So, who's stoked for the spring garden season to begin? If you're frantically waving your hand around, you're in luck because it has begun!
No, really.
No, really.
And if you're planning to grow crops like tomatoes, peppers, eggplant or anything from seed that says "Sow indoors" on the packet, your time is here to get your seeds ordered and your indoor space set up for seed starting.
Each type of vegetable has its own set of rules for getting growing and some of them have a bit more wiggle room with those rules. Here's a list of the most popular homegrown vegetables and how to start them from seed so that you actually end up with the vegetables that you want.
FYI: We're using the last frost date of March 1 to determine when to start the seeds in NorCal.
A list of equipment for starting seeds indoors is at the end, so just keep a readin'.
Basil
How to sow: Direct in the garden soil lightly covered with soil or start indoors 3-4 weeks prior to transplanting outdoors by surface sowing (don't cover) and keeping mo-ist
When to start: 2/1 indoors, after 3/1 outdoors
What to expect: Germination in 5-10 days
When to start: End of February or after soil temps have exceeded 60 degrees, so after it's been 60 degrees during the day for a week or more
What to expect: Germination in 3-7 days. Climbing the trellis within a month of germination.
How to sow: Direct in the garden soil, 1/2" deep, 3-4 seeds/inch, no need to thin
When to start: After soil temps have exceeded 45 degrees. So, like, whenever you want in NorCal.
What to expect: Germination 7 days, young greens in 2 weeks
How to sow: Direct in the garden soil, lightly covered with soil, 30 seeds/ft, DO NOT LET SEEDS DRY OUT
When to start: End of February or after soil temps have exceeded 60 degrees, so after it's been 60 degrees during the day for a week or more
What to expect: If moisture is kept consistent and temperatures warm, germination within 1-3 weeks (yes, they take forever to germinate)
Corn
How to sow: Direct in the garden soil, 1" deep, 1 seed/hole, in blocks of 4 rows (for pollination to occur)
When to start: End of March or after soil temps have exceeded 65 degrees, so after it's been 65 degrees during the day for a week or more
What to expect: Germination in 7-14 days
Cucumbers
How to sow: Direct in the garden soil, 1" deep, 4-6 seeds per mounded hill
When to start: End of February or after soil temps have exceeded 60 degrees, so after it's been 60 degrees during the day for a week or more
What to expect: Germination in 7-14 days
Eggplant
How to sow: Start indoors with bottom heat and supplemental light to 12 hours/day, 1/4" deep, 1 seed/cell
When to start: 1/11 or 8-10 weeks before last frost
What to expect: Germination in 10-21 days
Kale
How to sow: Direct in the garden, lightly covered with soil to 1/4"
When to start: Early spring for a spring/summer crop
What to expect: Germination in 10-21 days
Lettuce
How to sow: Direct in the garden, lightly covered with soil to 1/4" according to the depth indicated on the package
When to start: After February 1, while temperatures are still cool
What to expect: Germination in 7-10 days
Melons
How to sow: Direct in the garden soil, 1/2" deep, 4-6 seeds per mounded hill
When to start: End of February or after soil temps have exceeded 60 degrees, so after it's been 60 degrees during the day for a week or more
What to expect: Germination in 7-10 days
Peas
How to sow: Direct in the garden soil, 2" deep, 6" apart
When to start: Early spring for a spring/summer crop
What to expect: Germination in 7-14 days
Peppers
How to sow: Start indoors with bottom heat and supplemental light to 12 hours/day, 1/4" deep, 1 seed/cell
When to start: 1/11 or 8-10 weeks before last frost
What to expect: Germination in 10-21 days
Squash
How to sow: Direct in the garden soil, 1/2" deep, 1-2 seeds every 3'
When to start: End of February or after soil temps have exceeded 60 degrees, so after it's been 60 degrees during the day for a week or more
What to expect: Germination in 10-14 days
Tomatoes
How to sow: Start indoors with bottom heat and supplemental light to 12 hours/day, 1/4" deep, 1-2 seeds/cell
When to start: 1/25 or 8-10 weeks before last frost
What to expect: Germination in 7-10 days
Seed starting equipment for indoor growing
Bottom heat: Heat mats
Trays: 11x22 tray
Domes: Fits 11x22 trays
Flats: 72 cell flat
Grow lights: 4' fixture
Fan: Oscillating fan
Soilless mix: Seed starter mix
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