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How to sow seeds outdoors successfully in 7 simple steps

Growing flowers, vegetables, fruit, and herbs from seed is one of the most satisfying tasks you can do as a gardener. You don't necessarily need a large setup to do it either, as sowing seeds outdoors can be one of the most simple and inexpensive ways to fill your garden with plants each year.

With the know-how to germinate seeds successfully outdoors, it opens up a world of opportunities for what you can grow. Whether it is vegetables to feed your family, flowers to cut to brighten up your home, or annual plants to provide pops of color in beds and borders come summer - all of those listed and more can be done by sowing seeds outdoors.

In my years as a professional gardener, I grew lots of plants from seed every year. A lot of those were started indoors, however, there were always certain crops that were directly sown into the kitchen gardens I worked in. On my allotment at home, I also sow seeds outdoors year-on-year to grow lots of edible plants. Using my knowledge picked up over the years, I outline six steps to follow to be successful in sowing seeds outdoors.

What plants can be sown outdoors?

You can sow seeds outdoors for a huge number of plants. Annuals and biennials for flower beds and cut flower gardens are perfect for sowing outdoors, as are many vegetables and herbs.

Tender plants and those that have a long growing season, including the likes of tomatoes and eggplants, are best sown indoors earlier in the year.

Sowing seeds indoors is a more controlled and protected way to start plants off, however, if you are short of indoor space then sowing outdoors can be a successful way to start lots of ornamental plants and vegetables.

When to sow seeds outdoors

The exact time to start sowing seeds outdoors will depend on your US hardiness zone and the specific climate in your location.

The window to start seeds outdoors opens once the risk of frost has passed for your area and the soil is workable. How warm the soil needs to be will depend on the specific plant you are planning to sow - so always refer to seed packets to find out the recommended temperatures and sowing times for any flowers, herbs, or vegetables.

The warmer soil temperatures of spring and summer mean lots of fast-growing vegetables and flowers can be sown directly and will germinate quickly. You can warm the soil earlier in the year by using cloches or horticultural fleece to bring forward when you can plant seeds outdoors - as they will also provide a warmer and more protected environment for germination.

An attractive lightweight growing cover that can warm the soil in spring, allowing for earlier seed sowing, and protects against weather and pests

How to sow seeds outside - the methods available

There are two ways in which you may sow seeds outside into borders or a vegetable garden. Seeds are either planted into pre-made drills or holes made into the soil and then covered over, with rows prepared at set intervals as outlined on seed packets. The alternative is to broadcast the seed over the surface of the soil - which tends to be a tactic used primarily to sow grass seed or plant a wildflower meadow.

How to start seeds outdoors in 7 simple steps

Direct sowing seeds outdoors is an easy and economical way to grow lots of plants in your garden. There is no real specialist equipment required to sow and germinate seeds successfully, just give seeds a bit of care and attention and they should grow.

There are outside factors that can hamper your efforts though, including the weather and animals that may be attracted to seeds or seedlings. Here is our simple guide to how to sow seeds outside in just 6 steps:

1. Prepare the soil

A very important step to take time on, as well-prepared soil can help with successful germination and a high germination rate. Depending on your soil type, you may need to incorporate organic matter, such as compost or well-rotted manure, or add a slow-release fertilizer to increase the nutrient levels for your plants.

The soil needs to be thoroughly weeded and have any large stones or debris removed. Any clumps of soil should be broken up and the soil surface needs to be raked to create a fine and level surface for sowing into. If the soil has recently been dug over, it is recommended to tread it to flatten it down. However, if you are doing no-dig gardening this is not a required step - as long as the soil is level you are good to go.

A multi-purpose 17-tine garden rake made of durable stainless steel for reliability and long term use

2. Prepare the sowing drills

The recommended method of sowing seeds outdoors should be featured on the seed packet. For most plants, sowing into drills or holes in the ground is the preferred method.

When sowing vegetables or flowers for cutting, using string lines can help to ensure straight rows. Make drills into the soil using a cane, garden hoe, or the back of a rake to the recommended sowing depth.

I always found it best to run along the drill more than once to ensure that it is deep enough and soil simply does not just fall back in and fill it up. Gently watering the drills before sowing can help with germination, though take care not to flood the drill with soil again.

For larger seeds, such as pumpkin or squash seeds, individual holes can be made in the soil at the advised spacings.

3. Sow the seeds

Depending on the size of the seeds you are sowing, you can either plant individual seeds at the recommended spacing or lightly scatter smaller seeds along the drill to thin out once they germinate.

