As a general rule, seeds need to be planted 3 times deeper than they are wide. Some tiny seeds need no cover of soil at all. As another general rule, seeds need a warmer soil temperature to germinate than the plants need to grow – we recommend giving bottom heat to indoor seedling flats for quickest and most uniform germination. Unless noted as cold hardy, wait until soil is warm (and nights above 10 Celsius) to direct sow seeds outdoors.
The first thing all seeds do before they germinate is swell with water, so soil should be moist but not sopping wet. When planting in a dry spell, soak large seeds for a day before planting and plan to water regularly until the seedlings emerge.
The timing that we share for planting our seeds is for our location in Nova Scotia where the frost-free growing season is usually mid-May to mid-October. We like to err on the side of caution (planning for June-September above 0) for frost sensitive crops because we grow just about everything outdoors without protection.
Click on the category below to find tips for planting our seeds – more growing information can be found in variety descriptions, too. Feel free to contact us with any questions regarding specific varieties. Good luck and happy planting!
Beans
- When We Start: Direct sow after last frost, for us late May- early June.
- How to Plant: Space bush beans 4" apart in rows 6" apart. Pole beans 6–8" apart with a trellis.
- Extra Tips: Soak seeds overnight to speed up germination in dry weather.
Cabbage
- When We Start: Indoors in April; transplant in June.
- How to Plant: Space 2 ft apart into rich soil.
- Extra Tips: Cover with insect netting to protect from white cabbage butterflies.
Celery
- When We Start: Indoors as early as possible (February/March).
- How to Plant: Transplant 6" apart in moist soil; thin to 12" once crowded.
- Extra Tips: Celery is slow to germinate - be patient and keep soil consistently moist.
Corn & Broomcorn
- When We Start: Direct sow in late May or early June.
- How to Plant: 6" apart in rows 12" apart.
- Extra Tips: Can be started indoors and transplanted carefully if pests are an issue.
Cucumbers
- When We Start: Indoors in early May; transplant in early June. Can also be direct seeded in June.
- How to Plant: Space transplants 6" apart; water daily for at least a week after transplanting. Direct sow 2' apart in rows 12" apart, thin to 6" apart.
- Extra Tips: Transplanting helps avoid seedling damage from cucumber beetles, but must be done very gently - roots dislike disturbance.
Eggplants
- When We Start: Indoors in March with bottom heat; transplant in June.
- How to Plant: Space plants 12" apart, medium fertility.
- Extra Tips: Needs warmth to thrive - don’t rush transplanting. Use row cover for cool nights.
Fava Beans
- When We Start: Direct sow as soon as soil is workable (late April - early May).
- How to Plant: Sow 6" apart in rows 8" apart.
- Extra Tips: Cool-season and cold hardy crop - great for extra early planting.
Grains (Oats, Buckwheat, Flax)
- When We Start: Direct sow in May.
- How to Plant: 2" apart in rows 6" apart.
- Extra Tips: While broadcasting seeds into an area is tempting, planting in rows is easier to keep hoed and easier to harvest by hand.
Greens
- When We Start: Direct sow from early spring onward. We like to start Kale, Chard, & Lettuce indoors for an extra early start.
- How to Plant: Sow densely for baby greens; thin or transplant to 6"-12" apart for mature plants.
- Extra Tips: Succession sow every 2-3 weeks for a continuous harvest.
Melons & Watermelons
- When We Start: Indoors in early May; transplant in early June. Can also be direct seeded in June.
- How to Plant: Space transplants 6" apart; water daily for at least 2 weeks after transplanting. Direct sow 2' apart in rows 12" apart, thin to 6" apart.
- Extra Tips: Transplanting helps avoid seedling damage from cucumber beetles, but must be done very gently - roots dislike disturbance.
Peas
- When We Start: Direct sow as soon as soil is workable (late April-early May).
- How to Plant: Sow 2" apart in rows 6" apart. Provide trellis for tall peas.
- Extra Tips: Cool-season crops - great for early planting.
Peppers
- When We Start: Indoors in March with bottom heat; transplant in June.
- How to Plant: Space plants 12" apart, medium fertility.
- Extra Tips: Need warmth - don’t rush transplanting. Use row cover for cool nights.
Perennial Vegetables
- When We Start: Start indoors in flats anytime in the spring - can be slow to germinate.
- How to Plant: Transplant 12" or more apart into rich, well-prepped soil.
- Extra Tips: These are long-term investments - weed and mulch well in year one.
Root Crops (Carrots, Beets, Radish, Turnip, etc)
- When We Start: Direct sow in early spring for summer harvest or mid-late June for fall harvest.
- How to Plant: Sow 1" apart in rows 6-8" apart; thin to 2–4" apart, in medium to rich fertility.
- Extra Tips: Prepare your seed bed well in advance, so that you can hoe or rake weekly at least a couple of times before sowing seeds. This helps to reduce weed pressure from the sprouting weed seeds. Keep soil evenly moist for best germination and early root development.
Root Crops (Alliums: Onions, Leeks, Shallots, Scallions)
- When We Start: Indoors in early March. Transplant in early May.
- How to Plant: Transplant into rich soil. Leeks 4" apart; thin to 8" apart. Scallions & shallots can be planted as bunches 12" apart.
- Extra Tips: Eat the thinnings at any stage!
Summer & Winter Squash
- When We Start: Indoors late May; transplant 2–3 weeks later. Or direct seed in June when soil is warm.
- How to Plant: 12" apart in rows spaced 12" apart, or plant in hills; 4-5 plants per 2' wide hill, spaced 3' apart.
- Extra Tips: Plant in rich soil. Mulch to retain moisture and lessen impact from pests.
Tomatillos & Husk Cherries
- When We Start: Start indoors late April; transplant in June.
- How to Plant: Space clumps of 3 plants 12" apart.
- Extra Tips: Plant in a single row for easier harvesting.
Tomatoes
- When We Start: Indoors in early April; transplant in early June.
- How to Plant: Space plants 12"-18" apart.
- Extra Tips: Trellis indeterminate types for better airflow, fruit production, and fruit access. Determinate types can be grown with a tomato cage for support or allowed to sprawl on the ground.
Herbs
- When We Start: Cold-hardy herbs direct sown in spring; tender herbs started indoors in April.
- How to Plant: 2–4" apart in rows 6" apart; 6" apart for transplants.
- Extra Tips: Perennial herbs can be transplanted anytime.
Flowers
- When We Start: Start indoors in April, transplant in June; or most can be direct sown late May.
- How to Plant: Thin or space plants to 6" apart.
- Extra Tips: Deadheading is not necessary to encourage more blooms, and birds enjoy the resulting seeds. Mulch around plants to reduce weeds.