Bush bean seedlings. Photo Amanda Jarrett
Sowing Seeds Outdoors - Direct Seeding or Starting Indoors - Plants Suitable for Direct Seeding -
When and How to Direct Seed - Cool Season Crops - Warm Season Crops - Sowing Seeds Outside
When and How to Direct Seed - Cool Season Crops - Warm Season Crops - Sowing Seeds Outside
Sowing Seeds Outdoors
One of the easiest ways to figure out which seeds should be sown inside and which ones are best planted outside, is to read the seed packet. It’s one of your best resources for information and your guide for planting that specific seed. Most seed packets identifies the plant, height and width, growth habit (vine, bush etc.), if it's an annual or a perennial, preferred growing conditions, when it should be planted, started outside or inside, seed depth and spacing and days to maturity. Westcoast Seeds and Renee Seeds, Heritage Harvest Seeds provide great planting information and a vast array of seeds.
Corn seeds can be started either indoors or directly planted outside.
Direct Seeding or Starting Indoors
The term ‘direct seeding’ means you should sow the seeds outside in the soil where they are to grow. Some seeds can be started both inside and outside such as cucumbers, sunflowers, beans, sweet peas and corn. Starting seeds indoors also gives you more control over their environment: temperature, soil moisture, lighting and no bugs! However some seeds don’t transplant well as they have tap roots that are easily damaged: carrots, beets, turnips, parsnips and other root crops.
Plants Suitable for Direct Seeding
Below is a list of plants suited to direct seed. Ones with an asterisk* can be sown earlier indoors, then hardened off and planted outside as transplants. As always, refer to the seed packet to when and how they should be planted.
*corn,*cucumbers, *beans, *squashes (zucchini, acorn, cucumbers, watermelon, cantaloupe), *peas, *broccoli, *cauliflower, *Brussels sprouts, *chard, *lettuce, *onions, shallots, chives, *celery, radishes, carrots, parsnips, dill, beets, rutabaga
The term ‘direct seeding’ means you should sow the seeds outside in the soil where they are to grow. Some seeds can be started both inside and outside such as cucumbers, sunflowers, beans, sweet peas and corn. Starting seeds indoors also gives you more control over their environment: temperature, soil moisture, lighting and no bugs! However some seeds don’t transplant well as they have tap roots that are easily damaged: carrots, beets, turnips, parsnips and other root crops.
Plants Suitable for Direct Seeding
Below is a list of plants suited to direct seed. Ones with an asterisk* can be sown earlier indoors, then hardened off and planted outside as transplants. As always, refer to the seed packet to when and how they should be planted.
*corn,*cucumbers, *beans, *squashes (zucchini, acorn, cucumbers, watermelon, cantaloupe), *peas, *broccoli, *cauliflower, *Brussels sprouts, *chard, *lettuce, *onions, shallots, chives, *celery, radishes, carrots, parsnips, dill, beets, rutabaga
When and How to Direct Seed
Check the soil temperature and moisture content before sowing seeds outside in spring. To make sure the ground is not too wet, grab a handful and squeeze. If it drips, the soil is too wet so delay planting until your soil no longer weeps. Avoid planting before the weeds start to grow as it is probably too cold. Germination rates are highest when the soil temperature is at the optimum range for that crop. Because this is so important for successful germination, crops are categorized according to their temperature preference: cool season crops and warm season crops.
Cool and warm season crops
 Dwarf Grey Sugar Heirloom can be planted as early as February.
Cool Season Crops
Cool season crops prefer cool temperatures. They germinate and grow best with temperatures of 15 to about 18 degrees C (60 to 65 F). They tolerate light frosts, but fade quickly when the mercury rises. Heat promotes bolting and bitter foliage of lettuce and other cool greens, while peas fail to flower or they ripen so fast, they aren’t sweet. Sow peas, lettuce and their chilly counterparts out as early as February in temperate climates like the Pacific Northwest. Cool Season Crops: arugula, broad (fava) beans, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, collards, carrots, cauliflower, celery (mild winters), chard, fennel, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard greens, onions, pak and bok choy, peas, potatoes, radishes, spinach, coriander, cilantro, garlic cloves, endive |
 Plant red runner pole beans after frost has passed.
Warm Season Crops:
Tomatoes, beans, corn, cucumbers and other warm season crops are easily killed by frost and must be planted after the danger of freezing temperatures has passed. Many of them are started indoors to ensure a harvest before winter. Seeds need temps above 10° C, (50° F), and will rot in cold soil of 12 °C (53° F) or less. If it is too cold the will not grow, flowering is delayed or they will drop off without being pollinated, delaying fruiting. In the Pacific Northwest, sow the seeds of warm season crops in the late April to the beginning of May. The rest of the Canada plants on the traditional planting day of Victoria Day long weekend, generally around May 24. Warm Season Crops: bush and pole beans, celery, cucumbers, soybeans, eggplant, peanuts, corn, melons, okra, peppers, pumpkins, squash, tomato, zucchini, basil |
Sowing Seeds Outside
To reduce thinning, combine radish and carrot seeds when sowing.
Remove debris, weeds and large rocks. Add a couple of inches of compost, SeaSoil and/or well-rotted manure. Mix it in to the first 6 inches only. Rake the soil smooth and break up any clumps then water well. Wait a week for everything to settle then get ready to sow some seeds. Have those labels ready by prewriting them and placing them in the seed packages.
Water thoroughly the day before planting especially if the soil is dry. Make a furrow to the depth required with a hoe, trowel, your hand or the end of a rake handle. Presoak peas, beans, sweet peas, cucumbers and other large seeds to speed up germination. To sow fine seeds, put them your palm and 'pinch' up a few seeds with your forefinger and thumb. For really small seeds add some sand or another larger seed such as a combination of carrots and radish seeds. Cover with soil according to the seed packet instructions. Firm the soil with the back of the rake, a board or your hand.
Water ever so gently, but thoroughly. You may have to water twice a day if it is hot, sunny and/or windy. Thin seedlings, once they emerge, if they are too crowded. Remove the weaker ones so the strong will survive. Check the seed packet to find the recommended distance between the plants. It's a good idea to moisten the soil first before you do the dirty deed. Either pull them out using a chopstick or pencil, or use small nail scissors to cut off them off. This method is more precise, and doesn't disturb the roots of the remaining seedlings. Firm the soil and give them a drink.
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