Plant and Grow Seeds

Lightly rake the soil to loosen it, then broadcast the seed directly into the soil in a sunny location after all chance of frost is past.  To broadcast seeds, scatter them over the area. Next cover them with sand (preferred) or crumbled soil, then press the seeds into the soil by lightly walking over the area. Keep the location you seeded moist for about a week or until you see sprouts.

Start the seeds indoors, in the spring, 12 to 14 weeks before planting outdoors. Keep the seeds moist and in full sunlight. Transplant when 3 to 5 inches tall. After 1 year, transplant to a permanent location where the plants can grow undisturbed. Harvest the first crop after 3 years, then every spring.

Water regularly to keep the soil from drying out.

Bean seedlings can be sensitive to transplanting, so it’s best to sow the seeds directly outside. Wait at least 1 to 2 weeks after your last spring frost, or once the soil is about 65 degrees F.  Do not plant in the summer heat; bean plants will stop producing at 90 degrees F. Choose a spot with full sun. Water early in the day. Avoid working around beans when they are wet, as this may spread plant diseases. When weeding, hoe gently because beans are shallow-rooted. For pole beans, plant along a trellis or pole about 6 feet tall to support the plant Pick the bean pods when they are nearly mature, but not fully developed to make sure they are still crisp.

Start the seeds indoors in full sunlight 8 weeks before planting outdoors. Keep the seeds moist. Transplant the seedlings to the garden when they are 3 inches tall. Or sow the seeds directly in the garden in a sunny location after all danger of frost is past. Begin using a balanced fertilizer when the plants are 6 inches tall to increase production.

California poppies do not transplant well. Sow the seeds directly outside after all danger of frost is past, ideally between April and July. Choose a location with full sun. California poppies re-seed themselves, so the following year you might discover self-seeded poppies growing!  

Start the seeds indoors near a sunny window 4 weeks before transplanting to the garden. Be sure not to disturb the roots during transplanting. Try making a small hill about 9 to 12 inches tall for the seedlings to start in and the plants to grow down from.

Sow the seeds directly in the garden in loose soil when all danger of frost is past. Continue to sow seeds until 75 to 77 days before the expected fall frost.

The Long Imperator variety needs deep, loose soil. Don't allow the soil to become muddy or soggy or the carrots may crack. In addition, don’t let this variety mature fully or it will become woody and less flavorful.

Water regularly to keep the soil from drying out. Prior to harvesting, soak the ground to make the carrots easier to pull up.

Start the seeds indoors near a sunny window 6 weeks before transplanting to the garden. Or sow the seeds directly in the garden in a sunny location in rich, well-drained soil. The leaves can be harvested 4 months after sowing. Cut them often to encourage growth.

Water regularly to keep the soil from drying out.

Sow the seeds directly in the garden, preferably in full sun, after all danger of frost is past and the soil is warm (preferably 70 degrees F). Water regularly to keep the soil from drying out.

Sow the seeds directly in the garden in a sunny location with well-drained soil after all danger of frost is past and the ground is warm. For smaller gardens, plant the seeds alongside a fence or trellis. Plant at 3-week intervals up to midsummer for fresh cucumbers all season. Pick when 6 to 8 inches long.

Plant garlic in the fall three to eight weeks before the first autumn freeze. This will allow the plant to grow into the location but not allow the green sprout to develop. If garlic is planted too early, frost will damage or kill the green sprouts above the ground. Separate the bulbs into cloves. Pick a location with good drainage that will get at least 6 hours of full sun every day. When planting your garlic cloves, make sure the tip—where the sprout comes out—is facing upward. Cover the cloves with soil so that the tips are about two inches below the soil surface, and water well. Provide a generous layer of mulch for the winter, especially if you live in a cold climate. Your garlic is ready to harvest in the summer when the lower two or three leaves turn yellow or brown. At this point, stop watering the plant. Wait for a week or two before pulling your garlic from the ground.

Sow your seeds directly outside, ideally in June on a hill or mound. Gourds do not transplant well; therefore, if using a container, make sure it is large and deep enough to accommodate the plant’s growth. Provide the vines with a trellis or cording (thick string tied like a fence) for the vines to climb.

Pick gourds before the first fall frost. Wait until the gourd is fully developed and hard After harvesting, brush and rinse off the dirt, but avoid scrubbing and washing or soaking. Store your gourds in a dry, cool location until they have thoroughly dried out and hardened. Then they can be waxed, painted, or carved.

Sow the seeds directly outside in the spring after all danger of frost is past.  Or sow the seeds in the fall, well before the first frost, to get a full bloom the following summer. Choose a sunny location—hollyhocks like the sun. Feel free to place your seeds on the ground and then cover them in ¼ inch of soil instead of making a hole.

Since hollyhock grows so tall, it is great for a background screen or as a tall accent to shorter flowers in your garden.  Cut the flower stalks after blooming.

