Spring Garden Starter Seed Kit Growing Guide

• Start: Direct sow after frost, or start indoors 4–6 weeks before planting out
• Seed depth: ¼ inch
• Germination: Usually 4–7 days around 75–80°F
• Final spacing: Allow 8–12 inches for French marigolds
• Harvest planning: Flowers in the same growing season; timing depends on warmth and plant establishment

Cut blooms at the stage you want for a vase, or leave them in the garden. Remove spent flowers where repeat bloom is desired.

• Start: Start indoors 6–8 weeks before planting out
• Seed depth: Surface sow and press in; light is needed
• Germination: Usually 7–14 days around 65–70°F
• Final spacing: Allow about 12 inches per plant
• Harvest planning: Pick small amounts once plants are established; fuller harvests follow as the perennial clump grows

Pick leafy stems and leave enough foliage for regrowth.

• Start: Start indoors about 8–10 weeks before planting out
• Seed depth: Surface sow; press in and cover only very lightly
• Germination: Usually 14–21 days around 65–70°F
• Final spacing: Allow about 6–8 inches
• Harvest planning: Take a few soft stem tips once plants are established; avoid heavy cutting in the first season

Snip leafy tips and leave the woody framework and plenty of green growth.

• Start: Start indoors 6–8 weeks before planting out, or direct sow
• Seed depth: ¼ inch
• Germination: Usually 7–14 days around 65–70°F
• Final spacing: Set small clumps about 6–8 inches apart
• Harvest planning: Make a light first cut only after clumps are firmly established; perennial clumps fill out over time

Snip leaves above the base without removing all the growth from a young clump.

• Start: Direct sow, or start small transplants
• Seed depth: Surface sow, press into moist mix and cover only very lightly
• Germination: Usually 7–14 days around 60–70°F; high heat can inhibit sprouting
• Final spacing: Thin head lettuces to 8–12 inches; use closer spacing for baby-leaf harvest
• Harvest planning: Baby leaves may be useful in about 30–40 days from sowing; full-size plants commonly need 60–80 days

Pick outer leaves, cut baby leaves above the crown, or harvest a head at the size you prefer. Quality declines when plants become stressed or bolt.

• Start: Direct sow, or start indoors 4–6 weeks before transplanting
• Seed depth: ¼–½ inch
• Germination: Usually 4–7 days around 65–70°F
• Final spacing: Thin to 12–18 inches for full-size plants; allow rows 18–24 inches apart
• Harvest planning: Typical crop window: 50–70 days from direct sowing; young leaves can be picked earlier

Pick tender outer leaves, leaving the center intact. For baby leaves, harvest by size rather than waiting for a full-size plant.

• Start: Direct sow where the roots will grow
• Seed depth: ¼ inch
• Germination: Usually 7–21 days; maintain even seedbed moisture
• Final spacing: Sow thinly, then thin to 1–3 inches according to root size; rows about 10–18 inches apart
• Harvest planning: Begin checking baby roots when usable; full roots often take about 60–90 days from direct sowing, depending on variety

Check a sample root for size, then lift carefully. Small-root and baby varieties may be ready before a full-sized storage carrot.

• Start: Direct sow
• Seed depth: ½ inch
• Germination: Usually 5–8 days in suitable moist conditions; cooler soil can take longer
• Final spacing: Sow about 1 inch apart, then thin to 2–4 inches; rows about 12 inches apart
• Harvest planning: Typical crop window: 50–70 days from direct sowing; baby roots and a few leaves can be picked earlier

Check roots while still tender. Harvest only a few leaves if you also want the plant to size up its root.

• Start: Direct sow
• Seed depth: ¼ inch
• Germination: Usually 3–4 days in a moist seedbed around 55–75°F
• Final spacing: Thin small garden radishes to about 1–2 inches; rows 6–12 inches apart
• Harvest planning: Small garden radishes commonly take 20–35 days from direct sowing; check by root size

Pull promptly at a useful size. Hot weather, water stress and waiting too long can make roots woody or overly sharp.

