When to plant morning glories
Short answer
Plant morning glories about 1 week after your last spring frost. In a mid climate (zone 5) that's around Apr 22, starting seeds indoors about Mar 18. Enter your ZIP for your exact dates.
| Climate zone | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | Dec 18 | Jan 22 | Apr 12 |
| Zone 2 | Jan 18 | Feb 22 | May 13 |
| Zone 3 | Feb 10 | Mar 17 | Jun 5 |
| Zone 4 | Mar 2 | Apr 6 | Jun 25 |
| Zone 5 | Mar 18 | Apr 22 | Jul 11 |
| Zone 6 | Apr 2 | May 7 | Jul 26 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 17 | May 22 | Aug 10 |
| Zone 8 | May 4 | Jun 8 | Aug 27 |
Higher climate-zone numbers are colder, so planting shifts later. Morning glories is a tender crop. Enter your ZIP in the calculator for your exact zone and dates.
What sets the timing for morning glories
When to plant morning glories comes down to one date: your last spring frost. Morning glories is a tender crop, so it goes in about 1 week after your last spring frost. In a mid climate (zone 5) that's around Apr 22.
Give it a head start: sow seeds indoors about 4 weeks before your last spring frost (around Mar 18 in zone 5), then move seedlings out once conditions are right. From there it's roughly 80 days to first bloom.
Because that anchor date moves with climate, plant-out for morning glories ranges from about Mar 17 in warm zone 3 to May 22 in cold zone 7. Enter your ZIP in the calculator for the exact dates in your zone.
What sets the timing
| Factor | Effect on timing |
|---|---|
| Frost anchor | Timing counts from your last spring frost |
| Hardiness | Morning glories is tender — it waits until the soil warms after frost |
| Indoor start | Start seeds 4 weeks before your last spring frost |
| Days to harvest | About 80 days from planting to first bloom |
| Climate zone | Higher (colder) zones push plant-out later; warmer zones let you start sooner |
| Soil & weather | Needs warm soil — cold, wet ground stunts or rots it |
How morning glories compares
Plant-out date in a mid climate (zone 5), against an early hardy crop and a late tender one.
| Crop | Plant outside (zone 5) |
|---|---|
| Peas (hardy · plants early) | Mar 11 |
| Morning glories | Apr 22 |
| Tomatoes (tender · plants late) | Apr 29 |
Tips for growing morning glories
- Don't rush morning glories outside — cold soil stalls it. Wait until after your last spring frost and, ideally, until nights stay mild.
- Give morning glories a 4 weeks indoor head start under a bright light before transplanting.
- Count roughly 80 days from planting to first bloom, and stagger sowings a few weeks apart for a longer picking window.
- Enter your ZIP in the calculator for morning glories dates tuned to your exact climate zone.
Your exact dates
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Frequently asked questions
When should I plant morning glories?
Plant morning glories about 1 week after your last spring frost. That's around Apr 6 in zone 4 and May 7 in zone 6.
When do I start morning glories seeds indoors?
Start morning glories seeds indoors about 4 weeks before your last frost, then transplant after the frost passes. That's roughly Apr 2 in zone 6.
How long until morning glories blooms?
About 80 days from planting until first bloom. In zone 6, morning glories planted around May 7 is typically blooming near Jul 26.