My target date for in ground planting is March 1. I want my seedling to be about 6weeks old at the point, which means to them in mid Jan. I could gamble on the weather, but covering young seedlings is a pain in the boohind, so I go with Mar.1 each year. If I start my seeds any earlier, they will be rootbound in these little Jiffy trays by March.
I just stick with what has worked for me in the past.
Here, after Easter is my normal planting date, but I may hold off a bit if the mesquite trees aren't budding.
/johnny
I have a small greenhouse on the deck and I’ll put the seedlings out there to get acclimatized before transplanting them into pots for their final home.