Spring is only 20 days away! And signs of its arrival are already sprouting up everywhere with the emergence of tulips and daffodils. That’s right, the flower season can officially begin!
Every month you can plant a little something to get started on your flower garden. The most important thing about growing flowers is timing! And timing goes right along with the right growing temperatures. I created these monthly seed starting checklists so that you know exactly what to plant when to have the most abundant garden this season.
Please keep in mind that I reside in Zone 8B (State of WA), so this checklist is tailored for those in Zones 7-8. However, it can be adjusted for other zones with a few simple tweaks. Read below for a few tips on how I recommend adjusting.
Click on the Image below to download a printable PDF ↓
Colder Zone Adjustment (Zone 6 and lower)
For those in colder zones (Zone 6 and below), the checklist is based on our last average frost date, typically around April 30th.
- Google your last frost date using your zip code.
- Count the weeks from April 30th to your last frost date.
- Add that number of weeks to March 1st and count forward.
- Start your seeds at that time.
For Example:
If the last frost date you found using Google is May 30th, here's how to calculate when to start your seeds:
- Count the weeks from April 30th to May 30th: This would be 4 weeks.
- Add that number of weeks to March 1st: March 1st + 4 weeks = April 1st.
- Start your seeds around April 1st.
Warmer Zone Adjustment (Zone 9 and higher)
The checklist is based on our last average frost date, which is around April 30th.
- Google your last frost date using your zip code.
- Count the weeks from April 30th to your last frost date.
- Subtract that number of weeks to March 1st and count forward.
- Start your seeds at that time.
For Example:
If the last frost date you found using Google is March 30th, here's how to calculate when to start your seeds:
- Count the weeks from April 30th to March 30th: This would be -4 weeks.
- Add that number of weeks to March 1st: March 1st + (-4) weeks = February 1st.
- Start your seeds around February 1st.
Seed Organization Tip:
Organize your seeds by planting month so that, when the time comes, you can easily retrieve and plant only the seeds required for that specific month without having to sift through the entire stash.
So, as March rolls in, let's get our hands dirty and start this gardening journey. This February Seed Starting Checklist is all about making things happen for your garden and getting early, strong-stemmed flowers. Get ready to grow!