When a planning a garden, one of the most important parts is getting the timing right. Not everything gets planted at the same time, some seeds get direct seeded right into the garden, some get started inside, some go before the last frost, some after and so on. It’s a lot to keep in a head or at least in my head, I don’t even try. I’ve found it much easier to keep track of all those important dates by creating a schedule of what gets planted when and where (indoors or outside). This garden planting schedule keeps me from having to constantly look in books on the backs of seed packets and makes sure I don’t miss something important in my limited Zone 3-4 growing season window. If you’d like to create your own garden planting schedule, here’s how to get started and a free printable for you.

1. Find the Last Frost Date

It’s important to find the approximate last frost date. I’ll be honest, I always push it a little and make sure I’m ready to cover plants in the garden if needed. This last frost date helps you know generally when to start seeds and when to plant outside. You can figure you specific last frost date by checking The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

2. Back Date

Schedule things by 4 weeks before the last, 6 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks – that’s usually plenty early enough. This is a general outline but will help you decide what needs to be started inside and when, so that you can transplant outside at the appropriate time. Don’t just write 6 weeks before, however; assign it an actual date. This actual date will help you plan what needs done and when and in my case it helps me keep my schedule clear for planting on important days. One or two days on either end of these dates isn’t going to ruin your planting schedule – the schedule has room for flexibility, use it as a guide not a rule.

An example of how I use my garden planting schedule, I start broccoli and cabbage inside the greenhouse 12 weeks before the last frost and then those seedlings go outside into the garden 6 weeks prior to the last frost. Tomatoes & peppers usually get started 8 weeks prior to the last frost and go outside right around that frost date (which is generally pushing it for me).

3. Plan in One Sitting

Sit with your garden journal from last year, maybe a trusted book or two, and all those seed packets to figure out what needs to get started and where, indoors or outside. Do this one time, it shouldn’t take but about 30 minutes and you’re ready for the season ahead. This planning now, saves so much time later. It means no digging through seed packets and checking the back of every one to make sure an important date isn’t missed, it also means the zucchini or anything else isn’t forgotten during the rush of spring gardening

I’ve used my garden planting schedule for years and if you’d like to use it too, simply download and print this pdf for your use.

Keep these schedules in your garden journal to refer to each year to make it even easier to plan. If you don’t have a journal for this year be sure to check out the amazing The Gardening Notebook for not only journal space but also for tons of great gardening information.

How do you plan for your garden planting?

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