When to Order Garden Seeds
Order seed in December through February. Onions, leeks, and peppers start indoors 8 to 12 weeks before last frost, so their seed comes first. Garlic and s...
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When to Order Garden Seeds
Order most vegetable seed between December and February. Have it in hand at least two weeks before your first indoor sowing date. Popular varieties can sell out by late winter, so order the crops you care most about first.
Plan the list on the Seed Order Planner.
Order in This Sequence
Count back from your average last spring frost. Find it on the first frost date page.
| Crop | Start indoors | Seed needed by, zone 7 (last frost about April 15) |
|---|---|---|
| Onions and leeks | 10 to 12 weeks before last frost | Late January |
| Peppers and eggplant | 8 to 10 weeks before | Early February |
| Tomatoes | 6 to 8 weeks before | Late February |
| Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower | 4 to 6 weeks before setting out | February |
| Lettuce for transplants | 4 to 6 weeks before setting out | February |
| Cucumbers, squash, melons in pots | 3 to 4 weeks before | March |
| Beans, corn, carrots, beets | Direct sow | Any time before spring |
In zone 5 (last frost about mid May), shift every date about 4 weeks later. In zone 9 (last frost about late February), shift about 6 to 8 weeks earlier, and order fall crops by midsummer.
See exact dates for your zone on the seed-starting calendar.
Crops on Their Own Schedule
- Garlic is planted in fall. Order it in summer.
- Seed potatoes and onion sets ship in spring at planting time. Order them in winter so you get the varieties you want.
- Fall cool crops (fall broccoli, cabbage, carrots) are sown in mid to late summer. Buy enough in winter for both plantings.
Before You Order
- Sort old packets by crop and year. Test anything past its usual life with a paper towel germination test.
- Review last season. Your Harvest Log ratings show what ran short.
- Count plants per person and plantings. See how many seeds to buy.
Sources: Virginia Cooperative Extension 426-331, Virginia's Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide; University of Minnesota Extension, Starting seeds indoors.