When is the right time to plant seeds?
You might think that the best time to plant seeds is when the weather first warms up from winter, but there are actually multiple seasons that are conducive to growing plants, and planting time really depends on the location you live in.
The first thing you want to do is figure out which agricultural zone you live in. You can do this online or by looking at the back of a commercial seed packet. Then, you will likely want to go onto a website like The Farmer’s Almanac to find a seed planting schedule specific to your zone. Another thing to consider is your first and last frost dates.
“The right time” to plant seeds really depends on the type of seed you plant and which types of plants you want to grow. For example, you can grow certain plants like radicchio and brussels sprouts through the winter in most places in North America with the right setup. In some places in the southern United States, you can even grow these plants without protection. Even here in West Virginia, my Swiss Chard lived through winter until about February without any protection at all.Â
Certain plants like brassicas (cabbage, kale, broccoli, etc… the farty-smelling plants) love the cold more than they love heat, so you’ll want to plant those earlier for best results. Same with peas and carrots. Certain plants like nightshades (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, etc) cannot tolerate any frost or freeze. Same with cucurbits (cucumbers, summer squash and winter squash.) These will have to be planted outside after the last frost.Â
If you’re starting seeds indoors, timing to get your best harvest is key. You can start nightshades 6-8 weeks before the last frost indoors or in a greenhouse. Squash grows a lot faster, so you’d only want to start those 2-4 weeks before the last frost.Â
Just because you get the planting time wrong doesn’t mean you’re screwed, it just means that the plants are more likely to taste different, flower earlier than you want them to, or your ultimate harvest will be smaller. Better to try and get a different result than to never try at all. Remember, everything wants to grow.Â
Why are my seedlings long and tall and falling over?
Long tall seedlings that are (maybe) falling over generally mean that the seedlings are likely not getting enough light. We say the plants are “leggy” when this happens. Little baby plants in their first stages of life are very vulnerable to many different issues. This is one that tricks most beginner gardeners, because it looks as if the plants are getting really big, really fast. This is exciting for many beginner gardeners when it really means that something is going wrong with the plant. When plants don’t have enough light, they reach for the sun, whether that is the actual sun or a grow light.Â
Leggy plants become vulnerable to a wide range of plant illnesses such as fungus, getting too wet and becoming mushy in the soil (damping off) and it generally weakens the plant for its whole lifespan.Â
If you’re growing your seedlings indoors under a grow light, try bringing the light as close as you can to the plants as soon as you notice this happening. If you’re growing them outdoors in a greenhouse or cold-frame, consider moving the structure to a location with more light.Â
Legginess usually begins in the first few days after a plant sprouts, so keep an eye out in those early days for this issue.
