When to start seeds?

[canfossi]

I am planning on starting a garden this year and I'm in zone 5A. When do I start planting the seeds? As soon as the last hint of frost has passed? I am not starting them indoors this year, next year. Thanks, Chris

[WolfWalksSoftly]

Check to see when your last average frost date is and you should be safe. Cold crop stuff like lettuce,onions carrots. For other things like tomatoes and especially corn, wait till the ground gets warmer.

[uncle Will in In.]

Irish potatoes on Good Friday. Cold season crops here in the middle of zone 5 usually can be planted as soon as the ground is dried out enough to work it. Don't work it wet or the clay ground will get hard. We most years plant the warm season stuff after the 10th of May. Again it depends of the ground. It might be later. Most things will do better planted a little late than too early.

[brownegg]

Squash and pumpkins do much better if you wait til the soil warms up.

Onion sets and radish and spinach like a cool weather start.

[Terri]

I plant the carrots first, as a few good frosts do not hurt the seeds.

They will sprout when it is time.

[Dente deLion]

Canfossi, I believe April 20 is the average last frost date, so cool weather stuff can go in then, give or take a week either way, depending on how much you like to gamble. Warmer things like tomato plants go in around Mother's Day.

This year I'm really going to try to stagger my sowing to extend the harvest, but usually I'm either so excited to get things going that I use up all my seed at once, or so exhausted by the end of the first planting (and then the weeding, weeding, weeding) that I don't have the gumption to start digging again.

This year's gonna be different ... this year's gonna be different ...

[TedH71]

What about in Wichita, KS?

[kwagner21]

i have found this great web site http://www.chestnut-sw.com/growform.htm
you have to know the first and last frost dates, but it is by far the best i have found for planning

[bgraham]

WOW, Kwagner21,

Thanks for the website. It's just what I've been looking for!

Beth

[canfossi]

Thanks for all the great info. Chris

[insanity]

I can tell you what will happen if you plant to early. (Not much!)
I cheat a little now that Ive learned my lesson a few times. I watch for others in my area to start planting there ground before i start..

But ill start turning it under in another week or so, to kill the grass/weeds. Keeps me busy and lets me decide just where to plant what.

[hengal]

I am in zone 5 (Indiana) and use this planting calander which also gives dates for first plantings and succession plantings. Even thougth it is an Indiana planting calendar it may be of help to you seeing how you are also in zone 5.

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/hort/ext/Pubs/HO/HO_186.pdf

[momlaffsalot]

That's an excellent site, KWagner, thanks!

[bgraham]

I started some seeds last night!!

I planted broccoli, peppers, head lettuce and tomatoes.

whoohoo!!! lol

Beth