The Best Vegetables to Grow from Seeds Planted Directly in the Garden

To direct sow your seeds just means to plant them in the garden where they will grow instead of starting them in pots inside under lights.

If you live in a warm climate, you can direct sow almost any crop. People who live in colder places either start their seeds indoors under lights or buy seedlings from a greenhouse that they can move into the garden once the risk of frost has passed. There won’t be enough time to harvest before the first frost in the fall if we don’t start some crops early.

Not all plants need to be started early under lights even for those of us in colder areas. It is possible to plant plants directly into the ground if they are hard to move or don’t need extra time to get going.

You can direct sow your seeds in a variety of ways. You can plant seeds in mounds, furrows, or by just poking holes in the ground and putting the seeds in them. Here are some common methods:

Block Method: Vegetable seeds are planted in grid patterns spaced evenly in all directions. The planting method is commonly used in square foot gardening, raised bed, or intensive gardening. When using the square foot gardening method, you plant each square based on how far apart the plants are told to be in the book. Or you can space your seeds according to the instructions on the seed package. Simply poke holes in the soil, drop in your seed, cover, and water.

The soil can be piled up into a small hill to make a raised planting area that drains well and heats up quickly, similar to a raised bed. Warm soil can help seeds germinate quicker. Some vegetables like squash and cucumbers like to spread out. Vine plants that grow in mounds in the middle of the garden bed have plenty of room to spread out. To grow a certain crop, you should make a mound of soil that is about 6 inches (15 cm) high and 1 or 2 feet (30–60 cm) across. Flatten out the top and plant your seeds according to the seed package instructions for depth and spacing. Water and keep soil damp until the seeds sprout.

Furrows or Rows: Following the seed package instructions for depth, dig a shallow trench through the soil. Spread the seeds out along the length of the trench according to the instructions on the seed package. Then, cover the seeds with soil. Water gently and keep the soil evenly moist.

How to Direct Sow

Pay attention to the seed packet. The back of the seed packet tells you how to plant your seeds for the best results. It tells you when to plant the seeds, how deep to plant them, how far apart to put them, and how to thin out the seedlings after they have grown.

The time to start your seeds will depend on your last frost date. This is the average date of the last expected frost date for your area. You can find your last frost date by contacting your local extension office or enter your zip code here at PlantMaps.com.

Get your Beds Ready: Before you plant your seeds, get your garden beds ready by getting rid of all the weeds and adding compost and fertilizer. Remove any large clumps and rocks. If the weather has been dry, prepare and water the bed very well the day before you sow.

Sow Your Seeds: Choose a way to plant your seeds and follow the directions on the seed package. Once the seeds are planted, firm the soil gently to ensure good contact between seed and soil. Mark your planting location with plant stakes so you don’t forget what you planted. Water in and keep the soil evenly moist until the seeds sprout. Don’t allow the soil to become waterlogged or the seeds will rot. Once the seedlings become established, let the soil dry slightly between waterings.

Spread out your seedlings. Often, the seed packet will tell you to plant more seeds in case some of them don’t grow. Some seeds, like Beets and Swiss chard will sprout multiple plants from one seed. You should thin your plants after the true leaves show up, as instructed on the seed packet, so they have more room to grow. The easiest way to thin is to use a pair of scissors. Choose the healthiest and strongest plants to survive, and cut the unwanted plants at the soil line. That way, you won’t disturb the roots of the remaining plants.

Mulch to Keep Soil Wet: Once the seedlings are established, cover the beds with mulch to keep the soil moist and help keep weeds down. Keep mulch a few inches away from the stems of your seedlings so it doesn’t smother the plants. Learn more about How to Use Mulch in Your Vegetable Garden.

13 Easy Vegetables to Direct Sow

There are generally two types of beans, bush and pole. Pole beans grow long vines and will need support of a pole or trellis. Pole beans continue to produce for a long time until frost. Bush beans produce their crop quicker and all around the same time. Plant several succession plantings of bush beans two weeks apart for a continuous harvest all summer long. Warm soil helps seeds sprout quickly, and letting them soak in water for 4 to 6 hours before planting can be helpful. Sow in late spring when the soil warms after danger of frost is past. For most varieties, plant 1-inch deep, 3-4 inches apart. Thinning is not usually necessary.

This double-duty crop produces both fresh greens and roots. Beets prefer cool weather. Direct sow seeds as soon as the ground can be worked. Sow every three weeks during the cooler months for a continuous harvest. Warmer soil helps seeds sprout faster, and letting them soak in water for 4 to 6 hours before planting can help them do better. For most varieties, plant seeds 1/4 inch deep and 1 inch apart. Beet seeds are actually a seedpod that contains several seeds. Once the beets are about 5-inches high, thin to one plant every 3-6 inches. You can eat the thinning.

Carrot seeds are small and difficult to space individually. Homemade Seed Mats make sowing carrot seeds easy. Carrots are a cool-season crop and will tolerate frost once established. Direct sow seeds about three weeks before the last expected frost. Sow seeds 1/2-inch deep and 1/3 inch apart. Keep soil evenly moist. If you want baby carrots, thin the seedlings to one plant every inch. If you want bigger carrots, thin them to one plant every three inches.

