| Crop | Number of weeks to start seeds before setting-out date | When to start inside | For Zone 8b | Setting-out date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| From | To | Safe time to set out plants (relative to frost-free date) | From | To | ||
| Artichoke | 8 | 6-Jan | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | ||
| Basil | 6 | 27-Jan | 1 week after | 10-Mar | ||
| Beets* | 4 to 6 | 6-Jan | 20-Jan | 2 weeks before | 17-Feb | |
| Broccoli | 4 to 6 | 6-Jan | 20-Jan | 2 weeks before | 17-Feb | |
| Cabbage | 4 to 6 | 23-Dec | 3-Feb | 4 weeks before | 3-Feb | 3-Mar |
| Cauliflower | 4 to 6 | 6-Jan | 3-Feb | 2 weeks before | 17-Feb | 3-Mar |
| Celery & Celeriac | 10 to 12 | 16-Dec | 30-Dec | 1 week after | 10-Mar | |
| Collards | 4 to 6 | 23-Dec | 6-Jan | 4 weeks before | 3-Feb | |
| Corn Salad/Mâche | 4 to 6 | 9-Dec | 13-Jan | 3 to 6 weeks before | 20-Jan | 10-Feb |
| Corn* | 2 to 4 | 3-Feb | 3-Mar | 0 to 2 weeks after | 3-Mar | 17-Mar |
| Cucumber | 3 to 4 | 10-Feb | 24-Feb | 1 to 2 weeks after | 10-Mar | 17-Mar |
| Eggplant | 8 to 10 | 6-Jan | 27-Jan | 2 to 3 weeks after | 17-Mar | 24-Mar |
| Kale | 4 to 6 | 23-Dec | 6-Jan | 4 weeks before | 3-Feb | |
| Kohlrabi* | 4 to 6 | 23-Dec | 6-Jan | 4 weeks before | 3-Feb | |
| Leeks | 8 to 10 | 9-Dec | 23-Dec | 2 weeks before | 17-Feb | |
| Lettuce | 4 to 5 | 30-Dec | 13-Jan | 3 to 4 weeks before | 3-Feb | 10-Feb |
| Melons | 3 to 4 | 17-Feb | 24-Feb | 2 weeks after | 17-Mar | |
| Mustard* | 4 to 6 | 23-Dec | 6-Jan | 4 weeks before | 3-Feb | |
| Okra* | 4 to 6 | 3-Feb | 3-Mar | 2 to 4 weeks after | 17-Mar | 31-Mar |
| Onions | 8 to 10 | 25-Nov | 9-Dec | 4 weeks before | 3-Feb | |
| Parsley | 9 to 10 | 2-Dec | 16-Dec | 2 to 3 weeks before | 10-Feb | 17-Feb |
| Peas* | 3 to 4 | 9-Dec | 30-Dec | 6 to 8 weeks before | 6-Jan | 20-Jan |
| Peppers | 8 | 20-Jan | 2 weeks after | 17-Mar | ||
| Pumpkins | 3 to 4 | 17-Feb | 24-Feb | 2 weeks after | 17-Mar | |
| Spinach | 4 to 6 | 9-Dec | 13-Jan | 3 to 6 weeks before | 20-Jan | 10-Feb |
| Squash | 3 to 4 | 17-Feb | 24-Feb | 2 weeks after | 17-Mar | |
| Swiss Chard | 4 to 6 | 6-Jan | 20-Jan | 2 weeks before | 17-Feb | |
| Tomatoes | 6 to 8 | 13-Jan | 3-Feb | 1 to 2 weeks after | 10-Mar | 17-Mar |
| Watermelon | 3 to 4 | 17-Feb | 24-Feb | 2 weeks after | 17-Mar | |
| Ageratum | 6 to 8 | 6-Jan | 20-Jan | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Agrostemma (Corn Cockle)* | 6 to 8 | 6-Jan | 20-Jan | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Amaranthus | 4 to 6 | 27-Jan | 10-Feb | 1 week after | 10-Mar | |
| Ammi (False Queen Anne’s Lace)* | 6 to 8 | 6-Jan | 20-Jan | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Artemisia (Sweet Annie) | 6 to 8 | 6-Jan | 20-Jan | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Asclepias (Butterfly Weed) | 10 to 12 | 9-Dec | 23-Dec | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Aster, China | 6 to 8 | 6-Jan | 20-Jan | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Bells of Ireland** | 6 to 8 | 6-Jan | 20-Jan | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Calendula* | 6 to 8 | 6-Jan | 20-Jan | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Cardoon | 6 to 8 | 6-Jan | 20-Jan | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Carthamus (Safflower)* | 4 to 6 | 20-Jan | 3-Feb | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Castor Bean | 6 to 8 | 13-Jan | 27-Jan | 1 week after | 10-Mar | |
| Celosia | 6 to 8 | 13-Jan | 27-Jan | 1 week after | 10-Mar | |
| Centaurea (Bachelor’s Button)* | 6 to 8 | 6-Jan | 20-Jan | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Chinese Lanterns | 8 to 12 | 9-Dec | 6-Jan | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Coleus | 8 | 13-Jan | 1 week after | 10-Mar | ||
| Cosmos* | 5 to 7 | 13-Jan | 27-Jan | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Craspedia (Drumstick Flower) | 8 to 10 | 23-Dec | 6-Jan | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Datura (Angel’s Trumpet) | 8 to 12 | 23-Dec | 27-Jan | 2 to 3 weeks after | 17-Mar | 24-Mar |
| Delphinium | 10 to 16 | 11-Nov | 23-Dec | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Dianthus (Sweet William) | 10 to 12 | 25-Nov | 16-Dec | 1 to 2 weeks before | 17-Feb | 24-Feb |