Start the seeds indoors about 8 weeks before you plan to transfer them outside. While the seeds germinate, keep them moist and in full sun. Make sure to move the seedlings outdoors only after all danger of frost is gone and they are about 3 inches tall. Or sow the seeds directly outside once the soil is 65 degrees F and the nights do not get below 40 degrees F. Choose a location that gets full sun. If you are also growing sweet peppers, plant your hot peppers at least a few feet away. If they are too close together, your sweet peppers will become lightly spicy! Once your peppers mature, pick them regularly to increase your yield.

Sow the seeds directly in the garden as soon as the soil can be made fine and loose. Plant them every 6 inches, covering them firmly with soil.

Lettuce needs plenty of moisture. Water regularly to keep the soil from drying out; however, overwatering or lack of air circulation will cause the leaves to rot.

As the plants begin to crowd, pick individual leaves regularly to eat. For the best flavor, pick them young. Harvest a few leaves at a time to continue growth, or harvest the entire plant.

Sow the seeds directly in the garden as soon as the ground can be worked. Place one seed every 12 inches. Cover with soil. Harvest side leaves as needed at 6 to 8 inches in length.

Mustard is a cool-weather crop; therefore, sow the seeds directly outside in the spring as soon as the ground can be worked (the soil is soft enough to dig into without great difficultly). Or wait until the fall to plant your seeds. If starting mustard in the spring or the fall, choose a spot with full sun. If starting in the summer, choose a spot with partial shade. To get your seeds growing quickly, keep the soil around them moist.  As the plant gets big enough to harvest, pick the outer leaves regularly. This will keep the harvest going for a longer period of time.

Sow the seeds directly outside in the spring after all danger of frost is past. Choose a location with full sun or partial shade. If starting indoors to get an earlier bloom, plant the seeds 6 to 8 weeks before the last spring frost. For a quicker germination time, soak the seeds overnight in warm water or scrape their surface before planting them. Water well. Make sure to harden the plants before transplanting them. 

Sow the seeds directly in the garden as soon as the soil can be made fine and loose. Plant them every 2 inches, covering them firmly with soil.

Mesclun needs plenty of moisture. Water regularly to keep the soil from drying out;  however, overwatering or lack of air circulation will cause the leaves to rot.

As the plants begin to crowd, pick individual leaves regularly for use.

1 Pre-soak large seeds (e.g., sunflower, peas) overnight for quick, even sprouting.
2 Moisten potting soil and place at least 1.5 inches into a container (recycled berry, milk or mushroom containers work great).
3 Smooth the soil surface flat. Evenly sprinkle seeds closely together onto the soil. Gently press the seeds into the soil surface.
4 Mist the soil so that its damp but no water is seeping out of the drainage holes. Cover the container to block light out and create a humid chamber. Aluminum foil or a dinner plate work well. Check and mist every 12 hours.
5 Once seeds have sprouted (around 3 to 4 days), uncover the container and place in a bright window or under a desk or grow lamp.
6 Check moisture daily and mist if surface is dry. Rotate container to keep greens growing straight.

Sow the seeds directly outside, ideally in June, after all, danger of frost is past. Choose a sunny location. You can start your seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last spring frost; however, morning glories do not transplant well. For a quicker germination time, soak the seeds overnight in warm water or scrape their surface before planting them. Water well. Train the growing plants to climb a trellis or fence.

Sow the seeds directly outside in the spring after all danger of frost is past. Choose a location with full sun or partial shade. Do not add fertilizer to the soil; nasturtiums do not need fertile soil. Water your nasturtiums sparingly.

Nasturtiums do well in a container or in the garden. They attract aphids, so plant them away from your brassica plants (broccoli, cauliflower, etc.) and they will help keep the aphids away from your vegetables.

Lightly rake the soil to loosen it, then broadcast the seed directly into the soil in a sunny location after all chance of frost is past.  To broadcast seeds, scatter them over the area. Next cover them with sand (preferred) or crumbled soil, then press the seeds into the soil by lightly walking over the area. Keep the location you seeded moist for about a week or until you see sprouts.

*These seeds to vary in size, therefore the larger seeds should be planted deeper than the smaller seeds. When broadcasting (lightly sprinkling the seeds on the soil) these seeds, just push the larger seeds deep into the soil with your finger about 4 times as deep as they are wide.

Sow the seeds directly in the garden in a sunny location with well-drained soil.

Water regularly to keep the soil from drying out.

Sow the seed pieces directly outside or in a pot when the daytime temperatures reach 60 degrees F. Plant small seed potatoes (or pieces of larger seed potatoes) with 2 to 3 eyes in each piece. Plant them 3 to 5 inches deep and 6 to 12 inches apart. Water as needed to keep the soil damp but not flooded.  When the plant is about 6 inches tall, pile a few inches of soil or clean straw around the main stem to form a hill. Add to the hill several times throughout the season.

Sow the seeds directly in the garden in spring after your last major frost. Cover the seeds firmly with soil. For a steady crop, sow every 10 days until warm weather. Start again in the fall until 30 days before the first frost.

Water regularly to keep the soil from drying out.

Start the seeds indoors 6 weeks before you plan to transplant them outside. Keep them in a sunny location to help with germination. Or sow the seeds directly outside after all danger of frost is gone. Choose a spot with good drainage in full sun. You can also grow sage in a container, indoors or outdoors.  Once the plant matures, pick the leaves as you need them.  If you want to dry your sage, cut 5-inch-long clippings before it flowers in early summer. Store the leaves in a shaded, dry area. Sage is a perennial herb and will grow for many years.

