GrowZone

Seed starting

When to start seeds indoors by zone and ZIP code

Zone 8a: start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 15 (6 weeks before Mar 29). Peppers need longer: start around Feb 1 (8 weeks before last frost) in ZIP 30301.

Source: atlanta-hartsfield frost station, USDA zone 8a, last updated 2026-06-28. Verify locally before planting high-value crops because microclimates, current weather, and yard exposure can move the safe date.

Pepper seed-start dates depend on your local frost date and how long peppers need indoors before transplant. Enter your ZIP for the frost-station-specific week for peppers, tomatoes, and the rest of the crop set.

Pepper seed-start answer for ZIP 30301 · Full pepper calendar for ZIP 30301

Choose a crop and ZIP to get the computed seed-starting week.

Seed-starting matrix by crop and USDA zone

This matrix uses one representative supported ZIP per zone. Open the crop-by-zone page, then enter your ZIP for the frost-station-specific answer. On smaller screens, scroll the table sideways to compare zones.

CropZone 10aZone 10bZone 11aZone 12bZone 5aZone 6aZone 6bZone 7aZone 7bZone 8aZone 8bZone 9aZone 9b
TomatoesDec 21, 6 weeks before frostDec 9, 6 weeks before frostNov 20, 6 weeks before frostNov 20, 6 weeks before frostMar 29, 6 weeks before frostMar 24, 6 weeks before frostMar 19, 6 weeks before frostMar 9, 6 weeks before frostFeb 27, 6 weeks before frostFeb 22, 6 weeks before frostJan 29, 6 weeks before frostJan 18, 6 weeks before frostJan 9, 6 weeks before frost
PeppersDec 7, 8 weeks before frostNov 25, 8 weeks before frostNov 6, 8 weeks before frostNov 6, 8 weeks before frostMar 15, 8 weeks before frostMar 10, 8 weeks before frostMar 5, 8 weeks before frostFeb 23, 8 weeks before frostFeb 13, 8 weeks before frostFeb 8, 8 weeks before frostJan 15, 8 weeks before frostJan 4, 8 weeks before frostDec 26, 8 weeks before frost
BasilDec 28, 5 weeks before frostDec 16, 5 weeks before frostNov 27, 5 weeks before frostNov 27, 5 weeks before frostApr 5, 5 weeks before frostMar 31, 5 weeks before frostMar 26, 5 weeks before frostMar 16, 5 weeks before frostMar 6, 5 weeks before frostMar 1, 5 weeks before frostFeb 5, 5 weeks before frostJan 25, 5 weeks before frostJan 16, 5 weeks before frost
CarrotsDirect sow Jan 11Direct sow Dec 30Direct sow Dec 11Direct sow Dec 11Direct sow Apr 19Direct sow Apr 14Direct sow Apr 9Direct sow Mar 30Direct sow Mar 20Direct sow Mar 15Direct sow Feb 19Direct sow Feb 8Direct sow Jan 30
LettuceJan 4, 4 weeks before frostDec 23, 4 weeks before frostDec 4, 4 weeks before frostDec 4, 4 weeks before frostApr 12, 4 weeks before frostApr 7, 4 weeks before frostApr 2, 4 weeks before frostMar 23, 4 weeks before frostMar 13, 4 weeks before frostMar 8, 4 weeks before frostFeb 12, 4 weeks before frostFeb 1, 4 weeks before frostJan 23, 4 weeks before frost
CucumbersJan 11, 3 weeks before frostDec 30, 3 weeks before frostDec 11, 3 weeks before frostDec 11, 3 weeks before frostApr 19, 3 weeks before frostApr 14, 3 weeks before frostApr 9, 3 weeks before frostMar 30, 3 weeks before frostMar 20, 3 weeks before frostMar 15, 3 weeks before frostFeb 19, 3 weeks before frostFeb 8, 3 weeks before frostJan 30, 3 weeks before frost
ZucchiniJan 11, 3 weeks before frostDec 30, 3 weeks before frostDec 11, 3 weeks before frostDec 11, 3 weeks before frostApr 19, 3 weeks before frostApr 14, 3 weeks before frostApr 9, 3 weeks before frostMar 30, 3 weeks before frostMar 20, 3 weeks before frostMar 15, 3 weeks before frostFeb 19, 3 weeks before frostFeb 8, 3 weeks before frostJan 30, 3 weeks before frost
CilantroDirect sow Jan 18Direct sow Jan 6Direct sow Dec 18Direct sow Dec 18Direct sow Apr 26Direct sow Apr 21Direct sow Apr 16Direct sow Apr 6Direct sow Mar 27Direct sow Mar 22Direct sow Feb 26Direct sow Feb 15Direct sow Feb 6
Bush beansDirect sow Feb 8Direct sow Jan 27Direct sow Jan 8Direct sow Jan 8Direct sow May 17Direct sow May 12Direct sow May 7Direct sow Apr 27Direct sow Apr 17Direct sow Apr 12Direct sow Mar 19Direct sow Mar 8Direct sow Feb 27
SpinachDirect sow Jan 4Direct sow Dec 23Direct sow Dec 4Direct sow Dec 4Direct sow Apr 12Direct sow Apr 7Direct sow Apr 2Direct sow Mar 23Direct sow Mar 13Direct sow Mar 8Direct sow Feb 12Direct sow Feb 1Direct sow Jan 23
RadishesDirect sow Jan 4Direct sow Dec 23Direct sow Dec 4Direct sow Dec 4Direct sow Apr 12Direct sow Apr 7Direct sow Apr 2Direct sow Mar 23Direct sow Mar 13Direct sow Mar 8Direct sow Feb 12Direct sow Feb 1Direct sow Jan 23
KaleDec 28, 5 weeks before frostDec 16, 5 weeks before frostNov 27, 5 weeks before frostNov 27, 5 weeks before frostApr 5, 5 weeks before frostMar 31, 5 weeks before frostMar 26, 5 weeks before frostMar 16, 5 weeks before frostMar 6, 5 weeks before frostMar 1, 5 weeks before frostFeb 5, 5 weeks before frostJan 25, 5 weeks before frostJan 16, 5 weeks before frost
WatermelonJan 11, 3 weeks before frostDec 30, 3 weeks before frostDec 11, 3 weeks before frostDec 11, 3 weeks before frostApr 19, 3 weeks before frostApr 14, 3 weeks before frostApr 9, 3 weeks before frostMar 30, 3 weeks before frostMar 20, 3 weeks before frostMar 15, 3 weeks before frostFeb 19, 3 weeks before frostFeb 8, 3 weeks before frostJan 30, 3 weeks before frost
