I recently made the move from Arizona in the southwest US to Iowa in the Midwest. I'm eager to start growing some plants indoors as early as I can, but I'm not sure when to begin planting. I know I'll need to buy an indoor grow light and pot some seeds soon, but I'd love some tips or a chart that outlines the best planting dates based on different growing zones. Any advice would be super helpful!
3 Answers
There are some great garden planners available, one of which I got for free with an order from HOSS tools. It’s a calendar that allows you to slide things around based on your last frost date, making it a breeze to figure out when to plant your crops. You should check this out: https://growhoss.com/products/hoss-garden-planner. There are others too, like this one: https://www.rareseeds.com/clyde-s-garden-planner!
While there isn't a specific indoor zone chart, you can utilize the USDA Zone map for your area to find the plants that will thrive. It’s also crucial to check local frost dates as this will help you know when you can safely move your plants outdoors. Make sure you get a heat mat, grow light, seed trays, and seed starting mix. Follow the seed packets' instructions on when to start your seeds. And when the time comes to move them outside, slowly introduce them to the sun over a few days to help them acclimate. Good luck!
Check out the gardening planner tool I found that offers a calendar and a list of vegetables. You can adjust it based on your last frost date. Here’s the link; I use it all the time! It's super handy! https://www.ufseeds.com/oregon-vegetable-planting-calendar.html
Thanks for the links! I’ll definitely check those out.