The front of the seed packet lists the seed name (botanic name and common name) and a photo or drawing of the plant. It may say if the plant is an annual, a perennial or a biennial.
The back of the seed packet has lots of good information about growing your plants. Depending on the seed company, it may include some or all of the following:
|
Seed count/weight |
Approximate number of seeds or the weight of the seeds in the packet |
|
When to plant |
Either direct seed or grow indoors before last expected frost in your area |
|
Germination |
Number of days it takes for the seed to sprout. Sometimes a packet will say if the seeds have special germination requirements like dark, light or temperature |
|
Bloom |
The period when the plant produces flowers, mostly for flowering plants |
|
Days to harvest/maturity
|
The number of days (after germination) it takes for a plant to grow to full size and to produce vegetables |
|
Soil |
Type of soil needed to grow this plant |
|
Light |
Amount of sun needed to grow this plant |
|
Plant size |
How tall and wide the plant will be when it is mature |
|
Seed depth |
How deeply to set the seed in the soil |
|
Seed spacing |
How far apart a seed should be in a row in the garden |
|
Plant spacing |
How far apart transplants or seedlings should be spaced in the garden so there is enough room for the plant to grow to mature size without crowding |
|
Water |
How much to water the plant |
|
Growing tips |
Information about how to fertilize, pollination needs, cooking tips, how to harvest and other information to help you grow healthy plants |