NORTHERN ILLINOIS Zones 5 /6 Seed Starting Schedule

Here some updates on starting seeds

NORTHERN ILLINOIS Zones 5/6 Seed Starting Schedule can start as early as January with lettuce & other greens. March & April are the months for starting most of your crops!

Seed Starting GuidelinesA couple of other guidelines for this Zone 5 Seed Starting Schedule. Try to time all my seedlings so that they spend no more than 6 or 8 weeks indoors, usually, 6 to 7 weeks under the lights and another week outdoors hardening off.

Plant Date ********** Plant Type*************Plant Outside

1/15 --------- Lettuce (for Cold Frame) --------- 2/26

2/5 --------- Bac Choy, Swiss Chard --------- 3/19

2/5 --------- Flowers – Pansies -------------- 4/5

2/5 ---- Broccoli, Cabbage, Kohl Rabi, Kale ---- 4/2

2/19 ------------- Tomatoes, Early Girl ------- 4/2 to 4/16

2/19 -------Lettuce (No Cold Frame needed) ----- 4/2

2/19 ---------------------Celery ------------------ 4/23

3/12 -----Petunia, Snap Dragons, Impatiens -----5/17 to 6/1

3/17 ---- Peppers, Celery, Tomatoes, Herbs --------5/15

3/26 --------- ---------Lettuce --------- --------- 5/14

4/2 -------------- Flowers – Marigold -------------5/17 

4/5 --------- Flowers – Zinnia, Morning Glory -----5/17

4/17 -------------------Melons, Pumpkins ---------5/15