On my windowsill sits a long plastic dish that I can’t stop peeking into. Inside, our seedlings have awoken and stretched their tiny green arms out of the soil. I can’t help but imagine them as fresh, tart tomatoes and sweet basil.

With the erratic weather lately, I began questioning when to plant my seeds this year, both inside and out. Luckily, Broomfield-based seed company Botanical Interests has a wealth of information for us newbie gardeners.

BI recommends starting tomatoes inside 6-8 weeks before the average last frost; peppers 8-10 weeks; and onions 8-12 weeks. They also provide a link to this handy map that shows the date of your region’s average last frost.

So, what gets planted outside? Crops like beans, cucumbers, melons, and squash, after the average last day of frost, because of their sensitivity to freezing temperatures. Carrots, lettuce, peas, and radishes are heartier and can be planted 8-10 weeks before the average last frost for a spring harvest.

Bonus: If you’re new to starting seeds inside, check out this how-to video from the Boulder Daily Camera.