I can’t believe I’ve already shot my third video of the 2026 garden season! I’ve been getting questions about how to know when to start seeds, which is an excellent topic. It’s actually something I don’t even think about since I’ve been doing this for so many years.
But there’s definitely a trick to it, as you’ll learn in today’s video. It revolves around knowing your average last frost date and reading the seed packet.
In this video, I share a useful website that can help you figure out your region’s estimated last frost. I first learned about this feature on the American Gardening Association’s website 2 or 3 years ago. When I shared it with my followers, so many of them said the information was remarkably accurate for their region. That was reassuring!
I also mention consulting with your local Master Gardener program. They exist all over the U.S. and Canada and they’re such a great resource. The service is free. Here’s how you can locate yours:
- Do a web search on the words “Master Gardeners” (without the quotes), then your county name and state or province. For example, Master Gardeners Spokane County Washington
- You’ll see where they’re located, how to connect with them and the many wonderful programs they offer
I also talk about the importance of reading your seed packets. Most will tell you the time frame for when to start seeds. They might say something like “start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost.” That’s where you need to get out your calendar, count backwards and come up with a rough time frame.
Did you know I have seed starting schedulers on my website? I think that’s the best part of my video because they’re so useful. There are 3 blank forms on my website that will help you stay on track. The link to it is under the “Guides” menu and this is the page that links to the schedulers. As I explain in the video, there are 3 different versions, with #3 being my favorite.
OK, let’s get to my video on When To Start Seeds!
I hope you enjoyed the video and that it will make it easier to know when to start your seeds. Remember to subscribe to my YouTube channel if you haven’t already. That way you will know as soon as I upload a new video. Be sure to comment on the video (or any of mine) about topics that are really important to you.
Here’s a link to my Seed-Starting playlist on my YouTube channel. And remember that I’ve shot hundreds of videos on all sorts of gardening topics, so please check them out. Happy gardening to you all!