Pinching and sprinkling seeds along the drill can be a successful method, while sometimes I take a pile of seeds in the cupped palm of one hand and gently tap them out along the drill using two fingers on my other hand. However you choose to do it, you want to evenly distribute the seeds along the drill, trying to avoid clumps of seeds together and then large gaps where none are sown.

Very fine seeds can be mixed with sand to be sown to help give a bit more control over sowing. Mixing with sand can also be beneficial when broadcasting seeds over the soil surface. Use a rake to lightly cover the drill over again with soil and gently tamp it down.

4. Water the seeds

Even if you moisten the drill before sowing, it is still beneficial to gently water the soil afterwards - but take care to be very gentle. Use a garden hose on a fine spray setting, or a watering can with a fine rose attached, such as this one at Amazon, to carefully moisten the soil without washing the seeds away.

Keep a close eye on when to water over the following days and continue to keep the soil moist, but not waterlogged as this can cause the seeds to rot. When it comes to how to water, always be gentle and try not to disturb the soil too much.

5. Label your seeds

After taking all that care to prepare the ground and sow the seeds carefully, it would be foolish not to record what you planted. Place a label at the end of the row - or either end to make double sure - so you know what was planted where, and also the date they were sown.

Marking the rows makes it easier to track and identify germination and see the seedlings. It will also help identify which seedlings that pop up may be weeds that need to be removed. You can get plant labels that are plastic, wooden, metal, or slate - whichever you choose may depend on your garden style and budget.

6. Protect the seedlings

One of the main dangers of sowing seeds outdoors is the risk that slugs and snails can nibble on seedlings as soon as they have popped up. There are also potential problems if cold weather sweeps in.

Using garden cloches or horticultural fleece can help to protect seeds and keep the soil temperatures warmer, while covering seedlings with mesh can be a way to get rid of slug and snail issues.

Creating boundaries of rough surfaces can also be a slug control method, along with putting beer traps in the garden to tempt the pests away from your precious seedlings.

7. Thin seedlings

Unless you were supremely careful when sowing the seeds, it may be required to thin the seedlings as they germinate. Overcrowding can lead to unhealthy seedlings, and plants that will never grow to full size, so removing selected ones helps those that remain to develop into mature and healthy plants.

Gently remove seedlings when they are young to get the recommended spacing. Thinning seedlings when they are small reduces the dangers of the roots being tangled and pulling out other seedlings with them. It may be necessary to do more than one stint of thinning until you get to the final desirable spacings.

FAQs

Can you start seeds in pots outside?

If you grow plants in a container garden, then it is perfectly acceptable to sow seeds outdoors directly into the pots. Any container needs to have drainage holes in the bottom and be filled with a good-quality potting mix.

Sow the seeds at the recommended depth and gently moisten the compost. Keep the soil consistently moist and thin the seedlings as required as they appear. If you practise successional planting in a vegetable garden, you can start seeds in pots outside and then transplant the seedlings into the ground once the space opens up for them.

How long does it take for seeds to germinate outside?

The time it takes will vary depending on the plant, the location, and also the weather conditions. However, it can take between 1-4 weeks for seeds to germinate. While some seeds are notoriously slow to germinate, factors such as low soil temperature and a lack of moisture are usually two culprits that delay germination.

Older seeds can also take longer to germinate, as their viability drops, so it may be worth getting new packets when ordering your seeds for the year.

It is always a great idea to make a seed sowing schedule for the season, which will include all sowings both indoors and outdoors. Putting a plan together can help you get organized and make planting vegetables and flowers feel less stressful.

Sowing Seeds in the Vegetable Garden

Most vegetables are started from seed sown directly in the garden, especially in the fall when the soil is already warm. Learn how to direct-sow vegetable seeds so that they survive andthrive.

Starting Your VegetableGarden

When it comes to growing vegetables at home, you have two options for getting your garden started: you can start vegetables from seed(indoors or outdoors in the garden) orpurchase small starter plants (called transplants) from a local garden center. Many gardeners use a mix of these techniques in their vegetable gardens each year.

Which method is best? It depends. Many vegetables prefer being directly seeded into the ground and do not thrive as well if theyretransplanted or disturbed. In this article, we focus on vegetables which are planted as seed directly into the ground outdoors.See our separate articles abouttransplantingand starting seeds indoors for more information on those topics.

