Questions You Should Know about Vegetable Seeds

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Written by Brenda F., Master Gardener Volunteer in Chatham County

Have you decided you want to try growing plants from seeds this year, but have some questions? Here are some frequently asked questions about growing your garden from seed.

Do all seeds need to be started indoors? No

Root vegetable crops, such as carrots, parsnips, beets, turnips, and radishes need to be seeded directly outdoors because the transplanting process may interfere with root development. Other cool season crops that establish well when directly seeded outdoors include arugula, cilantro, lettuce, kale, and spinach. During this time of year, most warm season crops (squashes, melons, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, etc.) need to be started indoors because they can injured or killed when temperatures are near freezing. Beans and peas are also best sown directly in the soil and not started indoors. For a reference of when different crops can be planted as seeds or transplants outdoors, refer to the NC State Extension Central North Carolina Planting Calendar for Annual Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs.

Do I need special indoor lights? Probably.

Seeds need light to grow. If you have a warm, sheltered place to put seedlings outside during the day, like a greenhouse or cold frame, you can place the pots outside during the day and bring them in at night. If you have a southern-facing, very sunny windowsill, that may be enough light for some crops, but you will be far more successful at seed starting with artificial light. Broad spectrum grow lights are ideal, but a combination of 'warm' and 'cool' fluorescent lights can work too. If using LED lights make sure they are grow lights to ensure the output a broad light spectrum that  plants need to grow properly. Lights need to be placed directly over the pots and placed just a few inches from the soil surface. As the plants grow, you will need to be able to raise the height of the light so that it is always a few inches above the plants. Seedlings need 12-16 hours a day of light.

Do I need special pots? No

You can reuse small plastic pots that other plants have arrived in, as long as you sanitize them to prevent disease. You can also use containers like yogurt cups, cottage cheese or sour cream containers, cut off milk jugs, etc. Just make sure to clean them and make holes in the bottom for excess water to easily drain out. You can use a 1:10 bleach solution (1 part bleach to 10 parts water) to sanitize your pots. Keep your pots in a tray for easier watering and transport.

Can I start seeds in garden soil? No

Seed starting and potting mixes are free of pests and diseases that can be found in garden soil. Additionally, garden soil does not drain well enough to be suitable for use in pots or containers. It is easiest to buy potting or seed starting mixes (the latter have a finer texture), but you can also make your own potting mix if interested.

When do I start my seeds? It depends.

Generally, you can start vegetable seeds indoors about six weeks before the recommended transplanting time in the Central North Carolina Planting Calendar for Annual Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs. Some crops, like cucumbers, squashes, and okra, grow very fast and just need to be started 2-3 weeks before the recommended transplanting time, while peppers and eggplants should be started 8-10 weeks early.

How deep do I plant my seeds? It depends.

In general, larger seeds should be planted deeper than smaller seeds. Some seeds will not germinate if they are covered with soil. Refer to the seed packet to find out how deep to plant your seeds. You can push the seed into the soil or place the seed on top and sprinkle soil over the seeds. After placing your seeds, gently compact the soil with your hands so that the seeds are getting good contact with the soil.

How do I know if my seedlings are getting enough light? ' Your seedlings will tell you.

If your seedlings are getting tall and leggy, they need more light. If they are stocky and look healthy, they are getting enough light.

How do I water seeds after I plant them? From the bottom.

The best way to water seeds is from the bottom. Pour water into the tray your pots are sitting in, and they will absorb the water they need up into the soil. Water added to the top of the pot can displace the seeds and soil undoing any careful planting you did. Seedlings should not be left to sit in water. Seedlings that are kept too damp can die from damping off disease. Whatever they do not absorb in a few minutes after watering should be drained off.

When can my warm season crop seedlings go outside? After you harden them off and frost is no longer a threat.

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Seedlings that have been raised inside need time to adjust to outdoor conditions. This takes about 2 weeks. The first day, sit them outside in a shady, sheltered area for an hour or two. Each day, take them back outside and introduce them to more sun and wind and reduce the amount of water they are getting. By the end of the two weeks, they should be used to being in the sun for multiple hours. If you can, transplant them into your garden on a shady day and water them well. This will help them with any transplant shock. You should also check the weather to make sure there are no frosts predicted. Do not be fooled by a string of warm spring days. Make sure you are near the last average frost for your area.

Can I use the same seed packet next year? Maybe

Seeds are alive but dormant and can only remain so for so long. Some seeds can remain dormant for years and others will not. If you have old seeds, you can get an idea of how well they will germinate by placing 10 seeds on a damp paper towel and folding the towel over the seeds. Seal the paper towel in a baggie and place it in a warm sunny place. Check the seeds each day to see if they sprout. The number that does sprout gives you a rough percentage of how many of your seeds will sprout. If five sprout, only about 50% of the seeds are viable. It is recommended that if less than 8 of your seeds sprout, you may want to just buy a new package of seeds. The NC State Extension Gardener Handbook has more information on seed propagation.

More vegetable seed starting resources.

There is nothing more fulfilling than successfully growing crops from seeds. Buying vegetable seeds lets you save more money on gardening while also planting a wider variety of crops. Whether you're growing crops for food or profit, gardening becomes infinitely more enjoyable when eagerly waiting to harvest the literal fruits of your labor. And contrary to popular notion, you don't have to be an expert gardener to grow vegetables from seeds. Some crops and herbs can be grown from seed with minimal effort.