| Digitalis (Foxglove) | 10 to 12 | 9-Dec | 23-Dec | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Eucalyptus | 10 to 12 | 9-Dec | 23-Dec | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Euphorbia (Snow-on-the-Mountain)* | 4 to 6 | 20-Jan | 3-Feb | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Flower Collections & Mixes* | 6 to 8 | 6-Jan | 20-Jan | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Forget-Me-Not | 8 to 9 | 30-Dec | 6-Jan | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) | 8 to 10 | 23-Dec | 6-Jan | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Gomphrena (Globe Amaranth) | 6 to 8 | 6-Jan | 20-Jan | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Helianthus maximillianii | 8 to 10 | 23-Dec | 6-Jan | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Hibiscus | 8 to 10 | 30-Dec | 13-Jan | 1 week after | 10-Mar | |
| Hollyhock | 8 to 10 | 23-Dec | 6-Jan | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Hyacinth Bean | 4 to 6 | 27-Jan | 10-Feb | 1 week after | 10-Mar | |
| Impatiens | 8 to 10 | 30-Dec | 13-Jan | 1 week after | 10-Mar | |
| Kale, Ornamental | 6 to 8 | 6-Jan | 20-Jan | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Larkspur* | 6 to 8 | 6-Jan | 20-Jan | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Lisianthus | 12 to 13 | 2-Dec | 9-Dec | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Lupine | 6 to 8 | 23-Dec | 6-Jan | 2 weeks before | 17-Feb | |
| Marigold | 6 to 8 | 13-Jan | 27-Jan | 1 week after | 10-Mar | |
| Monarda (Bee Balm) | 6 to 8 | 6-Jan | 20-Jan | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Morning Glory | 3 to 4 | 24-Feb | 10-Mar | 3 to 4 weeks after | 24-Mar | 31-Mar |
| Nigella* | 4 to 6 | 20-Jan | 3-Feb | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Phlox** | 4 | 6-Jan | 1 to 2 weeks before | 17-Feb | 24-Feb | |
| Pepper, Ornamental | 8 | 13-Jan | 1 week after | 10-Mar | ||
| Petunia | 8 to 10 | 23-Dec | 6-Jan | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Polygonum (Prince’s Feather) | 8 to 10 | 23-Dec | 6-Jan | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| California Poppy* | 2 to 3 | 10-Feb | 17-Feb | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Corn Poppy* | 2 to 3 | 10-Feb | 17-Feb | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Iceland Poppy | 6 to 8 | 6-Jan | 20-Jan | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Ptilotus | 6 to 8 | 6-Jan | 20-Jan | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susan) | 8 to 10 | 23-Dec | 6-Jan | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Salpiglossis (Painted Tongue) | 4 to 6 | 20-Jan | 3-Feb | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Salvia | 6 to 8 | 23-Dec | 20-Jan | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Sanvitalia | 6 to 8 | 6-Jan | 20-Jan | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Scabiosa (Pincushion Flower) | 4 to 6 | 20-Jan | 3-Feb | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Scarlet Runner Bean | 2 to 3 | soil 60 degrees | ||||
| Snapdragon | 8 to 10 | 23-Dec | 6-Jan | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Statice | 8 | 6-Jan | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | ||
| Stock | 8 to 10 | 23-Dec | 6-Jan | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Sunflowers* | 3-4 | 3-Feb | 10-Feb | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Strawflower | 6 to 8 | 6-Jan | 20-Jan | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Sweet Pea* | 4 to 6 | 6-Jan | 27-Jan | 1 to 2 weeks before | 17-Feb | 24-Feb |
| Thunbergia (Black-Eyed Susan Vine) | 6 to 8 | 6-Jan | 20-Jan | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Tithonia (Mexican Sunflower)* | 6 | 27-Jan | 1 week after | 10-Mar | ||
| Verbena | 8 to 12 | 9-Dec | 6-Jan | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Viola (Pansy) | 8 to 12 | 25-Nov | 30-Dec | 1 to 2 weeks before | 17-Feb | 24-Feb |
| Yarrow | 8 to 12 | 23-Dec | 6-Jan | on frost-free date | 3-Mar | |
| Zinnia | 4 | 10-Feb | 1 week after | 10-Mar | ||
| * Usually direct-sown, but may be started indoors | ||||||
| ** Specifically recommended for direct-seeding outdoors | ||||||