Plant and Grow Seeds

Start the seeds indoors, in the spring, 12 to 14 weeks before planting outdoors. Keep the seeds moist and in full sunlight. Transplant when 3 to 5 inches tall. After 1 year, transplant to a permanent location where the plants can grow undisturbed. Harvest the first crop after 3 years, then every spring.

Water regularly to keep the soil from drying out.

Bean seedlings can be sensitive to transplanting, so it’s best to sow the seeds directly outside. Wait at least 1 to 2 weeks after your last spring frost, or once the soil is about 65 degrees F.  Do not plant in the summer heat; bean plants will stop producing at 90 degrees F. Choose a spot with full sun. Water early in the day. Avoid working around beans when they are wet, as this may spread plant diseases. When weeding, hoe gently because beans are shallow-rooted. For pole beans, plant along a trellis or pole about 6 feet tall to support the plant Pick the bean pods when they are nearly mature, but not fully developed to make sure they are still crisp.

Start the seeds indoors in full sunlight 8 weeks before planting outdoors. Keep the seeds moist. Transplant the seedlings to the garden when they are 3 inches tall. Or sow the seeds directly in the garden in a sunny location after all danger of frost is past. Begin using a balanced fertilizer when the plants are 6 inches tall to increase production.

Sow the seeds directly in the garden in loose soil when all danger of frost is past. Continue to sow seeds until 75 to 77 days before the expected fall frost.

The Long Imperator variety needs deep, loose soil. Don't allow the soil to become muddy or soggy or the carrots may crack. In addition, don’t let this variety mature fully or it will become woody and less flavorful.

Water regularly to keep the soil from drying out. Prior to harvesting, soak the ground to make the carrots easier to pull up.

Sow the seeds directly in the garden in a sunny location with well-drained soil after all danger of frost is past and the ground is warm. For smaller gardens, plant the seeds alongside a fence or trellis. Plant at 3-week intervals up to midsummer for fresh cucumbers all season. Pick when 6 to 8 inches long.

Plant garlic in the fall three to eight weeks before the first autumn freeze. This will allow the plant to grow into the location but not allow the green sprout to develop. If garlic is planted too early, frost will damage or kill the green sprouts above the ground. Separate the bulbs into cloves. Pick a location with good drainage that will get at least 6 hours of full sun every day. When planting your garlic cloves, make sure the tip—where the sprout comes out—is facing upward. Cover the cloves with soil so that the tips are about two inches below the soil surface, and water well. Provide a generous layer of mulch for the winter, especially if you live in a cold climate. Your garlic is ready to harvest in the summer when the lower two or three leaves turn yellow or brown. At this point, stop watering the plant. Wait for a week or two before pulling your garlic from the ground.

Start the seeds indoors about 8 weeks before you plan to transfer them outside. While the seeds germinate, keep them moist and in full sun. Make sure to move the seedlings outdoors only after all danger of frost is gone and they are about 3 inches tall. Or sow the seeds directly outside once the soil is 65 degrees F and the nights do not get below 40 degrees F. Choose a location that gets full sun. If you are also growing sweet peppers, plant your hot peppers at least a few feet away. If they are too close together, your sweet peppers will become lightly spicy! Once your peppers mature, pick them regularly to increase your yield.

Sow the seeds directly in the garden as soon as the soil can be made fine and loose. Plant them every 6 inches, covering them firmly with soil.

Lettuce needs plenty of moisture. Water regularly to keep the soil from drying out; however, overwatering or lack of air circulation will cause the leaves to rot.

As the plants begin to crowd, pick individual leaves regularly to eat. For the best flavor, pick them young. Harvest a few leaves at a time to continue growth, or harvest the entire plant.

Sow the seeds directly in the garden as soon as the ground can be worked. Place one seed every 12 inches. Cover with soil. Harvest side leaves as needed at 6 to 8 inches in length.

Mustard is a cool-weather crop; therefore, sow the seeds directly outside in the spring as soon as the ground can be worked (the soil is soft enough to dig into without great difficultly). Or wait until the fall to plant your seeds. If starting mustard in the spring or the fall, choose a spot with full sun. If starting in the summer, choose a spot with partial shade. To get your seeds growing quickly, keep the soil around them moist.  As the plant gets big enough to harvest, pick the outer leaves regularly. This will keep the harvest going for a longer period of time.

