Wouldn’t life be easier for gardeners if there were only one date at which we could sow all our garden edibles indoors? Say April 15, or May 10? That would be the day when all gardeners around the world should sow their tomatoes, leeks, beans, etc., everyone all at once, on the same day.

But that will never happen. Some vegetables and herbs need to be started indoors two months or more before planting out, others, only a few weeks, and still others prefer being sown directly outdoors where they are to grow. And the right planting-out date is also necessarily going to vary depending on your local climate: risk of frost diminishes more rapidly in mild climates than cold ones, often as early as March, so gardeners living there can plant out their seedlings extra early, while gardeners from cold climates may still have frost concerns well into June. Plus, there’ll always be a 6-month difference in planting dates between gardeners in the Southern and Northern Hemsipheres.

So the “everybody sows their veggie seeds on one day” idea is just never going to happen.

How to Find the Right Date

You’ll see below a list that gives appropriate dates for sowing vegetables and herbs regardless of your local situation, all based on when you calculate you can safely transplant them to your garden.

Of course, it’s first up to you find when that safe date is. And this planting-out date it will probably not be the last frost date you might have seen mentioned for your area. The last frost date quoted is almost always the average date of the last spring frost and by definition, average means “half the time.” Therefore, if you use the last frost date as the date you intend to put your seedlings in the garden, expect it to be too cold about one year out of two! Not very useful!

That’s way I recommend figuring out, based on your own experience or that of a neighbor who gardens if you’re a beginner, a date some 10 to 14 days later, when both the soil and the air normally warm enough for your plant out in safely. That’s the planting-out date you want to use to calculate when to sow seeds.

For example, where I live, the official last frost date is June 1^st, but that refers to the average date of last frost. 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.

So, figure your transplant date and start counting backwards to find the right sowing for each variety that interests you on the following list.

For example, if you check broccoli on the list below, you’ll see “8 weeks” cited. That means to sow it indoors 8 weeks before your safe planting-out date. If your safe planting-out date is May 15, sow broccoli indoors on (or around) March 15. If it’s June 1st, sow it indoors April 1st. Etc.

Sowing Dates for Vegetables and Herbs

1. Amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus, A. cruentus and A. hypocondiacus) 4 weeks
2. Angelica (Angelica archangelica) 8 weeks
3. Anise (Pimpinella anisum) 8 weeks
4. Artichoke (Cynara cardunculus) 10 weeks
5. Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) 8 weeks
6. Aubergine (Solanum melongena) 8 weeks
7. Balm, Lemon (Melissa officinalis) 10 weeks
8. Basil (Ocimum basilicum and others) 4 weeks
9. Bean, Broad (Vicia fava) Sow outdoors
10. Bean, Dwarf French (Phaseolus vulgaris humilis) Sow outdoors
11. Bean, Fava (Vicia fava) Sow outdoors
12. Bean, Pole (Phaseolus vulgaris and P. coccineus) 2 weeks or sow outdoors
13. Bean, Scarlet Runner (Phaseolus coccineus) 2 weeks or sow outdoors
14. Beet, Beetroot (Beta vulgaris Condivita group) Sow outdoors
15. Borage (Borago officinalis) 8 weeks
16. Broccoli (Brassica oleracea italica) 8 weeks
17. Brussels Sprouts (Brassica oleracea gemmifera) 4 weeks
18. Cabbage (Brassica oleracea capitata) 5 weeks
19. Cantaloup (Cucumis melo) 3 weeks
20. Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus) 10 weeks
21. Carrot (Daucus carota) Sow outdoors
22. Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea botrytis) 8 weeks
23. Celery (Apium graveolens) 8 weeks
24. Chamomile, German (Matricaria chamomilla, syn. Matricaria recutita) 6 weeks
25. Chamomile, Roman (Chamaemelum nobile, syn. Anthemis nobile) 8 weeks
26. Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium) 6 weeks
27. Chicory (Chichorium intybus) 4 weeks
28. Chinese Cabbage (Brassica rapa pekinensis) Sow outdoors
29. Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) 4 weeks
30. Chives, Garlic (Allium tuberosum) 4 weeks
31. Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) 5 weeks or sow outdoors
32. Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) 5 weeks or sow outdoors
33. Corn (Zea mays) Sow outdoors
34. Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) 2 weeks or sow outdoors
35. Dill (Anethum graveolens) 6 weeks
36. Eggplant (Solanum melongena) 8 weeks
37. Endive (Chichorium endivia) 6 weeks
38. Escarole (Chichorium endivia) 6 weeks
39. Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) 4 weeks
40. Ground cherry (Physalis pruinosa) 8 weeks
41. Hyssope (Hyssopus officinalis) 8 weeks
42. Kale (Brassica oleracea acephala) 6 weeks
43. Kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea gongylodes) 4 weeks or sow outdoors
44. Lavander (Lavandula angustifolia) 14 weeks
45. Leek (Allium porrum) 12 weeks
46. Lentil (Lens culinaris) Sow outdoors
47. Lettuce (Lactuca sativus) 4 weeks or sow outdoors
48. Maize (Zea mays) Sow outdoors
49. Majorum (Origanum majorana, syn. O. hortensis) 6 weeks
50. Melon (Cucumis melo) 3 weeks
51. Mint (Mentha spp.) 8 weeks
52. Mizuna (Brassica juncea japonica) 4 weeks
53. Okra (Abelmochus esculentus) 8 weeks
54. Onion (Allium cepa) 8 weeks
55. Oregano (Origanum vulgare) 6 weeks
56. Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) 6 weeks
57. Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) Sow outdoors
58. Pea (Pisum sativum) Sow outdoors
59. Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) 6 weeks
60. Pepper (Capsicum annuum and others) 9 weeks
61. Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo and others) 3 weeks or sow outdoors
62. Purslane (Porulaca oleracea) 6 weeks
63. Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) Sow outdoors
64. Radicchio (Chichorium intybus) 4 weeks
65. Radish (Raphanus sativus) Sow outdoors
66. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) 6 weeks
67. Sage, Common (Salvia officinalis) 8 weeks
68. Savory, Summer (Satureja hortensis) 4 weeks
69. Shallot (Allium cepa aggregatum) 8 weeks
70. Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) 4 weeks or sow outdoors
71. Spinach, New Zealand (Tetragona expansa) 3 weeks
72. Squash (Cucurbita pepo and others) 3 weeks or sow outdoors
73. Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris Flavescens Group) Sow outdoors
74. Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) 8 weeks
75. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris and others) 8 weeks
76. Tomatillo (Physalis ixocarpa and P. philadelphica) 6 weeks
77. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicon esculentum) 6 weeks
78. Turnip (Brassica rapa rapifera) Sow outdoors
79. Vegetable Marrow (Cucurbita pepo and others) 3 weeks or sow outdoors
80. Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) 3 weeks
81. Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo and others) 3 weeks or sow outdoors