A Guide to Understanding Seed Packets

Taking up gardening for the first time this year? Don’t be surprised if you pick up a bundle of seed packets from your local garden center and immediately feel like you have a bundle of questions. Rather than letting that deter you from getting your hands in the dirt, take a few minutes to read over our guide to understanding seed packet information. You’ll be ready to start planting in no time.

What to Expect on Your Seed Packets

Every seed company prints something a little different, so you may find some variation depending on where you purchase your seeds. But most of them include the following information:

• Plant type and variety
• Seed type
• Days to harvest
• Planting depth and spacing
• Packaging date
• Number of seeds
• How to start seeds

See more: Spring Gardening To-Do List

Plant Type and Variety

It may sound obvious, but what kind of seed are you looking at? If you’re brand new to the world of gardening, you might be shocked by the sheer number of varieties you can grow.

For instance, you might compare two types of tomatoes, such as the renowned San Marzano and the beloved Cherokee Purple. But it would be helpful to know that San Marzanos are best for making sauce, while Cherokee Purples make excellent slicers (think burger toppings or BLTs). Sometimes the seed packet will give you a description that includes what the plant type is best for, but other times you may have to look it up online.

Seed Type

There are a few different types of seeds that may be identified on your seed packets. These are the most common:

Organic: These seeds have been grown using organic methods without chemicals. They are designated organic by the USDA.

Non-GMO: These seeds have not been genetically modified.

Heirloom: Heirloom seeds are those that have been passed down for multiple generations and open-pollinated (see below). They can be organic or non-organic.

Hybrid: These are created by cross-breeding two plants to create a new variety. This is often done to help specific plants better fight disease or produce a larger crop.

Open-Pollinated: These seeds have been pollinated naturally, by bees, wind or self-pollination.

Days to Harvest

You may also see this listed as “Maturity” or “Blooms” on flower seed packets. This range is when you can expect your plant to reach its full maturity with multiple stems, leaves and blooms (in the case of flowers). This is also considered the time it will take for your plant to produce a crop. If you’re growing flowers for a special event or planning to harvest food to save for winter, this is an important date worth noting in a planner or calendar so you can prepare accordingly.

Planting Depth and Spacing

One of the greatest mistakes you might make as a beginner gardener is planting your seeds too deep in the ground or too close together. Your seed packet should provide the right information regarding depth and spacing. If you don’t feel confident gauging the depth at a glance, you can purchase tools like measuring trowels to help you get it right. Use a ruler or measuring tape for accurate spacing or invest in something like a planting dibber to take the guesswork out of it.

See more: How to Start a Vegetable Garden From Seeds

Important Dates

You can probably find one or two dates on each of your seed packets. You might find a packed-for or a sell-by date. Each of these is important. Most seeds, with a few exceptions, last more than a year if stored in a cool, dark and dry place. But look up your individual seeds to know how long you can keep them around before they start to lose their ability to germinate. Many gardeners like to store their seed packets in photo storage organizers like this.

Number of Seeds

The number of seeds included in your packet is pretty important, especially if you’re an ambitious gardener or purchased a rare or expensive packet that only includes a handful of seeds. Make sure you have enough to germinate, and budget for losing a few just in case you make a mistake – or the seeds don’t grow as vigorously as you hoped.

Sowing Information

There are a few different ways you can sow, or plant, your seeds. But the two most common and broad categories are “started indoors” or “directly outdoors.”

Started Indoors: Some seeds require a longer window of growing time than your climate may allow. Tomatoes, peppers and other warm-weather crops often come with recommendations to start indoors anywhere from 6 to 10 weeks before your final frost date. These are a little more labor-intensive than plants you can sow outside, but the payoff is worth the effort.

Directly Outdoors: Seeds that call for direct sowing outdoors are some of the best options for beginners. You can simply plant these seeds in their permanent growing space (label and stick a plant maker in the spot where you planted the seeds so you don’t forget) and follow the care instructions over the course of the season.