How to Read a Seed Packet

Starting seeds at home can be an intimidating and daunting task if you aren’t sure where to start. I’ve broken down how to read a seed packet into easy sections to make your gardening journey simple.

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If you had told Kandace from 5 years ago that one day she would be gardening and starting all of her plants from seed in a greenhouse, she would have had a good, hearty chuckle. That version of me could not keep a plant alive to save her life.

But gardening, like so many other things is a learned skill. You practice and practice and the more you practice, the easier it becomes. If you aren’t sure where to start but you would like to get started growing some delicious homegrown vegetables, you are in the right place.

Growing plants from seed is easy! The best kept secret is that seed companies put all of the information you need to know about growing that seed right on the package! This is extremely convenient for new gardeners.

Where to start

The best place to start is in your refrigerator. When you are just starting off your garden, it can be tempting to jump all in and try to grow everything. However, growing kale is a waste of time, money and energy if it’s something that you won’t eat.

Pick a handful vegetables, fruits or herbs that are a regular part of your diet and start learning from there.

What will a seed packet tell you

Think of your seed packets like a mini-biography.

From the seed package, you will find out what the plant looks like and the name and variety. You can learn how to sow the seeds, when to sow, whether the plant enjoys full sun or only a little. Seed packets will even tell you how far apart to space your seeds and whether or not your plant will enjoy life in a container.

All of your burning questions about how to get started sowing seeds can be answered by simply reading the packets.

The front of the seed packet

The front of the seed packets is where you will see a beautiful, bright photograph of what your seeds will look like at full maturity. If your plant produces fruit, you will likely see a picture of what the fruit looks like once harvested.

Of course, the front of the packet will also give you the name of the plant and the variety.

Another piece of information you will find on the front is the name of the company that produces the seeds. These two, Burpee and Ferry-Morse are often the most popular grocery store brands.

Additional information includes the price, the weight of the seeds and whether the plant is a vegetable, herb or flowering species.

Some companies, like Ferry-Morse, will also include information about the harvest time and if the plant is a good pollinator. Attracting pollinators is very important in a garden.

The back of the packet

The back of the seed package is where all the information comes together.

At the very top of the back, you will likely see a brief description of the plant and what it can be used for. If the package is a blend of seeds, then you will also see a percentage breakdown of what your packet contains.

Next, you will see the instruction section. This is where the seed company will give you step-by-step instructions on how to sow and care for the seedlings that are produced. This section is important to read before planting because here is where all your knowledge will come from.

Two things that are generally universal across most seed companies are the table and the map. While they may have different styles, they all contain the same information.

The table tells you the depth that you should be planting the seedlings, if they were started indoors. For direct sowing seeds, it will give you the seedling depth. You will also find the information for how far apart your seedlings should be and how tall they generally tend to be.

Make sure you take note of the harvest date as well. This will be the most exciting part of your gardening experience!

In the United States, you will see a map of the United States on the back of your seed packet. The map is color coded into regions. Find the color for your location and use the key to determine when the plants should be planted outdoors.

For seeds that need to be sown indoors, the map will tell you when it is okay to transplant the seeds outdoors. If your seeds can be directly sown into the ground, the map will determine that date as well.

Resources for a new gardener

Seed packets are a great resource for learning about starting your seeds. But there are other resources that will make your gardening journey a breeze!

My personal favorite gardening tool is my Clyde’s Garden Planner. Very few seeds enter my garden without consulting my Clyde’s planner first. Find the type of seed you are looking to plant, then slide the chart over to match your last frost date. Once you are there, all the planting dates for your garden will be listed. What set Clyde’s apart is that they also list the companion plants for each type of plant.

Not sure where to find your last frost date? This handy online reference will allow you to search your last frost date by your zip code!