When is the best time to plant vegetable seeds or transplants?

The best planting time depends on the specific vegetable crop and whether you’re planting seeds or transplants. In general, cool season crops like lettuce, peas and radishes can be planted as early as 4-6 weeks before the last expected spring frost date from seeds sown directly in the ground. Warm season crops like tomatoes, peppers and melons should be planted from transplants 2-4 weeks after the last frost date. Check the [recommended planting dates](https://www.almanac.com/gardening/frostdates) for your region and the particulars for each crop variety. Pay attention to days to maturity, and succession plant warm season crops every 2-3 weeks for a longer harvest window.