Knowing when to start planting seeds is important for a successful garden. Whether you’re cultivating vibrant flowers, juicy fruits, or a bountiful vegetable harvest, understanding the optimal planting times is essential for creating a thriving garden. Should you plant in the fall or wait until spring? How do you ensure that perennials and cool-season vegetables establish strong roots while avoiding frost damage to your warm-season crops and delicate annual flowers? The variables are numerous: soil temperature, frost dates, plant hardiness zones, and specific plant requirements.

Plant Seeds in Harmony with the Seasons

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the ideal seed planting times for different plant types. From planting fruits like strawberries and raspberries to nurturing your herb garden and sowing a tapestry of wildflowers, we’ve got you covered. So, roll up your sleeves, grab your seed packets, and let’s get planting!

Dancing with the Sun: Annuals

For annual flowers, in general, spring is the best time to start sowing annual seeds. For hardy annuals, such as Bachelor Buttons and Snapdragons, start planting seeds as soon as the ground is workable. This early planting lets them establish strong roots and withstand any late spring frosts that might occur.

However, you should wait to plant tender annuals, such as marigolds, zinnias, and sunflowers, until after the last frost of the season. These plants are more sensitive to cold temperatures and can be damaged or killed by frost. By waiting until the danger of frost has passed, you give these plants the best chance to thrive. Additionally, start seeds indoors to give tender annuals a head start, ensuring they are strong and healthy when transplanted outdoors. 

By paying attention to these details, you can create a garden that showcases a stunning array of colors and fragrances that will delight you and your visitors.

Examples of Hardy Annuals:

• Bachelor Buttons: These can be planted in early spring or fall.
• Snapdragons: Plant these as soon as the soil can be worked.
• Calendula: Sow directly in the garden in early spring.
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Examples of Tender Annuals:

• Zinnias: Plant after the danger of frost has passed.
• Marigolds: Wait until the soil has warmed up.
• Sunflowers: Best planted in late spring after the last frost.

Shop our selection of Annuals online.

Culinary Companions: Herbs

Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a beginner, growing herbs can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience. Fresh herbs from the garden can be incorporated into countless summertime recipes, adding delightful freshness and flavor to your culinary creations. Herbs can also be used for their medicinal properties, offering natural remedies for common ailments and promoting overall well-being. 

Beyond their culinary and health benefits, herbs can enhance the aesthetics of your garden, with many varieties offering beautiful foliage and flowers that attract pollinators. Cultivating a diverse herb garden not only enriches your kitchen but also contributes to a sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle by reducing your reliance on store-bought herbs, minimizing your carbon footprint.

Examples of Herbs:

• Basil: Start indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost. Transplant outdoors in late spring when temperatures are consistently warm.
• Cilantro: Direct sow in mid to late spring, about 2-3 weeks after the last frost. Thin seedlings to 6 inches apart.
• Dill: Direct sow in the garden after the last frost. Plant seeds 1/4 inch deep and space 12 inches apart.

Shop our selection of Herbs Seeds online.

Perennial Promises: Planting Perennial Seeds & Bulbs

The exact timing to plant perennial seeds can vary depending on the variety and their specific growing requirements, and understanding these ideal planting times will help you create a garden that blooms beautifully throughout the seasons.

Certain cold-hardy perennials, such as purple coneflower or lupines, should be planted in the fall to properly germinate from cold exposure over the winter months. Spring-blooming perennial bulbs like tulips and daffodils also prefer fall planting, ensuring they establish strong roots before winter.

Examples of Perennials:

• Purple Coneflowers: Plant in the fall to benefit from natural cold stratification.
• Lupines: Sow in the fall to allow cold exposure for proper germination.
• Tulips: Plant bulbs in the fall to ensure spring blooms.
• Daffodils: Plant bulbs in the fall to establish strong roots before winter.

Shop our selection of Perennial Seeds online.

Vegetable Garden Varieties: Planting Vegetable Seeds

Cool-season vegetables like kale, carrots, and peas should be planted early in the spring or late summer for a fall harvest. Warm-season vegetables such as tomato plants, peppers, and cucumbers need to be started indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost and transplanted outdoors once the soil has warmed and the frost has passed. By tailoring your planting schedule to the specific requirements of each vegetable, you can ensure a bountiful and healthy garden throughout the growing season.

Examples of Cool-Season Vegetables:

• Kale: Direct sow in early spring or late summer for a fall harvest, as it thrives in cooler temperatures.
• Carrots: Plant seeds directly in the garden 2-3 weeks before the last frost in spring or late summer for a fall crop.
• Peas: Sow seeds directly in the garden as soon as the soil can be worked in early spring or in late summer for a fall harvest.

Examples of Warm-Season Vegetables:

• Tomatoes: Seed indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost and transplant outdoors after all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.
• Peppers: Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before the last frost date and transplant outdoors once the soil is consistently warm.
• Cucumbers: Direct sow or transplant seedlings outdoors 2 weeks after the last frost when the soil is warm.

Wild Symphony: Planting Wildflower Seeds

Like certain perennials, most wildflower seeds should be planted in the fall to allow their root systems to develop over the winter. This period of cold stratification is essential for many wildflower species, ensuring that they germinate successfully and produce more robust plants. By planting wildflower seeds in the fall, you set the stage for brilliant blooms during their natural growing season, which typically spans from early spring through the summer.

Wildflowers such as poppies, black-eyed susans, and lupines, benefit from this fall planting, as it mimics their natural life cycle in the wild. When the temperatures warm in the spring, these well-established plants will burst into colorful blooms, creating a vibrant and diverse garden that supports local pollinators and wildlife. 

Examples of Wildflowers:

• Poppies: Sow seeds directly in the garden in the fall for spring blooms.
• Black-eyed Susan: Plant seeds in the fall to benefit from natural cold stratification, leading to vibrant summer flowers.
• Lupines: Direct sow in the fall to ensure proper germination and robust growth in the spring.
• Cornflowers: Scatter seeds in the fall to allow cold exposure, resulting in early spring blooms.
• Cosmos: Although they can be planted in early, fall sowing ensures a head start with stronger plants in spring.

Wildflower seed mixes are also a great choice if you’re looking for more of that multi-color prairie look. These blends are created to provide both annual and perennial seed for pollinators and make your space a welcoming space for them. Most blends contain up to 20 different varieties of seed, making for a beautiful, bright display once established. 

Examples of Wildflower Mixes:

• Midwest Mixture: created especially for planting in the Midwest region, contains 20+ varieties
• Bird & Butterfly Mixture: contains 20 species to attract songbirds, hummingbirds and butterflies
• Beneficial Bug Mixture: draws in beneficial bugs to help control harmful garden pests
• Bee Feed Mixture: continuous blooms, wide range of heights

Shop our selection of Wildflower Seeds online.

Final Thoughts

Figuring out when and how to plant different seed varieties can be a challenge, but our expert guidance provides the know-how you need for a thriving garden. Planting seeds at the right time ensures healthy growth and abundant harvests, whether you’re growing vegetables, herbs, perennials, annuals, or wildflowers.

For recommendations specific to your area, consult your local Earl May Garden Center, or check an almanac planting calendar to determine the best dates for sowing various seeds based on your zip code. Happy planting!

Did you know? Earl May has landscape and planting services available. If you’re planning on planting, find out everything you need to know about how to plant trees, shrubs, perennials, and more.