While starting seeds indoors is recommended for some plants, direct sowing is better for others. These seeds can usually just be stuck right out in the dirt and they will grow just fine! These plants often come up pretty quickly and have a shorter time to maturity. Some of these plants have sensitive roots that, if disturbed, may affect their growth, which is why it is best to directly sow them.
Best Plants for Direct Sowing
Once you have made a list of plants to grow, bought your seeds, and planned your garden calendar, you need to know which seeds will be directly sown in the garden.
There are both cool weather crops, which are more cold-hardy, and warm weather crops, which will be killed by frosts. Both types can be directly sown outdoors, depending on the plant. Cool weather crops will be planted sooner than warm weather crops. Here are some examples of these plants that do well when directly sown in your garden:
- Spinach
- Peas
- Kale
- Turnips
- Carrots
- Arugula
- Beets
- Daikon
- Parsnips
- Radishes
- Orach
- Mustard
Likewise, some warm weather crops grow to maturity quickly, and don’t need to be started indoors to extend the season. Others have sensitive roots that cause the plant not to transplant well. Here are some of those vegetables:
- Beans
- Summer squash
- Zucchini
- Corn
- Okra
- Melons
- Cucumbers
- Winter squash
- Corn
Of course, neither of these lists are exhaustive, but it will give you a good idea of which common plants could be (or need to be) directly sown. If you read the backs of your seed packets, they will tell you how they should be planted. Sometimes, they will say that you can either start seeds indoors, or direct sow them outdoors a little later. What you decide to do is a matter of preference. I prefer to start whatever I can outdoors, because of space and convenience, but starting them indoors means that you get an earlier harvest!
How and When to Direct Sow
If you haven’t planned out your garden calendar yet, you can check the Farmer’s Almanac planting guide tool, or just look at your seed packets and they will tell you when to start your seeds. They should also give guidance on how deep to plant the seeds, plant spacing, and any other special instructions.
Be sure to pay attention to these special instructions! Some seeds will germinate faster if they are soaked before they are planted. Others need cold stratification, which is when you put your seeds in the refrigerator to simulate a natural winter. Doing these things for certain seeds will help them know that it is time to germinate.
Always water your seeds lightly once you have planted them, and keep the soil moist until they sprout. Once they have sprouted, adhere to the watering instructions for each plant. Some require more water than others.
What are your biggest challenges when direct sowing in your garden?
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