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Growing from Seed FAQ

How Do I Determine When to Begin Sowing My Plant Seeds

11 years ago

It depends upon how much time you have to care for seedlings before they are tranplanted into permanent spots in the garden.

If you are growing garden annuals that you want blooming as soon as they go into the ground they need to be started indoors several weeks ahead of your planting date. Seed packets will offer germination information to guide you...keep in mind that the information on the back of the packet is based upon ideal circumstances.

Most garden perennials do not bloom their first year from seed so they can be started anytime. Starting indoors will require care to prevent damp-off and repotting if felt necessary. Outdoor germination you will need to protect the soil from desiccation by wind and sun, the seedlings should also be protected from slugs or snails, if a hail storm is coming you can help protect young direct-sown seedlings by turning an old laundry basket over them for the duration of the storm.

Direct-sown seedlings are often a tasty treat for birds and bunnies. A scarecrow and fencing can help protect the seedlings from critter damage, however a starving animal will ignore devices used to deter or scare them away.

Vegetable packets offer a "days to maturity" guideline to suggest when to sow your seeds. Those days are generally based upon how long it takes to grow the first ripe produce after a seedling is about four inches high, those dates are not indicative of how many days needed to produce ripe fruit after germination.

Germination requirements can vary from species to species, though some plant families may have similar requirements. If you have no seed packet to read for germination requirements then you can look up the information on the internet by typing in the plant name + germination. The information may also be found in books at the library.

Winter Sowing, done outdoors, goes on all throughout winter. See the Winter Sowing Forum FAQs for information. There is also forum with FAQs for Starting Seeds Under Lights.

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How do I tell when my seeds are ripe?
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Absolutely - bag 'em.:) I use a square of nylon stocking and a twist tie. The pod will begin to look a little more dry and begin to split along the 'seam' when the seeds are ripe. I think it must be early to start watching for ripe seed - here where our Spring is always cool (coastal Washington) I can still be harvesting seeds in late June. Here is a link that might be useful:
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When do I plant my fresh seeds???
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i wouldn't plant the seeds next to the parent unless you plan on moving them soon after their first year. they'll end up growing together and you'll get a mishmash of different plants in one clump. the seeds germinate better with at least three weeks of stratification (cold). i usually start mine in the greenhouse in november to give them a big headstart. you can direct sow them and they'll germinate next spring or you can dry them for at least 24 hours and then store them in the fridge and it'll give you something to do this winter. provided you have the room and the time for winter sowing. the way i germinate my seeds is to put some water with a little peroxide, the seeds will usually germinate in a few days. after that i plant the ones that germinated and discard the rest. cuts down on soil and space.
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When will you begin to sow seeds
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I grow mainly sugar snap peas, the 6 foot tall type. Most years they go in between the end of February and mid March. If your soil is too wet you could rake in a couple of inches of loose soil from your paths which will raise and warm your pea row. June is pea picking month in New Jersey, my sugar snap peas will often continue to produce into July if the weather stays moderate. There are super early varieties that might be ready in May, peas with a pick date from emergence of 60 days or less, but I haven't tried them. This would also be a good time to plant lettuce. My German neighbor used to grow fava beans or broad beans. As I recall they are another 'beat the heat' plant and will germinate in cold soil, and I think they must be harvested before the dog days begin.
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When/what to plant for fall, and when to sow seeds for spring?
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direct sowing - Some things do best when direct sown, but it depends on the plant. Many things that don't like root disturbance and some vegetables are best when planted this way. winter sowing - This is often a less labor intensive solution. If you use milkjugs/2-liter bottles and poke drainage holes in the bottom (like frequently suggested in the Winter Sowing Forum), you shouldn't have to worry about the seed drowning or drying out. Do remember to provide partial shade so that the seeds don't cook in the covered containers. indoor sowing - This is the method I use for most of my seeds. I have a large rack system loaded with fairly closely spaced florescent bulbs of the right frequency (some 4100 K and some 5000 K) to approximate sunlight and timers to control the on/off cycle. Of course, when fully loaded, it does add to the electric bill. I tend to plant many of my seeds about a month before the last expected freeze date. Some adjustment may be needed for especially slow or especially fast growing plants.
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