My Spring Seeding Schedule

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For this flower farmer in cold northwest Montana, the growing season actually begins in January – in the basement. A few plants require many months of growing under lights before they can be planted out, while others need only a few weeks and some can be direct sown right in the garden.

My spring seeding schedule has been developed and honed over the past decade, and it’s designed to match my unique growing conditions and urban farming microclimate. Here in Zone 5b, our last frost of the spring is usually around early/mid May. I start planting into my high tunnel in the middle of April, and in the garden in late April. Tender annuals don’t go into the ground until mid/late May.

Below is a rundown of the plants I usually start from seed each year, including some vegetables. I’ve separated the seeds I start indoors from the seeds I direct sow. This is just one small piece of the puzzle that is flower farming – but hopefully a helpful starting point for growers in similar climates.

January

Indoor seeding:

  • Eucalyptus

  • Lisianthus (for planting in the high tunnel in mid-April)

February

Indoor seeding:

  • Craspedia/Billy Balls

  • Delphinium*

  • Veggies – Onions, Shallots

March

Indoor seeding:

  • Early March:

    • Dianthus

    • Echinacea/Coneflower*

    • Iceland Poppies

    • Monarda/Bee Balm

    • Penstemon*

    • Scabiosa ‘Fama’*

    • Snapdragons

    • Stock (for planting in the high tunnel in mid-April)

    • Sweet Peas

  • Mid/Late March:

    • Ammobium/Winged Everlasting

    • Baptisia*

    • Cosmos

    • Feverfew

    • Gomphrena (for planting in the high tunnel in early May)

    • Mountain Mint*

    • Pennisetum (Fountaintop and Feather Grass)

    • Rudbeckia/Black Eyed Susan

    • Scabiosa/Pincushion

    • Statice

    • Tweedia (for planting in the high tunnel in early May)

    • Veggies – Peppers, Tomatoes (for planting in the high tunnel in early May)

April

Indoor seeding:

  • Early April:

    • Celosia

    • Didiscus/Lace Flower

    • Godetia

    • Marigolds

    • Strawflower

    • Veggies – Basil, Lettuce, Marjoram, Parsley

  • Mid/Late April:

    • Zinnias

Outdoor direct sowing:

  • Early April:

    • Ammi/False Queen Anne’s Lace

    • Bupleurum

    • Larkspur

    • Nigella/Love in a Mist

    • Orlaya/White Lace

    • Phacelia

    • Poppies

    • Safflower

    • Veggies – Carrots, Peas, Radishes, Spinach

  • Mid/Late April:

    • Atriplex/Orach

    • Bells of Ireland

    • Coreopsis

    • Sweet Peas

    • Wheat

May

Outdoor direct sowing:

  • Mid/Late May:

    • Nasturtium

    • Sunflowers

*Perennial. Typically perennials need to be seeded earlier than annuals. Perennial seeds may require a period of cold stratification (4-8 weeks of refrigeration is common) before sowing.