Corn needs to be planted in blocks or at least four short rows next to each other to make a block of plants. This is because wind pollinates corn. Direct sow seed outdoors when the soil temperature is about 60˚ F about two weeks after last frost. For most varieties, plant 1-inch deep, 4-6 inches apart. Thin to one plant every 12 inches.

Plant cucumbers in mounds and give the vines a lot of room to spread out. To save space, grow the vines along a trellis. Direct sow seeds when the soil has warmed, about a week after your last frost date. For most varieties, plant 1-inch deep, and 6-8 inches apart. Grow cucumbers on mounds. Put three plants in each hill, and leave 18 to 36 inches between hills. No thinning is needed if you are growing along a trellis or in mounds.

There are so many varieties of lettuce with various colored and shaped leaves. Lettuce prefers cool weather and will tolerate frost once established. Direct sow seeds as soon as the ground can be worked. Plant seeds 1/4-inch deep and keep soil evenly moist. Thin leaf lettuce should be spaced 4 inches apart, cos and loose-head lettuce should be spaced 8 inches apart, and firm-head lettuce should be spaced 16 inches apart. Homemade Seed Mats make sowing lettuce seeds easy.

Some types of peas have short vines and some have long vines, but all of them need trellis supports to satisfy their need to climb. The pods will be easier to harvest along a trellis too. Peas like cool weather and will tolerate some frost once the plants are established. Warm soil helps seeds sprout faster, and letting them soak in water for 4 to 6 hours before planting can be helpful. Direct sow pea seeds in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked. For most varieties, plant 1-inch deep, 2-3 inches apart. Thinning is not usually necessary.

Radishes are a rewarding vegetable to grow. It prefers cool weather and matures quickly. Sow every two weeks during the cooler months for a continuous harvest. Direct sow seeds as soon as the ground can be worked. For most varieties, plant 1/2-inches deep, 2-3 inches apart. Thinning is not usually necessary.

Scallions, which are also called bunching onions, can handle frost, and many varieties will survive the winter and grow again the next season, even in my garden in Maine. Direct sow seeds as soon as the ground can be worked. Plant seed 1/4 inch deep, 1/2 inch apart. Thin to 2-inch spacing for smaller bulbs but higher yields, or 1-inch spacing for scallions.

Spinach prefers cool weather and even young plants will tolerate frost. Sow every two weeks during the cooler months for a continuous harvest. Sow again in mid- to late summer for fall harvest. Seeds do not germinate well in warm soil. Pre-sprouting seeds increases the germination rate. Direct sow seeds as soon as the ground can be worked. For most varieties, plant seeds 1/2 inch deep, and 1-inch apart. Thin to 2-6 inch spacing.

There are two main types of squash, winter squash and summer squash. The difference is their harvest time. Summer squash is harvested young, while the skin is soft. Winter squash takes much longer to ripen and are harvested when fully mature. Direct sow seeds when the soil has warmed, about a week after your last frost date. Use the mounds method for most squash varieties. Plant 1-inch deep, and 6-8 inches apart. Space your hills 4-6 feet apart depending on the size of the fruit. Thin down to three plants per hill.

Swiss chard is one of the few greens that will grow in both cool weather and heat. Direct sow seeds two weeks before your last frost date. Warmer soil helps seeds sprout faster, and letting them soak in water for 4 to 6 hours before planting can help them do better. Plant seeds 1/2-inch deep and 2 inches apart. Like beets, Swiss chard seed pods have many seeds inside. When beets are 4 inches tall, thin them so that there is only one plant every 6 to 12 inches.

Grow turnips for both the greens and roots. It prefers cool weather. Sow every two weeks during the cooler months for a continuous harvest. Direct sow seeds as soon as the ground can be worked. For most varieties, plant 1/4-inch deep, 1-2 inches apart. When the seedlings are 4 inches tall, space the small types of turnips 2 to 4 inches apart and the bigger types 4 to 6 inches apart. Thinning is not necessary for greens.

Direct Sow ALL Your Vegetable Seed into the Garden

FAQ

Is it OK to plant seeds directly in the ground?

Which seed is most suitable for direct seeding?

What seeds can you just throw on the ground?

What plants can you grow from seed?

Seeds that you can sow directly into the garden include: Root crops, such as carrots, beets, radishes, and turnips. These crops do not transplant well, so it is best to start them from seed by direct sowing into the ground. Cool weather crops, such as lettuce, spinach, and peas.

Can you plant seeds directly in the ground?

**Direct sowing**, also known as **direct seeding**, involves planting seeds directly into the outdoor garden soil without the need for special equipment or seed trays.

What seeds can be sown outside?

Most types of vegetable and flower seeds prefer to be direct sown outdoors. Some examples include carrots, peas, sunflowers, and marigolds. Direct sowing is usually the best way to plant seeds of plants that have big leafy seedlings.

Which crops grow best if direct seeded?

Some crops grow best when direct seeded, including corn, pumpkins, zucchini, and beans. Direct sowing is the process of planting seeds directly into the soil without pre-planting them in a seed tray or small planter pot. There are many benefits to direct sowing, including saving time and money.