How to Read a Seed Packet: Germination, Days to Maturity and More

A seed packet is a small instruction manual. Once you know how to read it, you can plan your entire season around the information printed on the back. Here is what each term means.

Variety name and type

Besides the common name (“tomato”), the variety name (“Cherokee Purple”) tells you exactly what you will grow. Look also for these labels:

• Heirloom: an older variety passed down for generations, always open-pollinated.
• Open-pollinated: seeds you save will grow true to type.
• Hybrid (F1): a cross of two parent varieties, often bred for vigor or disease resistance. Saved seeds will not grow true.
• Non-GMO: not genetically engineered. Note that virtually all garden seed sold to home gardeners is non-GMO.

Annual, biennial or perennial

Annuals complete their life cycle in one season. Biennials (like parsley and foxglove) flower in their second year. Perennials return year after year.

Sowing depth and spacing

Depth tells you how deep to plant. Spacing has two numbers: distance between seeds when sowing, and final spacing after thinning. Respect final spacing — crowded plants compete and get sick more easily.

Days to germination

How long seeds typically take to sprout under the right conditions. If parsley says 14–21 days, do not give up on day eight.

Days to maturity

For vegetables, this is roughly how long until first harvest. For crops usually transplanted (tomatoes, peppers), it is counted from transplanting, not from sowing. Compare this number with the length of your growing season between frosts.

Sun requirements

• Full sun: 6+ hours of direct sun
• Partial sun/shade: 3–6 hours
• Shade: under 3 hours

Hardiness zone

For perennials, shrubs and trees, the USDA hardiness zone range tells you where the plant survives winter. A plant rated zones 4–9 will survive winters in those zones.

Special instructions

Watch for notes like “needs light to germinate,” “soak before planting,” “requires cold stratification” or “direct sow — does not transplant well.” These details often make the difference between success and failure.

Each product page in our seed shop lists these details so you can plan with confidence.