Seed Talk #25 - Seed Starting & Transplant Timing

Wondering how far in advance to start your seeds indoors? What should your target planting dates be for cool-season hardy annuals and warm-season tender annuals? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss the proper timing for starting your seeds and transplanting them outdoors. They cover how to determine your planting dates, how far in advance to start (which may depend on the seed starting method you are using), seeds that are fast, medium, and slow growers, and whether it is better to be too early or too late. For extra clarity, the ladies even go through some real-life examples with a calendar. Listen to the podcast, pull up a calendar, and get ready to plan your start dates!
All “Seed Talk” episodes are organized into a KZbin playlist. In addition, auto-generated transcripts are available for viewing on KZbin. On mobile apps, click the down arrow adjacent to the video name, then select “Show Transcript”. On a computer, click the three horizontal dots below the video, then select “Show Transcript”. If there is a question or topic you would like to hear discussed on a future episode of “Seed Talk”, please fill out the form linked below. We would love to hear your suggestions!
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The “Seed Talk with Lisa & Layne” podcast is produced by The Gardener’s Workshop and co-hosted by Lisa Mason Ziegler and Layne Angelo. Lisa is the founder and owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, where Layne works as Seed Manager. Lisa is the award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers and the publisher of Flower Farming School Online, Farmer-Florist School Online, and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with her on social media. Layne is an avid gardener, seed starter, and engineer who loves learning and applying her technical knowledge to all areas of life, including gardening and growing flowers. Thanks for joining us!
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[@EmilyPorterfield]

Awesome information!! I've been starting seeds for years and I still get confused!!! I love watching you ladies and learning so much from you!!! I love when you two have a new video out!! I could watch you all day, and some days I do watch your shows over and over while planting and transplanting thousands of seeds and seedlings.

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Thanks so much, Emily! It makes me so happy to hear you are enjoying "Seed Talk" ☺ If there are any topics you would like to hear us discuss, please feel free to let me know! Thanks again for the kind words, and best of luck with all of your growing seedlings 🤗 Have a fantastic day!

[@rachellek6239]

Excellent and timely information! A great compilation of questions and answers. Thank you.

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

You are so welcome, Rachelle! Thanks so much for watching and for taking the time to leave a comment 🤗 Have a wonderful day!

[@anneharrington7951]

Excellent point, if we have cold plants to keep us busy, we won't rush the warm stuff. I'm Ohio.

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Exactly, Anne! Thanks so much for watching and for taking the time to leave a comment ☺ Have a fantastic day! 🤗

[@cogasawara1]

May I be so bold as to offer a suggestion to avoid confusion? When talking about “first” and “last” frost dates and looking them up online, may I suggest you start adding the word “average” when talking about frost dates? When looking online you will often see 3 dates - the earliest, the average and the latest. From watching your wonderful videos I “think” you’re referring to the historical “average” first and last frost date. In this video, you use all three terms and since it is about avoiding confusion, I wanted to point that out. As always, thank you so much for all you do Lisa and Layne! 🌻

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Hello! Yes, we are referring to the historical average first and last frost dates. I can understand how that would be confusing and will try to include the word "average" in the future 🙃 Thank you for this suggestion and for watching! 🤗

[@GosiaGW]

I watch most of your clips and I have your book and in my opinion it is the most important video! It clears everything! Thank you for this!

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

This is such a wonderful compliment, Gosia! Thanks so much for the kind words ☺ Wishing you a lovely day and a beautiful spring garden full of flowers! 🤗

[@robertab4025]

Great info presented in a succinct and clear way! Well done!

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Such a wonderful compliment, Roberta! Thanks so much for watching, and have a great day! 🤗

[@fraukeg.facchini2691]

You answered all the questions I was going to email you! Between Lisa's knowledge and experience and Layne's ability to crystallize the information in a short and concise manner, your videos are a great tutorial for both beginners and experienced gardeners. The calendar examples put theory into a visual example which really helped to understand it easily. Keep the information coming! Love watching you two on KZbin!