Sow the seeds directly in the garden as soon as the soil can be made fine and loose. Plant them every 2 inches, covering them firmly with soil.

Mesclun needs plenty of moisture. Water regularly to keep the soil from drying out;  however, overwatering or lack of air circulation will cause the leaves to rot.

As the plants begin to crowd, pick individual leaves regularly for use.

1 Pre-soak large seeds (e.g., sunflower, peas) overnight for quick, even sprouting.
2 Moisten potting soil and place at least 1.5 inches into a container (recycled berry, milk or mushroom containers work great).
3 Smooth the soil surface flat. Evenly sprinkle seeds closely together onto the soil. Gently press the seeds into the soil surface.
4 Mist the soil so that its damp but no water is seeping out of the drainage holes. Cover the container to block light out and create a humid chamber. Aluminum foil or a dinner plate work well. Check and mist every 12 hours.
5 Once seeds have sprouted (around 3 to 4 days), uncover the container and place in a bright window or under a desk or grow lamp.
6 Check moisture daily and mist if surface is dry. Rotate container to keep greens growing straight.

Sow the seeds directly in the garden in a sunny location with well-drained soil.

Water regularly to keep the soil from drying out.

Sow the seed pieces directly outside or in a pot when the daytime temperatures reach 60 degrees F. Plant small seed potatoes (or pieces of larger seed potatoes) with 2 to 3 eyes in each piece. Plant them 3 to 5 inches deep and 6 to 12 inches apart. Water as needed to keep the soil damp but not flooded.  When the plant is about 6 inches tall, pile a few inches of soil or clean straw around the main stem to form a hill. Add to the hill several times throughout the season.

Sow the seeds directly in the garden in spring after your last major frost. Cover the seeds firmly with soil. For a steady crop, sow every 10 days until warm weather. Start again in the fall until 30 days before the first frost.

Water regularly to keep the soil from drying out.

Sow the seeds directly in the garden as soon as the soil can be made fine and loose. Plant them every 6 inches, covering them firmly with soil.

Lettuce needs plenty of moisture. Water regularly to keep the soil from drying out; however, overwatering or lack of air circulation will cause the leaves to rot.

As the plants begin to crowd, pick individual leaves regularly to eat. For the best flavor, pick them young. Harvest a few leaves at a time to continue growth, or harvest the entire plant.

Soak your seeds in water overnight before planting them. This helps them germinate faster. Sow the seeds in spring or late summer directly outside in a spot that gets full sun. Pea plants will perform best when supported by a trellis or tied to a pole. Support two plants at the same time by placing a trellis or pole between them and letting them grow together. Harvest the pea pods frequently to encourage production. When harvesting, do not jerk the pods from the vines. If the plant is handled roughly, it might stop producing peas.  Be gentle when pinching off the pods or cut them from the vines with scissors or pruners

Sow the seeds directly in the garden as soon as the soil can be worked. Place one seed every 6 inches and cover it with soil. Harvest before a flower stalk forms.

Water regularly to keep the soil from drying out.

Sow the seeds directly outside at least a week after your last spring frost. The soil needs to be warm (at least 65 degrees F). If you have a short growing season, start your seeds indoors. Sow (plant) the seeds 3 to 4 weeks before you plan to transplant your seedlings outside (2 to 4 weeks after your last spring frost).

Don’t be in a rush to plant in the spring. Transplants or “starts” take about 40 to 55 days (depending on the variety) to mature. Therefore, waiting can help to avoid problems from pests and diseases that are common earlier in the season. But don’t wait too long! Transplant your seedlings outside before the second set of “true leaves” grows. Choose a spot that will get full sun. To avoid powdery mildew, water the base of the plant. Do not water the leaves. Harvest summer squash when they are young and tender before the rinds begin to harden. Use a knife to cut fruits from the plants.

Start the seeds indoors near a sunny window 6 weeks prior to warm weather. Transplant the seedlings to the garden when they display 4 to 6 leaves and the weather is warm. Or sow the seeds directly in the garden in full sun when the soil is warm and all danger of frost is past. Tomatoes cannot tolerate frost and do not like regular temperatures below 55 degrees F.

Tomatoes require at least an inch of water per week.