Plants by Zone

Seed-Starting Calendar by Zone

The right time to start seeds indoors depends entirely on your last frost — which depends on your USDA hardiness zone. Pick your zone for a month-by-month seed-starting calendar.

Most warm-season crops are started indoors 6–10 weeks before the last spring frost, then hardened off and transplanted once the weather settles. Select your zone to see exactly what to start, and when.

Snow-covered boreal forest in deep winter
1

Zone 1

Extreme Cold — Alaska Interior & High Mountain Peaks

50–80 days · Late May – mid June

Seed-starting calendar →
Frozen subarctic mountain landscape
2

Zone 2

Very Cold — Northern Alaska, Northern Canada, High Rockies

75–100 days · Late May – early June

Seed-starting calendar →
Northern garden in early spring with frost
3

Zone 3

Very Cold — Northern Plains, Upper Midwest, Interior Northwest

100–130 days · Mid May – early June

Seed-starting calendar →
Cool-climate garden with berry bushes
4

Zone 4

Cold — Upper Midwest, New England, Mountain West

120–150 days · Early – mid May

Seed-starting calendar →
Lush temperate cottage garden in full bloom
5

Zone 5

Cool-Cold — Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic Highlands, Rocky Mountain Foothills

150–180 days · Late April – early May

Seed-starting calendar →
Productive vegetable garden in mid-summer
6

Zone 6

Temperate-Cold — Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Pacific Northwest Highlands

180–210 days · Mid April – early May

Seed-starting calendar →
Warm-climate kitchen garden in full production
7

Zone 7

Mild — Mid-South, Pacific Coast, Southern Appalachians

200–225 days · Late March – mid April

Seed-starting calendar →
Abundant Southern garden with flowering plants
8

Zone 8

Warm-Temperate — Deep South, Pacific Coast, Lower Midwest

225–270 days · Late February – late March

Seed-starting calendar →
Warm garden with citrus trees and raised beds
9

Zone 9

Warm — Gulf Coast, Central Valley, Desert Southwest Margins

270–310 days · Late January – late February

Seed-starting calendar →
Subtropical garden with tropical foliage
10

Zone 10

Subtropical — South Florida, Southern California, Hawaii Lowlands

Year-round (365 days) · Rare or none

Seed-starting calendar →
Tropical palm garden in warm coastal climate
11

Zone 11

Tropical — Florida Keys, Hawaii, Southernmost California

Year-round (365 days) · None

Seed-starting calendar →
Lush tropical garden in the Caribbean
12

Zone 12

Tropical — Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Hawaii (sea level)

Year-round (365 days) · None

Seed-starting calendar →
Dense tropical garden with exotic foliage
13

Zone 13

Tropical Hot — Hawaii (lowest elevations), Guam, American Samoa

Year-round (365 days) · None

Seed-starting calendar →