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Thanks so much for the kind words, Frauke! You really made my day ☺ Happy gardening! 🌱🤗🌱

[@matthewboddum7723]

It's pretty amazing.

[@cynthiaderr1914]

Such helpful information, thank you Lisa and Layne!

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

You are most welcome, Cynthia! So happy you enjoyed this episode ☺ Thanks so much for watching, and have a fantastic day! 🤗

[@adriennegricius4703]

You girls are fab! Keep up the good work

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Thanks so much for the positive feedback, Adrienne! We really appreciate it ☺ Have a fabulous day! 🤗

[@uteberg4781]

One of the best Videos ever seen!!! Thank you so much for the great information!!! So helpfull!!! 🤗💖🌻

[@sarahwaggoner997]

Oh my gosh, this helped sooo much!!! I know it shouldn’t be hard but this spelled it out perfectly 🌻🌻🌻

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

So happy you found this helpful, Sarah! ☺ Thanks so much for watching and for the positive feedback 🤗 Have a lovely day!

[@janjohnson1052]

These seed talks are the best!

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Thanks so much for the positive feedback, Jan! 🥰 So happy you are enjoying "Seed Talk" 😊 If you have any topic requests, please feel free to let me know. Thanks again, and have a fantastic day! 🤗

[@debrabray8855]

Excellent content! I took a lot of notes and feel so much more confident. Thanks so much!

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Yay - so happy you found this episode informative, Debra! Thanks so much for watching and for the positive feedback 😊 Have a lovely day! 🤗

[@Samantha-ps2vv]

I gotta say it again..love this series! Such great specific information!

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Thanks so much, Samantha! So happy to hear you are enjoying "Seed Talk" 🥰 If you have any topics you would like to hear us discuss, please let me know! Thanks again, and have a wonderful day 🤗

[@brendarosenau5880]

❤❤Thank you SO much! This is the type of info I have been trying to find!! Not a lot of resources out there tell you how long to grow your transplants before planting out. I am loving this channel! Layne, you ask such great questions! And Lisa, you provide such great insight and experience! 💕 I love, love, love it all! Thank you for all of the planning put into each episode and for the great wealth of information you provide.😊

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Thanks so much for the kind words, Brenda! So happy you found this episode helpful ☺ Thanks again for watching and for taking the time to leave a comment! Have a wonderful day 🤗

[@janiceweber5621]

Beautiful Amaryllis Layne🙂

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Thanks so much, Janice! I have a parade of amaryllis either blooming or about to bloom right now 😂 Thanks so much for watching, and have a wonderful day! 🤗

[@cherigeitz7798]

Awesome video!!!

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Thank you so much, Cheri! So happy you enjoyed it ☺ Have a wonderful day! 🤗

[@marycain7424]

I find it’s important to keep records. I will note whether I should start the seeds earlier,or later. I keep an excel spreadsheet with formulas based off my frost date.

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

I totally agree, Mary! I love Excel spreadsheets, as well 😊 Thanks so much for watching, and have a great day! 🤗

[@brookestranberg4054]

🌻 oh my gosh, what a fantastic episode, thank you for all the great info!

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

You are so welcome, Brooke! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment - so happy you enjoyed this episode ☺ Hope you have some beautiful spring blooms on the way! Happy gardening, and have a wonderful day 🤗

[@cbak1819]

There's so much great info on this video. I keep on watching it to get this info down. great idea Layne recording how long your seeds took to germ and going forward. ty❤

[@cbak1819]

I watched again and I think my brain has it now.. so true every one has differing growing spaces...

[@joycedagostino8869]

Thanks to both of you, so much good information. When Lisa mentioned how places selling plants should have out more cool season things like broccoli she is so correct. There are places like the big box stores that put out tomatoes and other tender vegetables way too early. Some feel that this is Ok and makes them hardened off early but I have heard that most of the time, these plants become stunted from being exposed too early to the cold and they just never do well. Thanks again for all of your work on cool flowers, I love the book and refer to it often!