Of the vegetables that are planted as seed directly into the garden:Some are considered cool-season vegetables, which needa cool period to germinate, and others are warm-season vegetables, which need the soil to be warm enough to germinate and will not survive a frost. Heres a helpfullist:

Cool-SeasonVegetables

Cool-season vegetables have seeds which will germinate in cool soil.They areoften planted in the spring (to mature before the weather gets hot) and in the summer (to mature in the cool of autumn). Below is a list of those veggies which prefer to be seeded directly into the soil (nottransplanted):

Very hardy (can be planted 4 to 6 weeks before average last frostdate)

• Collards
• Endive
• Favabeans
• Kale
• Kohlrabi
• Leeks
• Lettuce
• Onions
• Peas
• Rutabagas
• Spinach
• Turnips

Hardy (can be planted 2 to 3 weeks before average last frostdate)

• Beets
• Carrots
• Chard
• Mustard
• Parsnips
• Radishes

Warm-SeasonVegetables

Warm-season veggies grow best in warm weather and seeds germinate only if the soil is warm enough. If planted too early, seed may rot in the ground. A late spring frost will kill them, as will the first autumn frost.Below is a list of those veggies which prefer to be seeded directly into the soil (nottransplanted):

Tender (plant 0 to 2 weeks after frost; injured or killed by frost but tolerant ofcoldweather)

• Snapbeans
• Drybeans
• New Zealandspinach
• Summersquash
• Sweetcorn

Warm-loving (plant 2 to 4 weeks after frost; killed by frost immediately and not tolerant ofcoldweather)

Cucurbit seeds (which include cucumbers, muskmelons, watermelons, pumpkins, summer squash, winter squash, and gourds)require very warm soil to germinate, at least 60F. Seeds may rot if the soiltemperatures are under60F.

• Cucumbers
• Garbanzobeans
• Limabeans
• Melons
• Okra
• Pumpkins
• Soybeans
• Wintersquash
• YardlongBeans

Before SowingSeeds

It goes without saying (but well say it again), you cant just scatter seeds on the ground and expect allplants to grow! Similar to a human, plants need the right environment, nourishment, and water. Here are some things to keep in mind before sowingseeds:

1. Know Your Planting Dates. Before you even start planting, knowwhen each vegetable should be planted. Consult ourPlanting Calendar for the best dates to plant, based on frostdates.
2. Have a Plan. Knowwhere each vegetable will go. For example, consider which vegetables need shade and which vegetables are tall so they do not shade shorter plants. Also, plant so that you can reach the center of the row or bed easily enough to weed, water, and harvest. Provide permanent beds for perennial crops such as rhubarb, asparagus, and some herbs.Remember, you can plant cool-season crops in the same place as warm-season crops later in the season, based on the vegetables days to maturity (on the seed packet). Try our Garden Planner to plan your garden for success.
3. Prepare the Soil.Your seeds need rich, fertile soil to grow. Add organic matter in the spring and work it into the soil, digging down about 1 foot to loosen the soil. Alternatively, do as many gardeners do and add organic matter in the fall so that it needs little work in the spring. See our page on how to prepare the soil for planting.
4. Remove Weeds.Before you plant any seeds, the area MUST be weed-free!Otherwise, the weeds are competition for water andnutrients.
5. Apply Fertilizer. In the springshortly before plantingwork fertilizer into the soil. A soil test will help determine soil deficiences. Learn more about how to apply fertilizers to your garden.
6. Use Quality Seed. Seeds do have a shelf life, and while you can often get away with usingolder seeds, just be prepared for lowergermination rates. Use fresh seed from a reputable company for the best results. See our list of reputable seed soures. Also, if you save you own seeds, do not save seeds from hybrid plants. Most hybrid plants will not be true to their parent type, so you could end up with a completely different (and possibly disappointing) fruit or flower. See more about saving vegetable seeds.
7. Starting Indoors.For vegetables that grow slowly from seed, try starting seeds indoors several weeks before the planting dates. Vegetables that grow slowly from seed and are ideal to start indoors include: tomatoes, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, eggplant, and peppers. See our article on how to start seeds indoors.
8. Prepping Warm-Season Crops.Before planting warm-season crops, especially cucurbits, you can warm the soil with different techniques, such as forming a mound or hill and/or using black plastic.Toform a hill, mound soil to make a low, broad hill about 8 to 10 inches high. Lay anyblack plastic on the soil surface as early as possible in the spring. Simply cut a hole in the plastic in the area where you want a plant to belocated; the plastic will keep the soil warmer and suppress weeds around the plant. Learn more about warming the soil.
9. Protect SeedlingsFrom Frost. If you plant in early spring, be prepared toinsulate young seedlings from cold weatherfrom cloches to row covers. See how to protect seedlings.

