Choose dates using local growing guidance
Seed-starting, direct-sowing, and transplant dates depend on the crop, variety, location, and current conditions. Start with the seed packet and a planting calendar from your local university Extension service. Average frost dates can help frame the season, but they are not a forecast for this year.
Garden Week stores the dates you choose. It does not look up your location, decide when a crop should be started indoors, or predict whether a plant will mature before frost.
Plan repeat sowings when they suit the crop
Some gardeners sow small batches of a crop at intervals to spread out harvests. University Extension examples often use about two weeks between batches, but the right timing varies by crop, variety, season, and available growing space. Check local advice before choosing an interval.
In Garden Week, enter the crop, first and last sowing dates, and the interval you choose. The planner adds each sowing date to your schedule; you can edit the dates and export them as an ICS calendar file.
How to make a sowing calendar
- Find local planting guidance and note the dates that apply to your crop and variety.
- Enter your average spring and fall frost dates in Garden Week as broad season markers.
- Add crop tasks and create a repeat series only when the crop and growing window support it.
- Review each date against seed-packet instructions, local conditions, and the current forecast.
- Export the schedule to your calendar app if you want the dates alongside other events.
Extension references
- University of Maryland Extension: Vegetable Succession and Companion Planting
- Penn State Extension: Succession Planting
- Purdue Extension: Indiana Vegetable Planting Calendar
Read the frost-date vegetable planting calendar guide. Learn about repeat sowing schedules. For the app workflow that turns frost dates into weekly tasks, see the garden planner app guide.