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When Do I Plant My Seeds?
All seed packets contain planting information, based on the particular growing zone in your area. The USDA Hardiness Zone Map lists safe planting times for your garden’s specific region.
When planting outdoors, you will want to plant your seeds per instructions on the packet, usually after chance of frost. In Wisconsin and Minnesota, the date is usually toward the end of May.
The University of Minnesota Extension office has published a very handy reference chart of recommended times to get your vegetable seeds in the ground.
| Vegetable | Start seed indoors | Plant seed or plant outdoors |
|---|---|---|
| Asparagus | April 15 - May 1 (crowns) | |
| Beans, snap (bush) | May 15 - July 1 | |
| Beans, snap(pole) | May 15 - July 1 | |
| Beans, dry shell | 15-May | |
| Beans, lima | May 15 - June 10 | |
| Beets | April 15 - July 1 | |
| Broccoli | March 1 - 15 | April 15 or June 1 |
| Brussels sprouts | March 1 - 15 | April 15 or June 1 |
| Cabbage, early | March 1 - 15 | April 1 - May 1 |
| Cabbage, late | April 15 - May 1 | 1-Jun |
| Cabbage, Chinese | 1-Jul | |
| Carrots | April 15 - June 15 | |
| Cauliflower | March 1 - 15 | April 15 or June 1 |
| Celery | Feb. 15 - March 1 | 15-May |
| Chard, Swiss | 1-May | |
| Collards | 15-Apr | |
| Cucumbers | May 1 - June 15 | |
| Eggplant | March 15 - April 1 | 1-Jun |
| Endive | 15-Apr | |
| Garlic | Oct. 1 - Nov. 1 | |
| Horseradish | April 15 - May 1 | |
| Kale | April 15 - July 15 | |
| Kohlrabi | April 15 - June 1 or Aug. 1 - 15 | |
| Lettuce, leaf | April 15 - June 1 or Aug. 1 - 15 | |
| Lettuce, head | March 1 - 15 | April 15 - May 1 |
| Muskmelon | May 15 - June 1 | |
| Okra | March 15 - April 1 | 1-Jun |
| Onion seeds | 15-Apr | |
| Onion, transplants | Feb. 1 - 15 | 15-Apr |
| Onion, sets | 15-Apr | |
| Parsley | April 15 - May 1 | |
| Parsnips | May 1 - 15 | |
| Peas | April 10 - May 15 | |
| Pepper | March 15 - April 1 | 1-Jun |
| Potatoes, Irish | April 15 - June 1 | |
| Potatoes, sweet | April 15 (roots) | 1-Jun |
| Pumpkin | May 10 - June 1 | |
| Radish | April 10 - June 1 or Aug. 1 - 15 | |
| Rhubarb | April 15 - May 1 | |
| Rutabaga | May 15 - June 15 | |
| Spinach | April 15 or Aug. 1 - 15 | |
| Squash, summer | May 10 - June 1 | |
| Squash, winter | May 10 - June 1 | |
| Sweet corn | May 10 - July 1 | |
| Tomato | April 1 - 15 | May 15 - June 1 |
| Turnip | April 15 or Aug. 1 | |
| Watermelon | May 15 - June 1 |