Are you thinking about growing your crops from seeds? What crops are the easiest to grow from seeds? Continue reading below to find out!

Tips When Buying Vegetable Seeds?

When to buy vegetable seeds: Timing is everything in gardening and the best time to purchase vegetable and herb seeds is during the winter. Many types of vegetables can be started from seed during the winter months. You have to sow the vegetables indoors and transplant them to the garden once the weather warms up in spring.

When to sow vegetable seeds: Cool-season crops such as broccoli cabbages, kale, and lettuce are best planted indoors, away from the intense heat of the summer season. On the other hand, warm-season crops like tomatoes and bell peppers can be grown under grow lights until they are ready to be transplanted outdoors in the warmer months. Doing this will extend the harvest time for your garden.

Check the hardiness zone: Knowing what kinds of crops thrive in your local climate is essential. Otherwise, your gardening efforts will be wasted. Consult the USDA plant hardiness zone map online before buying any vegetable seeds. Observe your local climate; see if it's shady or sunny most days and for how long. Many crops prefer a bright spot, but others thrive in partly shady growing environments. For example, carrots, beets, lettuce, etc., love shaded areas, while tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers are best grown in a sunny spot.

Consider your gardening experience: If you're new to growing crops from seeds, opt for fast-growing, quick-yielding, hard-to-kill crops and avoid finicky vegetables that take some babying to grow. Herbs, in particular, like mint, basil, thyme, and rosemary, are incredibly easy to grow from seeds. These aromatic plants only take a few weeks to grow and are pretty resilient, so they're perfect for beginners. Save the sensitive crops once you've had more experience to ensure the plants won't die on you.

Top 5 Easiest Vegetables to Grow from Seed

Lettuce: Lettuce is one of the easiest vegetables to sow directly into the soil or indoors for transplanting. We suggest planting lettuce seeds in a partly shady area during summer. It will take some time to sprout, but the seedlings will be quick to grow after. You can also plant lettuce seeds as the winter approaches, and it thrives in a cooler climate.

Green Beans: Yummy green beans will thrive in the poorest soils and are effortless to grow from seeds. For the summer, we suggest growing lima beans, asparagus beans, and southern peas and in the cooler months, opt for snap beans. All varieties of green beans thrive in moist, warm soils.

Peas: Peas are a terrific addition to the garden because they're versatile. Use it to add color to salads or make heartier, healthier soups and stews. Planting pea seeds is easy, and you can sow different varieties every two weeks to enjoy a continuous supply even in the off-season. Stop sowing by mid-June, and you'll have plenty of peas to store for later use.

Radish: In just as little as 24 days, you can grow and enjoy radishes grown from seeds in your own backyard. Radish is easy to sow from seeds, quick to grow, and incredibly resilient. As soon as the warmth of spring softens the soil, you can sow radish seeds and enjoy your harvest within a few weeks. Best of all, radishes can be grown alongside root crops like carrots so that you can look forward to a rewarding harvest.

Carrot: Like radish, carrots are easy to grow from seeds. This root crop loves loose sandy soils and a cool climate. Carrots are surprisingly resilient; they can tolerate frost and cold weather. Avoid growing carrots in rocky soils because this can stunt their growth. Use well-draining soils because carrots hate standing water. Also, thin the carrot seedlings and give each one room to grow to avoid overcrowding and stunted growth.

What You Should Know When Buying Garden Seeds Online

Choose a trusted brand: There could be thousands of brands that sell herb kits and seed packets, so be very selective. Check the reviews, see which brands are consistently selling good seeds and avoid those with an overwhelming number of negative feedback.

Check the seed age: The age of the seeds matters. While some seeds will be fine to use even if they're several years old, some must only be a year old or less; otherwise, they won't germinate. Seeds like parsnips and carrots, for example, won't germinate if they are several years old. The seeds have to be purchased every year to ensure high germination rates.

Check the label: Every seed pack has instructions on the label, including the scientific name of the plant and an image of the matured plant. Read the label carefully to know all about the plant's growing information, including the sun and water requirements, mature height, and germination days. More importantly, the label will indicate the zones ideal for this specific plant to grow.

Essential Terms to Remember

When shopping for seed packets and herb kits, you will come across these important terms:

Open-pollinated: These are plants that are identical to their parent plant and are pollinated by bees, birds, the wind, and other natural methods. Most open-pollinated crops can be saved yearly, so you don't have to buy new seeds every growing season.

Heirlooms: These are seeds from plants with a documented heritage of at least 50 years old. All heirloom plants are open-pollinated, but not all seeds are heirloom seeds.

Hybrid: These are seeds from plants purposely crossed-pollinated from two different plants to create a unique plant variety with desirable traits. The desirable characteristics could be greater yield, better resistance to diseases or pests, and higher produce quality.

GMOs are biologically engineered in a lab through gene-splicing to alter a plant's DNA. Hybrids are only cross-pollinated, and no gene splicing is executed to change the plant DNA. Gene splicing is controversial because the entire process is done in a lab, which is the opposite of natural, organic farming. GMOs are limited to corn, soybeans, sugarbeets, alfalfa, papaya, zucchini, summer squash, canola, cotton, potato, and apples.

Organic: These are seeds from organically produced plants. No chemicals are used to grow the crops. The growing and farming methods meet the standards of the US Department of Agriculture certification program.

ECOgardener Herb Kits For Your Vegetable and Herb Garden