New York, NY · Zone 7b Tomatoes Apr 15 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Apr 8 Philadelphia, PA · Zone 7b Tomatoes Apr 17 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Apr 10 Washington, DC · Zone 7b Tomatoes Apr 22 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Apr 15 Baltimore, MD · Zone 7b Tomatoes Apr 22 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Apr 15 Virginia Beach, VA · Zone 8b Tomatoes Apr 8 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Apr 1 Raleigh, NC · Zone 8a Tomatoes Apr 17 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Apr 10 Charlotte, NC · Zone 8a Tomatoes Apr 12 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Apr 5 Atlanta, GA · Zone 8a Tomatoes Apr 5 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Mar 29 Jacksonville, FL · Zone 9a Tomatoes Mar 8 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Mar 1 Miami, FL · Zone 11a Tomatoes Jan 8 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Jan 1 Tampa, FL · Zone 10a Tomatoes Feb 8 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Feb 1 Nashville, TN · Zone 7b Tomatoes Apr 17 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Apr 10 Memphis, TN · Zone 8a Tomatoes Apr 1 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Mar 25 Louisville, KY · Zone 7a Tomatoes Apr 22 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Apr 15 Columbus, OH · Zone 6b Tomatoes May 7 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Apr 30 Cleveland, OH · Zone 6b Tomatoes May 12 Open seed-start calendar · last frost May 5 Indianapolis, IN · Zone 6b Tomatoes May 2 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Apr 25 Detroit, MI · Zone 6b Tomatoes May 12 Open seed-start calendar · last frost May 5 Milwaukee, WI · Zone 6a Tomatoes May 17 Open seed-start calendar · last frost May 10 Minneapolis, MN · Zone 5a Tomatoes May 17 Open seed-start calendar · last frost May 10 Chicago, IL · Zone 6a Tomatoes May 2 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Apr 25 Kansas City, MO · Zone 6b Tomatoes Apr 22 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Apr 15 Wichita, KS · Zone 7a Tomatoes Apr 27 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Apr 20 Omaha, NE · Zone 6a Tomatoes May 12 Open seed-start calendar · last frost May 5 New Orleans, LA · Zone 9b Tomatoes Feb 17 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Feb 10 Oklahoma City, OK · Zone 7b Tomatoes Apr 12 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Apr 5 Tulsa, OK · Zone 7b Tomatoes Apr 12 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Apr 5 Dallas, TX · Zone 8b Tomatoes Mar 19 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Mar 12 Arlington, TX · Zone 8b Tomatoes Mar 19 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Mar 12 Fort Worth, TX · Zone 8b Tomatoes Mar 19 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Mar 12 Houston, TX · Zone 9b Tomatoes Feb 27 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Feb 20 San Antonio, TX · Zone 9a Tomatoes Mar 8 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Mar 1 Austin, TX · Zone 8b Tomatoes Mar 12 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Mar 5 El Paso, TX · Zone 8b Tomatoes Mar 22 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Mar 15 Aurora, CO · Zone 6a Tomatoes May 12 Open seed-start calendar · last frost May 5 Denver, CO · Zone 6a Tomatoes May 12 Open seed-start calendar · last frost May 5 Colorado Springs, CO · Zone 6a Tomatoes May 22 Open seed-start calendar · last frost May 15 Phoenix, AZ · Zone 10a Tomatoes Feb 12 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Feb 5 Mesa, AZ · Zone 10a Tomatoes Feb 12 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Feb 5 Tucson, AZ · Zone 9b Tomatoes Feb 22 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Feb 15 Albuquerque, NM · Zone 7b Tomatoes Apr 22 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Apr 15 Las Vegas, NV · Zone 9a Tomatoes Mar 8 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Mar 1 Los Angeles, CA · Zone 10b Tomatoes Jan 27 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Jan 20 Long Beach, CA · Zone 10b Tomatoes Jan 27 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Jan 20 San Diego, CA · Zone 10b Tomatoes Feb 6 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Jan 30 Anaheim, CA · Zone 10b Tomatoes Jan 27 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Jan 20 Bakersfield, CA · Zone 9b Tomatoes Feb 27 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Feb 20 Fresno, CA · Zone 9b Tomatoes Feb 27 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Feb 20 San Francisco, CA · Zone 10a Tomatoes Feb 1 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Jan 25 Oakland, CA · Zone 10a Tomatoes Feb 8 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Feb 1 San Jose, CA · Zone 9b Tomatoes Feb 22 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Feb 15 Sacramento, CA · Zone 9b Tomatoes Feb 27 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Feb 20 Honolulu, HI · Zone 12b Tomatoes Jan 8 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Jan 1 Portland, OR · Zone 9a Tomatoes Apr 8 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Apr 1 Seattle, WA · Zone 9a Tomatoes Mar 27 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Mar 20 Boston, MA · Zone 7a Tomatoes Apr 27 Open seed-start calendar · last frost Apr 20