Watch that Small Print

Everything outdoors is white, so the sight of colourful flowers pictured on seed packets raises the spirits with dreams of a colourful garden. Like any package, the front sells the product while the reverse contains the information, and it’s similar on most seed packets, but it’s usually in small print.

The back of the package contains the instructions to ensure that colourful garden is achieved. Some are brief and others extensive, but I’ve a feeling not everyone reads them because the question I often hear around this time of year is “Can I start my seeds now?”

With exceptions, in most cases it’s far too early now. It usually states something like start seeds indoors six weeks before the last frost. In this area, a final frost is around mid May, although the May 24 weekend is a safer bet, so counting back from that date means don’t start those seeds until late March. I know, some of us simply can’t wait.

The timing for planting seeds directly in the garden should also be included. Other information, depending on the plant, will note how deep to plant the seeds, or whether they should be covered or not. Germination temperature is also important. If your indoor planting place is too cool, the seeds may not sprout, even though you stare at them daily — as we do, searching for any sight of a green speck.

It might say certain seeds need stratification, that is, to be subjected to a warm or cold temperature for a spell to simulate what they would go through naturally when sown outdoors. Some need warmth to trick them into thinking it’s spring and others need to be chilled as they would in the garden during winter. This why many gardeners like winter sowing outdoors in plastic containers.

Some types of seed need to be soaked in water to weaken the outer husk to improve germination, while others need to be scarified, that is, the coating must be damaged or weakened to allow the root to emerge.

Within the fine print, there might be a date by which the seed should be sown before it’s no longer viable. If you have old packs around and that info isn’t there, you could try the baggy method to determine if the seed is still good. This means placing the seeds on a wet paper towel inside a sealed plastic bag. They can then be transferred to a pot after they’ve germinated.

Also included should be directions on where to plant relative to sun or shade that will produce best results. The seed packet might be lacking in information, and many don’t when found at a swap or passed on from a friend, so ideally, if the botanical name of the plant is listed, it will help you find more information. Now, order those seed!