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

I totally agree, Joyce - warm-season plants are not happy when they are planted out too early 🥶 Thanks so much for watching and for taking the time to leave this helpful comment! 🤗

[@cbak1819]

🌻 thanks for the refresher! Lovely

[@rockstarmom3121]

Lisa is always so generous with her info she shared and patient when having to repeat the same answers year after year. I also buy all of my stuff through them, or look there first. And Layne may be a teenie bit OCD. I mean that in the absolute BEST way because she is ON it with the details :) I LOVE how thorough she is with her questions. She hits every point and that’s incredibly helpful. I always understand general information when given, it’s never complicated or lacking details. However, having such complete explanations means I have answers to questions or solutions to issues that come up later, without having to ask again, or search again. Play who doesn’t love all that Southern hospitality in her demeanor and voice? (Lisa) I thank you ladies and TGW

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Thanks so much for the positive feedback! 😊 I really appreciate your comment regarding having solutions to questions or issues that may come up later (such a compliment!) ☺ Thanks for taking the time to leave this comment, and have a lovely day! 🤗

[@CherylBelczak]

Thank you! Great questions. You even answered some I didn't even know I had yet! I appreciate the thought, time, preparation and expertise that goes into these discussions. I got my TGW soil blocker for Christmas this year. Will be starting my first soil-blocked seedlings today. ❄️🤞🙏🌱🙌💐🌻

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Hey, Cheryl! Thank you so much for the kind words and for letting us know that our efforts are appreciated ☺ Good luck with your soil blocking, and let me know if you have any questions! Thanks again for watching, and have a wonderful day 🤗

[@annateiffel9733]

Love your practical tips and the examples. Great advice to take your own notes to increase quality of your own unique sowing calendar. Thank you so much, loving your videos!

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Thanks so much for the positive feedback, Anna! I agree - developing your own unique sowing calendar is a very worthwhile endeavor ☺ Wishing you a wonderful day and a bountiful spring garden full of blooms! 🤗

[@sheilahurford5931]

Fab info thankyou .love this series

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Thanks so much for the positive feedback, Sheila! So happy you are enjoying "Seed Talk" 🥰 Wishing you a bountiful spring garden and a lovely day! 🤗

[@nikkiholton6318]

I love all of your information. I love these podcasts/utube videos

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Thanks so much, Nikki! ☺ Happy gardening, and have a wonderful day! 🤗

[@seedsofimbolc]

Great helpful info!! Thank you!

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

You are so welcome! Thanks so much for watching, and have a fantastic day! 🤗

[@cbak1819]

🌻That is true about perennials in the fall unless they're planted too late. 🙃That happened 2 years ago and the bunnies didn't have any food to eat because the ground was covered for 3 months and they chomped them down to nothing and then never stopped eating them from generation to generation. We planted the same bushes years ago and never touched them.. and there 10 ft tall. So many variables.

[@debragrubbs4067]

Great information. Just what I was needing.

[@tirzacharitakis6480]

Thanks a lot..always so much to learn. I'have a flower farm in France

[@eyrerosecottage1970]

Excellent information! Thank you so much!

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

You are so welcome! Thanks so much for watching, and have a wonderful day! 🤗

[@belleboice6842]

Great podcast

[@christinawierman6311]

Love these videos

[@karenschwartz5209]

Thanks so much for your information!

[@kimleclair8104]

Thank you for teaching and sharing these great tips. Also, I love all the seeds and products I've gotten from you for my Cottage Flower Farm that I sell from at a local market. Soil blocks - total gamechanger for the win!

[@susanmcreynolds573]

Great info! I was planning to compile all the times from seed packets - I used your list instead. Thanks for saving me research time and for the encouragement!

[@brittanyjoancogginsdepablo7311]

Great info

[@bernadette1510]

What a gem of an episode! You guys rock! This s my go to source on seed starting channel especially with experimenting with cool season plants. This is my first year I’ll attempt to put my foxgloves out into the cold unfriendly weather and try to convince them that this is for their over good.😮

[@karenschwartz5209]

Thank you do mich, this really helped me seeding.

