Gardening Guides
Making Sense of a Seed Packet
These small envelopes offer a surprising amount of information for a gardener
Sowing seeds is an easy and inexpensive way to get a garden going. Make the most of your experience by starting with an in-depth look at what your seed packets can tell you. Then, when it’s time to start sowing seeds, either indoors before your final frost date or outdoors when the soil is warm enough, you’ll be ready.
Before you start: 10 Tips for Beginning Gardeners
Before you start: 10 Tips for Beginning Gardeners
Often, the botanical name will be less obvious. If you’re only growing vegetables, the botanical name is not critical. However, if you’re interested in ornamental plants, it provides one more way to check that what you’re buying is what you want to grow. There are a number of decidedly different plants that share a common name. A quick confirmation of the botanical name can help you avoid a surprise plant in your garden.
A final visual aid on the front of each packet is an illustration, whether a drawing or a photograph, of what the mature plant, flower or vegetable looks like. Many of these are beautiful enough to be framed.
A final visual aid on the front of each packet is an illustration, whether a drawing or a photograph, of what the mature plant, flower or vegetable looks like. Many of these are beautiful enough to be framed.
Once you’ve found what you want to grow, look a little closer and you’ll discover there’s a lot more you can learn from reading the fine print on the packet.
Type of plant. Knowing whether your plant is an annual, only lasting for one growing season; a biennial, with a two-year growing season; a perennial, coming back year after year; or a vine can make a big difference as to where you want to grow each plant.
Not all vegetable seed packets indicate that they’re vegetables, as most people will recognize the common name as such. You might find that some plants that straddle categories, such as lavender, which is an herb, will also be labeled as a perennial.
Description. Although some descriptions may be a bit over the top, they can also give you an idea of the size, color, growth pattern, aroma, productivity and other specifics of this particular variety.
Type of plant. Knowing whether your plant is an annual, only lasting for one growing season; a biennial, with a two-year growing season; a perennial, coming back year after year; or a vine can make a big difference as to where you want to grow each plant.
Not all vegetable seed packets indicate that they’re vegetables, as most people will recognize the common name as such. You might find that some plants that straddle categories, such as lavender, which is an herb, will also be labeled as a perennial.
Description. Although some descriptions may be a bit over the top, they can also give you an idea of the size, color, growth pattern, aroma, productivity and other specifics of this particular variety.
How many seeds per packet. You’ll usually find either the number of seeds within or the weight by grams. The latter designation is used when the seeds are tiny and not planted individually. This will help you figure out how many seed packets you may want. If you only want a few squash plants, then one packet is probably enough. If you want to plant several rows of radishes or carrots, you may need two or more packets of each.
Sell-by or expiration date. Reputable sellers only sell fresh seeds, but it doesn’t hurt to double-check the packing and sell-by date that can be found on all packets. You can use the seed packets after the sell-by date, but you run the risk that many of the seeds won’t germinate. It’s also worth taking a look at old seed packets you’ve saved from previous years. Older seeds often don’t germinate well.
How much light they need. Another bit of information to pay attention to is the sun needs for each plant, from full sun to shade. Your seedlings won’t do well if they’re getting too much or too little sun.
Size or growth pattern. Whether it’s the height of a black-eyed Susan vine, the spread of a mature lavender or the expected size of a pumpkin, you’ll usually find an indication of just how much room each plant will take up in your garden.
Bloom time or days to harvest. This lets you know when to expect the plant to be at its peak. For vegetable gardeners, especially those in cold-winter areas, this information tells you whether you have a long enough growing season to be successful. If it looks questionable, check to see if you can start seeds indoors (see below).
How much light they need. Another bit of information to pay attention to is the sun needs for each plant, from full sun to shade. Your seedlings won’t do well if they’re getting too much or too little sun.
Size or growth pattern. Whether it’s the height of a black-eyed Susan vine, the spread of a mature lavender or the expected size of a pumpkin, you’ll usually find an indication of just how much room each plant will take up in your garden.
Bloom time or days to harvest. This lets you know when to expect the plant to be at its peak. For vegetable gardeners, especially those in cold-winter areas, this information tells you whether you have a long enough growing season to be successful. If it looks questionable, check to see if you can start seeds indoors (see below).
Planting guidelines. In a very small amount of space, seed companies provide an easy-to-read primer on successfully growing your desired plants from seed. The information on the packets almost always includes the following:
Cultivating guidelines. While not as common as the planting information, many packets also include fairly detailed information on when to thin plants and even information on general garden care such as weeding, watering schedules, basic pruning times and when and how to harvest vegetables.
- When to sow seeds indoors. This is especially useful if you live in an area with a short growing season.
- When to sow seeds outdoors. Often this will include a map or schedules based on your climate zone.
- How deep to sow the seeds.
- How far apart to space them. This is especially helpful if you don’t plan to do any thinning.
- Days to germination. If you’re waiting for the first seedlings to emerge, it’s nice to have a sense of whether you’re just impatient or the seeds aren’t germinating.
- When to transplant seedlings.
Cultivating guidelines. While not as common as the planting information, many packets also include fairly detailed information on when to thin plants and even information on general garden care such as weeding, watering schedules, basic pruning times and when and how to harvest vegetables.
Other notes. Depending on the type of seed, you also might find information on watering needs, suitability for containers, whether the seeds are heirlooms or hybrids, whether they conform to organic guidelines and, for vegetables, confirmation that they’re non-GMO (genetically modified organisms).
Some seed packets even provide advice on the best ways to use the particular plants, which could be anything from naturalizing them in a woodland garden area to planting them as part of a cutting garden. Vegetable seed packets often contain cooking and preserving suggestions.
With all this information, it seems a shame to simply toss the packets once you’ve planted the seeds. While it is charming to use them as plant markers or row markers, sun and water can quickly cause the printing to fade. Instead, bundle them with any other information you have about your garden for each year and keep it all where you can easily access the information as you need it.
More: How to decide whether to start your garden from seed or seedlings?
Some seed packets even provide advice on the best ways to use the particular plants, which could be anything from naturalizing them in a woodland garden area to planting them as part of a cutting garden. Vegetable seed packets often contain cooking and preserving suggestions.
With all this information, it seems a shame to simply toss the packets once you’ve planted the seeds. While it is charming to use them as plant markers or row markers, sun and water can quickly cause the printing to fade. Instead, bundle them with any other information you have about your garden for each year and keep it all where you can easily access the information as you need it.
More: How to decide whether to start your garden from seed or seedlings?
What you are growing. At first glance, the front of the packet will give you the basic information that lets you know exactly what will grow from the seeds in each packet. Most prominent will be the common name of the plant, whether it’s a cosmos or a cucumber. Along with this, you’ll also find the specific variety of this particular plant, such as Sensation cosmos or Armenian cucumber.