• Start: Direct sow
• Seed depth: ¼–½ inch
• Germination: Usually about 4–7 days in mild, moist soil
• Final spacing: Thin to 2–6 inches, depending on root size; rows about 12 inches apart
• Harvest planning: Typical crop window: 40–60 days from direct sowing; leafy tops may be usable earlier

Pull roots while tender. For a root crop, avoid repeatedly removing most of the foliage.

• Start: Direct sow, or start indoors 4–6 weeks before transplanting
• Seed depth: ¼–½ inch
• Germination: Usually 10–15 days in warm, moist starting mix; aim for about 75–85°F
• Final spacing: Thin to 12–24 inches apart; rows about 24 inches apart
• Harvest planning: Typical crop window: 70–90 days from sowing, or 50–70 days from transplanting

Pick outer leaves once they reach a useful size. Leave the central growing point and enough foliage for continued growth.

• Start: Start indoors 4–6 weeks before transplanting; direct sowing is also possible
• Seed depth: ¼–½ inch
• Germination: Usually 4–7 days around 65–70°F
• Final spacing: Space mature plants about 12–18 inches apart; rows about 24 inches apart
• Harvest planning: Typical crop window: 70–90 days from transplanting; the seed-starting period is additional

Cut when heads feel firm and reach the desired size. Check frequently to avoid splitting.

• Start: Direct sow, or start small transplants about 3–4 weeks before planting out
• Seed depth: ¼ inch
• Germination: Usually about 4–7 days in a moist starting mix around 65–75°F
• Final spacing: Allow about 6–12 inches for small rosettes, and up to 14–18 inches for larger mature plants
• Harvest planning: Harvest baby leaves when usable; larger rosettes generally take about 40–60 days from sowing

Pick small outer leaves or cut a whole rosette at the base while leaves and stalks are tender.

• Start: Direct sow; avoid holding transplants too long
• Seed depth: ¼–½ inch
• Germination: Usually about 4–7 days in mild, moist conditions
• Final spacing: Sow 1–2 inches apart, then thin to 4–6 inches; rows 18–24 inches apart
• Harvest planning: A quick crop: begin checking tender stems and buds about 35–50 days from sowing

Cut tender shoots with closed buds. Continue checking for new shoots instead of waiting for a large broccoli head.

• Start: Direct sow, or start indoors 5–6 weeks before transplanting
• Seed depth: ¼–½ inch
• Germination: Allow roughly 7–14 days in warm, evenly moist mix
• Final spacing: Thin to 6–12 inches; rows about 18 inches apart
• Harvest planning: Typical crop window: 45–60 days from direct sowing; tender baby leaves can be picked earlier

Cut outer leaves and stalks while leaving the crown to regrow. Harvest small amounts first.

• Start: Direct sow and provide support as needed
• Seed depth: 1–1½ inches
• Germination: Usually 9–14 days around 50–65°F
• Final spacing: Thin to about 2–3 inches along the support; leave room between rows for picking
• Harvest planning: Typical crop window: 60–80 days from direct sowing

For snap peas, pick crisp edible pods before they become tough. For shelling peas, let peas fill and shell them; use the variety’s pod type.

• Start: Start indoors about 10–12 weeks before transplanting
• Seed depth: Surface sow and press in; cover only very lightly
• Germination: Usually 14–21 days around 70–75°F
• Final spacing: Space plants 6–12 inches apart; rows about 18 inches apart
• Harvest planning: Begin leaf cutting after plants are well established; stalk harvest needs a long, steady cool growing period

Take a few outer leaves or stalks once growth is strong. Do not strip young plants.

• Start: Start seedlings 8–10 weeks before the intended planting-out date, or direct sow where suitable
• Seed depth: ¼–½ inch
• Germination: Usually 4–20 days around 70–75°F
• Final spacing: Thin bulbing onions to about 4–6 inches; rows about 14 inches apart
• Harvest planning: Typical crop window: 100–130 days from seeding, with strong variety and regional differences

Harvest bulbs when tops naturally soften and fall. Cure in a dry, airy place before storage.

Count timing from the sowing or transplanting point stated for each crop. Temperature, moisture, variety and season change the result.

UF/IFAS planting guide · Iowa State germination guide · Johnny’s herb guide