weeks
142. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus and others) 4 weeks
143. Sunflower, Mexican (Tithonia rotundifolia) 6 weeks
144. Sunray, Pink (Rhodanthe chlorocephala rosea and R. manglesii, syn. Acroclinium and Helipterum) 6 weeks
145. Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus) 4 weeks
146. Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) 8 weeks
147. Throatwort, Blue (Trachelium caeruleum) 10 weeks
148. Tickseed (Bidens aurea, B. ferulifolia and others) 6 weeks
149. Tickseed, Garden (Coreopsis tinctoria and others) 6 weeks
150. Toadflax (Linaria reticulata, L. maroccana, etc.) 8 weeks
151. Tobacco, Flowering (Nicotiana alata, N. sylvestris and others) 6 weeks
152. Tongue, Painted (Salpiglossis sinuata) 8 weeks
153. Toothache Plant (Acmella oleracea, syn. Spilanthes acmella) 11 weeks
154. Verbena, Hybrid (Verbena × hybrida) 10 weeks
155. Verbena, Tall (Verbena bonariensis) 8 weeks
156. Wishbone Flower (Torenia fournieri and others) 8 weeks
157. Zinnia (Zinnia elegans, Z. haageana, Z. angustifolia, etc.) 4 weeks
158. Zinnia, African (Melampodium paludosum) 6 weeks
159. Zinnia, Creeping (Sanivitalia procumbens) 6 weeks

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.

Now that you know the recommended sowing date for your favorite annuals, pull out a calendar and count backwards to find the best time to sow them in your area.