Gourmet Seed
Grow guides
When to sow, how far apart, and when to pick, one crop at a time.
Indoor Herb Gardens Buying Guide 2026: Our Pick for Each Counter
Our pick for a first indoor herb garden is the Click and Grow Smart Garden 9: nine soil pods with seeds and nutrients inside, watered by wicks with no pump.
How to Grow Corn: Sweet Corn from Planting to Harvest
Sow sweet corn after frost once the soil is warm: close to 60 F for good germination, at least 60 to 65 F for supersweet types.
Eggplant Plant: How to Grow Eggplant and When to Harvest It
Start eggplant seed indoors 6 to 10 weeks ahead and set plants out once night lows stay above 50 F.
Grow Lights for Indoor Plants Buying Guide 2026: Our Pick for Each Room
Our pick for houseplants in a living room that gets some window light is the Soltech Aspect Gen 2 LED Grow Light, a warm-white pendant hung 12 to 72 inches up by the plants' light needs.
Watermelon Plant: How to Grow Watermelon from Seed
Sow watermelon seed about 1 inch deep after the last frost, once the soil has warmed to 60 to 70 F, in full sun with about 24 square feet per plant.
Fennel Plant: How to Grow Bulb Fennel and Herb Fennel
Herb fennel is grown for its leaves and seeds and Florence fennel for its bulb; both want full sun and well-drained soil.
Grow Lights for Seedlings Buying Guide 2026: Our Pick for Each Setup
Our pick for seedlings under lights is the Barrina TX-S50 4FT LED Grow Light, which hangs on chains over one or two full flats, including tomato and cabbage family starts, which tend to stretch toward the light.
Seed Starting Tray Buying Guide 2026: Our Pick for Each Crop
Our pick for sowing most transplants is the Bootstrap Farmer 32 Cell Tray: each cell is 2 inches square, or 4 square inches, inside the cell sizes University of Maryland Extension gives for greens and for broccoli and cabbage.
Garden Hose Buying Guide 2026: Our Pick for Each Watering Job
Our pick for a hose from the spigot to the beds is the Flexzilla Garden Hose, 5/8 inch: a 5/8 inch hose, the most popular diameter, sold in 25, 50, 75 and 100 foot lengths.
Soaker Hose Buying Guide 2026: Our Pick for Each Bed and Row
Our pick for a soaker hose in a vegetable bed is the Gilmour Flat Soaker Hose in the 25-foot length: Colorado State University Extension says to keep soaker lines short, generally 25 feet or less, for even watering.
Grow Bags Buying Guide 2026: Our Pick for Each Crop and Space
Our pick for one tomato plant in a grow bag is the Smart Pot Fabric Planter, 20 Gallon: Smart Pot sizes it 20 inches wide by 15.5 inches tall, and Penn State Extension's minimum for a single tomato plant is...
Tomato Cage Buying Guide 2026: Our Pick for Each Support Job
Our pick for tall vining tomatoes is the Gardener's Supply Titan Tall Tomato Cages: Gardener's Supply lists them at 80 inches high with over 5.5 feet of steel-core support, and Illinois Extension says indeterminate tomatoes easily reach at least 6...
How to Grow Tomatoes in Pots: Pot Size, Varieties and Care
Grow a compact determinate or patio tomato in a pot of at least 5 gallons, or a full-size one in 8 to 10 gallons or more.
How to Grow Zinnias from Seed: Sowing, Care and Cutting
Sow zinnia seeds 1/4 inch deep after the last frost, once the soil reaches around 70 F (some guides wait for at least 70 F), and expect flowers 8 to 12 weeks later.
How to Grow Sunflowers from Seed: Planting to Harvest
Sow sunflower seeds outdoors in full sun after your last frost, half an inch to 2 inches deep, once the soil is 45 to 50 F or warmer.
Frost Cloth and Row Covers: Our Pick for Each Frost Job
Our pick for light frost on fall greens is the Agribon AG-19 Floating Row Cover: Johnny's Selected Seeds lists it at 0.55 ounce per square yard, passing 85% of the light with 2 to 4 degrees of frost protection.
Flowers from Seed: Sowing Annuals and a Cut Flower Garden
Zinnias, cosmos and sunflowers are the annuals the sources we read most often sow straight into the garden.
How to Protect Plants From Frost: Covers, Timing and Weights
Cover tender plants before sunset with frost cloth, a sheet or a blanket that reaches the ground, and uncover once it is above 32 F (UGA, UF/IFAS); skip plastic.
How to Get Rid of Weeds Naturally: Pull, Hoe, Mulch, Smother
Pull or hoe weeds while they are small and before they set seed, then keep the soil covered with 3 to 4 inches of organic mulch (UC IPM).
Money Tree Plant Care: Light, Water and Why Leaves Drop
A money tree (Pachira aquatica) wants bright, filtered light out of hot direct sun, thorough watering once the mix is nearly dry, 65 to 85 F and humidity around 50 percent, the NYBG says.
Wandering Jew Plant (Inch Plant): Care, Light and Cuttings
Wandering jew plant (Tradescantia zebrina, also inch plant or wandering dude) wants bright light indoors and soil that dries between waterings, NC State and UW-Madison say.
Pothos Care: Light, Watering, Pruning and Propagation
Pothos does best in bright, filtered light and survives low light, though variegated leaves may fade there.
Low Light Houseplants: 24 Plants for a Dim Room or Corner
Snake plant, ZZ plant, cast iron plant and peace lily top five low-light lists from extension services and the Chicago Botanic Garden.
Gifts for Gardeners 2026: Gardening Gift Picks for Each Kind of Gardener
Our pick for a gardener who grows food is the Felco 2 bypass pruner, which cuts young branches up to 0.98 inch and is fully repairable.
Crops A to Z