I’m figuring out what I’m going to plant and the timing of starting seeds indoors or in a cold frame.

Here’s the breakdown of the schedule. >>For any gardeners who are out there reading, I am in zone 5 (USDA zones) and the average last spring frost is April 21st. However, most Chicago gardeners use Memorial Day as their big planting weekend. Last year I had cabbage, spinach, and lettuce in the ground in the beginning of April with no protection (except on hard frost nights).<<<

Timeline for seed starting:

Middle February wintersow outdoors: flax, poppy, milkweed

Middle Feb.  Start indoors: Coleus, Viola

March 15th start indoors or outside in a cold frame: spinach, kale, mustard greens, lettuce, arugula, radish

April 1st start indoors: impatients, marigolds, lavender, basil, cosmos, chamomile, dill

April 15th start indoors: purple clover, cucumber, eggplant, sunflower

May 1st direct sow outside: swiss chard, amaranth, pole beans, soy beans, black eyed susan