Part XV

Seed starting

Give a last frost date and a USDA zone. The folio returns when to start indoors, transplant, or sow outdoors — vegetables, herbs, flowers, and fruit.

Typical last frost for 6b is the date we filled in. A ridge runs colder than a hollow — treat the week as a window, not a promise. Soil temperature still rules a bean.

Your frost and zone

USDA zoneLast spring frostFirst fall frost

East Tennessee hill country. Dates persist on this device until you sign in. Sign in to sync

Print this calendar Grow lab

By crop

3 of 109 crops in the folio

Vegetable · Seed

Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum

Start indoors: Feb 18 – Mar 4
Transplant outdoors: Apr 22 – May 6

Nightshade. Start in heat. Set out after nights stay above 50°F. Cage.

Start indoors 6–8 weeks before last frost. Transplant 1–3 weeks after last frost.

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Flower · Seed

French marigold

Tagetes patula

Start indoors: Mar 4–18
Transplant outdoors: Apr 22 – May 6
Sow outdoors: Apr 22 – May 6

Tagetes at the tomato drip line. Four weeks of indoor light, then after frost.

Start indoors 4–6 weeks before last frost. Transplant 1–3 weeks after last frost.

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Herb · Seed

Sweet basil

Ocimum basilicum

Start indoors: Mar 4–18
Transplant outdoors: Apr 22 – May 6
Sow outdoors: Apr 29 – May 13

With the tomato, in the same water. A cold night blackens it — wait.

Start indoors 4–6 weeks before last frost. Transplant 1–3 weeks after last frost.

Open the plate