Sow the seeds directly in the garden as soon as the soil can be made fine and loose. Plant them every 6 inches, covering them firmly with soil.

Lettuce needs plenty of moisture. Water regularly to keep the soil from drying out; however, overwatering or lack of air circulation will cause the leaves to rot.

As the plants begin to crowd, pick individual leaves regularly to eat. For the best flavor, pick them young. Harvest a few leaves at a time to continue growth, or harvest the entire plant.

Soak your seeds in water overnight before planting them. This helps them germinate faster. Sow the seeds in spring or late summer directly outside in a spot that gets full sun. Pea plants will perform best when supported by a trellis or tied to a pole. Support two plants at the same time by placing a trellis or pole between them and letting them grow together. Harvest the pea pods frequently to encourage production. When harvesting, do not jerk the pods from the vines. If the plant is handled roughly, it might stop producing peas.  Be gentle when pinching off the pods or cut them from the vines with scissors or pruners

Sow the seeds directly in the garden as soon as the soil can be worked. Place one seed every 6 inches and cover it with soil. Harvest before a flower stalk forms.

Water regularly to keep the soil from drying out.

Start the seeds indoors near a sunny window 5 to 8 weeks before transplanting to the garden when all danger of frost is past. Or sow the seeds directly in the garden in full sun when all danger of frost is past and the soil is warm. 

Sow the seeds directly outside at least a week after your last spring frost. The soil needs to be warm (at least 65 degrees F). If you have a short growing season, start your seeds indoors. Sow (plant) the seeds 3 to 4 weeks before you plan to transplant your seedlings outside (2 to 4 weeks after your last spring frost).

Don’t be in a rush to plant in the spring. Transplants or “starts” take about 40 to 55 days (depending on the variety) to mature. Therefore, waiting can help to avoid problems from pests and diseases that are common earlier in the season. But don’t wait too long! Transplant your seedlings outside before the second set of “true leaves” grows. Choose a spot that will get full sun. To avoid powdery mildew, water the base of the plant. Do not water the leaves. Harvest summer squash when they are young and tender before the rinds begin to harden. Use a knife to cut fruits from the plants.

Sow the seeds directly outside in the spring after all danger of frost is past. Choose a sunny location. Or start your seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost. Try succession planting sunflowers every 2 weeks for up to 6 weeks after your initial planting.

Sunflowers like plenty of sun and water; make sure to water the Skyscraper and Mammoth Russian varieties well while they are growing.

If you love birds and squirrels, cut a few mature flower heads off and hang them in your yard as bird and squirrel feeders. If you plan to roast and eat the seeds, wait until the head of the flower bends from its weight. Then cut the flower head off and hang it downward in a warm, dry place. The seeds will be ready to harvest when the head of the flower bends from the weight.

Sow the seeds directly outside in the spring after all danger of frost is past. Choose a sunny location. Or start your seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last spring frost. These sunflowers like rich, moist, but well-drained soil. They do not like to be over-fertilized. Water well when growing. Once mature, both varieties are drought tolerant.

Sow the seeds directly outside in well-drained soil after all danger of frost is past. Choose a spot that will get full sun and where the plants can grow to their full height (20 to 28 inches tall). Or start your seeds indoors in a sunny, warm location about 6 weeks before transplanting outdoors.

As plants mature, allow the soil to dry out thoroughly between waterings.

Pick leaves as needed for cooking. To store leaves, dry or freeze them. Harvest the entire plant when the lower leaves turn yellow.

Start the seeds indoors near a sunny window 6 weeks before transplanting to the garden. Or sow the seeds directly in ordinary well-drained soil after all danger of frost is past and the soil has warmed. Pick the leaves as needed.

Water when the soil looks dry.

Start the seeds indoors near a sunny window 6 weeks prior to warm weather. Transplant the seedlings to the garden when they display 4 to 6 leaves and the weather is warm. Or sow the seeds directly in the garden in full sun when the soil is warm and all danger of frost is past. Tomatoes cannot tolerate frost and do not like regular temperatures below 55 degrees F.

Tomatoes require at least an inch of water per week.

Start the seeds indoors near a sunny window 4 weeks before transplanting to the garden. Be sure not to disturb the roots during transplanting. Or sow the seeds directly in the garden in full sun when all danger of frost is past and the soil is warm.

Try making a small hill about 6 to 12 inches tall for the seeds or seedlings to start in and the plants to grow down from.

Water regularly to keep the soil from drying out. Watermelons love water.

Start the seeds inside about 4 weeks before the last spring frost. Starting them inside will give you an early bloom. Or sow the seeds directly outside after all danger of frost is gone. Choose a spot with full sun or partial shade. Because zinnias grow only about 2 ½ to 3 inches tall, they make a great border. Water well and often. Once zinnias begin to flower, make sure to cut off old, dead, or fading flowers to prolong their bloom. Fertilizing zinnias will also increase their bloom.