How to PlantSeeds

Sowing seeds is pretty simple, but there are some tips and tricks to make it easier, including thefollowing:

1. Sow at the proper depth. In general, plant seeds at a depth two times the seeds diameter, no deeper.However, do refer to the seed packet for this information. Some seeds only need to be pressed into the soil surface, as they need more light to germinate. For seeds at two or three times the depth, poke individual holes for seeds or create a furrow. You can use a pencil to poke holes if youwish!
2. Pay attention to seed spacing. You can plant lettuce, radishes, carrots, and other small seeds densely, and then thin them to the correct spacing when the seedlings are small. In general plan to sow some extra seeds, since not all seeds maygerminate.
3. Plant in defined rows if you are a beginner; dont scatter widely. Its easier to keep weeds down between rows and identfy seedlings from weedlings. (Weeds dont usually grow in rows!)Often, rows are spaced about a foot apart, but refer to your seed packet for specifics. See our helpful page on vegetable seedling identification.
4. Firm the soil, onceseeds are sown. This ensures good contact between seed andsoil.
5. Water new seeds gently! Dont turn the hose on full strength and blast them or youll wash those seeds away or cause them to drift together. Use a fine, gentle mist to moisten the soil or let the water hose slowly trickle around thearea.
6. Prevent soil crusting. Weak seedlings (such as carrots) can struggle to break thrugh the soil surface if a hard crust forms. After covering seeds with soil, add a thin layer of fine mulch or compost to help prevent crusting. When you plant, you can also mix in seeds that germinate quickly (such as radishes), which will break through the crust and allow weaker seedings togrow.
7. Hill vining plants. When direct-sowing large vining plants such as squash, melon, and cucumber, consider planting them on a hill. Each hill should be spaced 4 to 8 feet apart.Plant 4 to 6 seeds in a circle in 5-inch intervals on each hill.Thin when seedlings have 2 or 3 leaves. Remove all but 2 to 3 large, healthy, well-spaced plants per hill. More than 3 plants per hill will lead to crowding, greater chance of disease, and loweryields.
8. Mark the spot where you planted your row of vegetables; its very easily to forget, especially when you are trying to differentiate between seedlings and weeds! Use a popsicle stick to label rows, or anything that works foryou!

Caring for Seeds andSeedlings

Once seeds are sown, be sure to keep them caredfor!

1. Keep soil moist untilthe seed germinates. Watering seeds is critical. Never let the soil get dry; seedlings do not have a good root system and will dry out within hours, especially if its windy outside.Use drip irrigation or put the hose at ground level and let the water gently soak the planting area.Learn more about when to water vegetables.
2. Youll need to thin seedlings to the right spacing when they are a couple of inches high. Dont be scared to thin! If you dont, your plants wont have space and nutrients to grow and will crowdtogether.
3. Protect seedlings. Some pests do love those tender seedlings, too. If you have critters or pests, there are a number of different techniques to protect your seedlings, including netting, row covers, and little plant collars. See how to stay ahead of garden pests.
4. Provide trellises and supports such as poles or cages. For example, cucumbers need vertical supports to producestraight (rather than curved or malformed) fruit. Any vining or sprawling plant such as melons or pole beans also need supports. Tomatoes also need supports or cages for their heavyfruit.
5. Pinch back leggy plants. Many vegetablesand especially herbsbenefit from being pinched back afterthey have grown 3 sets of true leaves. Pinching back simply involves pruning the top of the plant back to its next set of leaves. This will encourage more branches so that your plant doesnot get leggy and grows in a more compactway.
6. Continue to pamper your seedlings until they become establishedplants!

See our Growing Guide Library for plant care tips for all your common vegetables.

If you have grown any seeds indoors, youll need to transplant into the soil. See how totransplant.

Free Online GardeningGuides

Weve gathered all of our best beginner gardening guides into a step-by-step series designed tohelp you learn how to garden! Visit our complete Gardening for Everyonehub,where youll find a series of guidesall free! From selecting the right gardening spot to choosing the bestvegetables to grow, our Almanac gardening experts are excited to teach gardening to everyonewhether its your 1st or 40thgarden.