[@cbak1819]

Page 27 in Lisa's Cool Flowers book.. it has a nice planting window timeline guide. Looking forward to Your new book Lisa!

[@AussieJuz]

Thank you so much for all the amazing information. I'm a newly obsessed home flower grower and i don't know what I'd do without you. 🙏🏼 Ps...do you ladies ship seeds to France by any chance?

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Yay - so happy you are enjoying our videos and that you are getting into flower growing! ☺ Unfortunately, we can only ship to US addresses at the present time, but thanks so much for your interest. France in the springtime must be beautiful 😍 Wishing you a bountiful spring garden full of lovely flowers 🤗 Thanks so much for watching, and have a wonderful day!

[@Hayley-sl9lm]

You guys inspired me to try soil blocking with my native wildflowers and thanks to you I have a whole tray of wooly sunflowers and Springbank clover. This is so much better than paying retail for plant starts or throwing my whole seed packet out and having nothing germinate. 🙏🤗 I've spent so much money on fancy native seeds and followed the sowing directions and everything, but had such poor results because so many flowers are slow-growing and need some TLC to get started (or just protection from European garden slugs when they are babies). These nursery skills are a must-have, thank you so much! 😁🤗🙏👍

[@debbiemagee5732]

Thank you, thank you! ❤❤❤ This answered so many questions! You should have a link to this on the website, new gardening book? I bought the Cool flower book which didn’t address these topics to this depth. Thank you for share your knowledge!

[@cbak1819]

I heard Lisa say on different video transplant size to go out is best at 4-5" tall.

[@KaringKarensFlowers]

Thanks for all the info overload 😊 Can you show the size of your transplants? Mine look so little to planting in the 3/4 in blocks

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

You are so welcome, Karen! Transplant size varies based on plant type (and a plant's growth habit), but 3-5" tall is generally a good size to aim for. I will try to remember to show some transplants in future episodes. Thanks so much for watching, and have a wonderful day! 🤗

[@kelseyclarke9488]

Hello! Is there a seed talk that talks about the very early spring transplant varieties that Lisa transplants and when?

[@claytoncurry4374]

I’m a new subscriber thanks! I did have a question about what if I started seeds 2 weeks before the last frost does that mean you plant it for a week and then harden off the seed the 2nd week by bringing it outside?

[@cbak1819]

🌻How long do you hold them until transplanting out if it's not getting up to temp? Like the weather this year2023? Thank you Lisa and Layne❤

[@CKTodoroff]

Hi! I have gotten my seeds started and lots of my various seedlings are doing great! But my snapdragons seedlings seem to not look right compared to last year. About half of my seedlings have a stalk growing but no cotyledon leaves. Instead I see a brown tip at the top. What am I doing wrong? Thanks for all your education and advice!

[@cbak1819]

How do you personally get the soil to be workable for early Spring annuals?

[@cbak1819]

I have cold frames.. I can put them out 2 weeks earlier.

[@debrathert]

If I put some of my soil blocking soil into the mixing container and wet it, but I don't end up using all of it that I wet, can I just cover the wetted soil and use it later, like within the next week? Or once it is wetted, should I discard it?

[@LayneAngeloTGW]

Hello, Debbie! If you have any leftover soil, you can just let it dry out (uncovered) and then use it again the next time. Sometimes it can get a bit clumpy after going from wet to dry, but it is definitely usable, and I do this all the time 🙂 Thanks so much for watching! 🤗

[@judyandrews1605]

When the seed packet says 90-120 days to bloom, what exactly does that mean? Does the 90 indicate day seed is sown and 120 indicates first bloom?

[@karenschwartz5209]

I have a question. After seeing this I might have the answer. I am thinking about putting in long flower beds. Wonder if I should run them East & West or North and South. It looks like you have your long beds running East & West. Is that right?

[@cbak1819]

North to south is preferable.. it's like surround sound. But what you can. It depends on best light available. Happy Gardening❤