Got Seeds?
But what does all the packet information mean?
When you buy a packet of seeds for your garden, whether it’s vegetable or flower seeds, do you read all of the information? And if you do, does it make sense?
Here’s a little breakdown of what you might be able to learn from it:
Cucumber
Spacemaster 80
The front of the packet alone gives plenty of information:
Certified Organic
Cucumber
Spacemaster 80
Slicer for small spaces
20’
60 days to maturity
Dwarf 2’ vine
What does it mean to you as a consumer? The seed is certified organic. This is a full size slicing cucumber on a smaller plant; there are enough seeds in the packet to plant a 20’ row. It takes 60 days from the date sown for it to set fruit or flower. And the vine is only 2’ long as opposed to a typical vining variety.
Turn the seed packet over . . .
This is where the good stuff is! The stuff you won’t find on every seed packet but these are the kind I appreciate. They answer ALL of the planting and growing questions!
So let’s dive into the back of the packet information: Here we have the name of the variety, as well as the botanical name. We have a short description of this cucumber and this tidbit: “Resistant to Powdery Mildew, Mosaic Virus & Scab”. Then we have separate growing instructions for direct sowing and for transplants. I like that they give directions for both while also recommending the preferred method.
They have the Department of Agriculture requires “Packed for 2021”. Seeds are viable for several years after this date but cannot be sold after the packed for date.
Fruition Seeds is one of the companies that include all of their contact information; some companies only have their name on the packet.
Now check out the right side margin the “fine print”. Here are the helpful little details:
Plant spacing after thinning: 2”
Direct seed or transplant
Days to germination: 3 warm/10 cool (this refers to soil temp, some give a soil temperature range)
When to seed: After frost, Late May/Early June in Zone 5 (a recommendation based on zone is not my preference but is widely used)
Seeding depth: 1/2'“ (if you want them to germinate in the time listed pay attention to this)