Deciphering Your Seed Packet.
Few things can be more overwhelming than trying to decipher the code on the back of a seed packet. After reading this I want you to be able to glance at the back of a seed packet and know the four things I look to get each seed to start growing. This is perfect for the someone who would like to try growing a small cut flower - or veggie - garden at home.
Want to pick my brain a little bit more?
I will be hosting a sustainable seed starting workshop at the True Blue Flower Fields on April 13. Each attendee will go home with a soil blocker, a mister, a seed starting tray, and a my favorite mix cut flower seeds to planted and ready to grow. Gain a little confidence and know how to fill your home with fresh flowers all summer long.
Days to bloom.
What is days to bloom?
The average or expected time after germination it takes for this plant to start blooming for the first time.
Also listed as “days to maturity”, “days to harvest” or just “days”
It is not listed on all seed packets
Generally flowers with longer days to bloom means they need to be started earlier indoors and transplanted outdoors. Flowers with shorter days to bloom need less time inside or can be planted directly in the ground. I suggest sticking to under 100 days maybe even under 80 days
Why is it important
This helps to determine how much time and effort is involved in growing it
in my zone (zone 3b) there are around 123 growing days. This is determined by counting the days from the last frost date to the first frost date. May 15-Sept.15
frost dates can be calculated using your zip code at farmers
Examples of growing times
Quick growing: 50-80 days to maturity
Procut sunflowers
Zinnias
Medium Growing: 80-100 days to maturity
Cosmos
Wild Bergmont
marigolds
Slow Growing: 100 - 130 days to maturity
Statice
Celosia
Snapdragons
Biannuals(flowers that dont bloom until the second year): in our growing season usually listed as 365+ days to maturity
Delphinium
floxglove
Planting Depth
What is planting depth?
This is how much soil needs to be put on top of each seed. Also called “depth” or written out as “needs light to germinate” “barely cover seeds” or “cover seeds”
Why is it important
Each seed needs different conditions to germinate (start growing) some need darkness and some need light. The exact depth isn’t usually too important but serves more as a general guide to how much soil to put on top
Some seeds cant push through excessive soil and some seeds need to be deeper so their roots can start
Examples
Barely Cover (need light to germinate, don’t cover):
strawflower
amaranth
Lightly Cover:1/4”
Cosmos
Zinnias
Deep Plant:
Sunflowers
Transplant or Direct Sow.
What does this mean?
Also seen as transplant/indoor sown ( start indoors) or direct sow/outdoor sown (plant outdoors. If this is not listed on your seed packet look at the days to bloom. Slow growing and some medium growing seeds need to be started indoors.
This tells you if you if your seeds need to be started indoors or need to be planted outside or if they can be planted either way and how many weeks before your last frost to plant them
Why is this important?
Plants with long growing seasons need to start growing before the last frost in order to bloom before the first frost date in our zone
Some plants need specific conditions to start growing that are hard to replicate outside or vice versa
Some plants roots struggle to grow once they have been disturbed so they are best to start outside
Examples
Direct sow recommended
Cosmos
sunflowers
Transplant recommended
Strawflower
Celosia
gomphrena
Either or
Marigolds
Pincushion
Zinnias
Amaranth
Cool Hardy or Warm Loving Seeds.
What does this tell us?
Also listed as “transplant out after all danger of frost has passed” “when soil is warm” or “ sow directly in the garden as soon as ground can be worked” “germination temperature” “transplant BEFORE last frost”
When you can a. plant your seeds outside if direct sown or b. when you can transplant your seeds outside if started indoors
Why is this important?
Some seed and plants are stunted and won’t germinate when warm and others are stunted and won’t germinate if its cold
Examples
Plants that grow best in warm: >70 degrees
zinnias
cosmos
celosia
Plants that grow best when cold: 55-65 degrees
larkspur
snapdragons
nigella
Plants that are more indifferent
sunflowers
statice
amaranth
marigold
A list of great flowers to start out with!
cosmos
zinnias
sunflowers
gomphrena
strawflowers
marigolds
amaranth
scabiosa
celosia
A few places to get seeds!
North Circle Seeds
Mountain Valley Select Seed
Burpee
Eden Brothers
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
Seed Savers Exchange
Pepper Harrow
Johnny’s Select Seeds