Planning a Garden Soil How to Plant Seed Starter Unit Starting Tiny Seeds Mini Rows Pre‑germinating Seeds Mini Greenhouse Plant Nursery Hardening Off Seedlings No-Dig Garden Pollination Cross Pollinating Saving Seeds Compost
Planting begins before a seed touches soil. Match a crop to the available light, space, season length, and care; then read its current packet from beginning to end.
Some plants resent root disturbance and should be direct-sown. Others need an indoor head start in a short season. The best method depends on the species, not merely seed size.
For every planting, record the cultivar and date, use the packet's depth and spacing, keep the seed zone appropriately moist, and protect the bed without trapping heat. If treated seed, fertilizer, tools, electricity, or structures are involved, follow the adult-help guidance on that page.