When Should I Start My Vegetable Plants from Seeds?

At this time of year we are often asked, "When should I sow my seeds to start my vegetable transplants"?  Because our seed catalogs are delivered to all 50 states, and transplanting times arrive earlier in the Southern and Western U.S. than the Northern U.S., we usually answer this question with the number of weeks it takes to grow a transplantable seedling.

The chart below gives you the estimated time that it will take to produce vegetable plants from seed.   To determine the date for your area that it is safe to transplant a specific species to your garden, subtract the number of weeks it takes to grow the transplant, and then subtract the number of days it takes to germinate the seed to figure the date you should sow your seed.

If you don't know the recommended planting time for your region for a specific species, search the web for a vegetable planting guide specific to your area of the U.S. There are many useful websites that indicate the optimum transplanting time by species, for most every area in the U.S.

SPECIES Broccoli Brussels Sprouts Cabbage Cauliflower Collards Cucumber Eggplant Endive/Escarole Kale Kohlrabi Leek Lettuce Melons Mustard Okra Onion Pepper Pumpkin Squash (summer and winter) Tomato Watermelon

DAYS to GERMINATE 6-10 6-10 6-10 6-10 6-10 6-10 7-14 5-10 6-10 5-10 7-12 6-10 5-10 6-10 7-14 7-12 10-20 6-10 6-10 6-14 4-14

WEEKS to TRANSPLANT 4-5 4-5 5-6 5-6 4-6 3-4 6-7 5-7 4-6 4-6 6-8 4-5 2-3 4-6 6-8 5-6 6-8 2-3 2-3 5-6 3-5

Not enough time left to start plants from seed? Be sure to check out our garden-ready vegetable transplants! 

Start Gardening Now…If You Have the Time!

To be quite honest, many home gardeners prefer to skip down to their local garden center in early spring to buy transplants for their garden beds. It is convenient and easy, and I do not blame them for doing so. But for me, I truly receive great pleasure in starting my own transplants at home. For one, I always am assured of planting the varieties of my choice, and not have to depend on what the garden center has to offer for any particular season. I surely have some favorites I like to grow, and I cannot always be assured I can find them in the big box or local garden center.

Secondly, starting plants from seeds in my basement allows me to get a jump on the rewards of gardening much earlier in the season. I garden because I like to do so, so why not start the process in February or March? Starting seeds at home may sound like a lot of work, but it does not have to be an intimidating procedure.  Following some very simple seed starting rules and guidelines can surely lead you down the garden path for success. The combination of a suitable location, proper bottom heat, light and moisture will quickly turn your thumb green. Seasoned gardeners already know the rules, but for beginning gardeners, I always suggest starting modestly, with some easy-to-grow flowers and vegetables like tomatoes and marigolds. As you become familiar with the process, you then can turn to some more difficult cultivars to start from seed like geraniums.

Guidelines for seed starting abound, from the web to home garden catalogs. There are so many good resources for seed starting that it is really quite difficult to fail. I can speak confidently about the many home garden catalogs available for seed starting information. They have always been a good, positive source. You can also learn the basics of seed starting through our Seed Starting Seminar for Beginners, an audio and visual PowerPoint presentation.

Give seed starting a try…you might be surprised how much fun and rewarding it truly is. If you have questions and need some answers, write us at: gardeners@harrisseeds.com.

"I Love My Truck"

I assume many of you are familiar with the country song, "I Love My Truck". If a song can be written about loving one's truck, then I believe I can write one about my job. Being in the seed business all these years certainly has returned significant rewards to me. I have been fortunate to gain many friendships throughout my tenure with Harris Seeds. I have come to personally know plant breeders, seed managers and growers large and small across this great land, and I clearly treasure these relationships. My co-workers are a mighty fine bunch of people as well.

One of my favorite responsibilities in the seed business has begun, and will continue through the summer and fall months. It is widely known as flower and vegetable trials. Occasionally I travel to California to attend the greatest flower show on earth…Spring Trials, formally known as Pack Trials. I have not attended in a couple of years, but recall that in the past it was always a spectacular event.

At our facility in Rochester, NY, we have been noting early greens and radishes. Mark Willis, our vegetable seed manager, has put together a new oriental greens mix that is outstanding for flavor and color. We have looked at new radish entries in our high tunnel, and some will most likely hit our catalog this fall. Also in our high tunnel we have our "grafted" trial for cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes. The tomatoes and peppers are setting fruit and we have picked cucumbers already. We are just finishing our plantings of annual flowers in garden beds and in containers. Photos will follow this summer.

Yes, the summer and fall months are busy times as we travel frequently to nearby Hall, New York to the Seneca Vegetable Research Farm, managed by plant breeder, Dr. Walt Whitwood and his plant breeding sons. They are super people and do a great job trialing peppers, tomatoes, sweet corn and squash for us. In late August we are off to Wisconsin to take a look at new beans and a lot of sweet corn. The trialing season comes to an abrupt end with a visit to the Bob Chase Farm in Macedon, New York. On Bob's farm is our fall ornamental trial consisting of pumpkins, gourds and winter squash. Bob is a terrific grower and does a fine job for us. There are always many new introductions that are selected and added to our product line each fall.

I do not look at my job as hard work (as it truly is), but more importantly as great fun. Yes, having a career in the vegetable and flower seed business has been truly richly rewarding. I cannot think of a better one.