A seed packet is both a product label and a planting reference. It identifies the crop and variety, then usually provides the sowing depth, spacing, timing, expected days to maturity, and other lot-specific information. Read the current packet and product listing together: varieties differ, and a general crop chart should not override the directions supplied for that seed.
Use this guide with the seed-label comparison guide when deciding among organic, heirloom, hybrid, open-pollinated, and non-GMO options. Then browse vegetable seeds, herb seeds, or flower seeds.
Seed packet quick-reference
| Packet information | What it tells you | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Crop and variety | The plant and named cultivar | Keep the variety name on every garden label and record. |
| Pack or lot year | When the seed was packed or tested | Use it with storage history; it is not an automatic expiration date. |
| Germination | A test result for a defined seed lot, when provided | Plan for normal variation rather than treating the percentage as a garden guarantee. |
| Planting depth | How much medium should cover the seed | Measure small depths carefully; some seeds require light and should be surface sown. |
| Seed spacing | Initial distance between sown seeds | Use this when sowing, then thin to the final plant spacing. |
| Plant or row spacing | Space required by mature plants | Plan bed length and airflow before sowing. |
| Days to maturity | An estimate tied to the seller's convention | Check whether counting begins at sowing or transplanting and allow for weather. |
| Direct sow or transplant | The recommended establishment method | Direct sow root-sensitive crops; start long-season crops indoors when appropriate. |
Understand days to maturity
Days to maturity are an estimate, not a fixed harvest date. For a direct-sown crop, sellers commonly count from sowing. For a transplanted crop, some count from transplanting while others count from seeding. Weather, soil temperature, plant stress, day length, variety, and the harvest stage all affect the actual date. If the packet is unclear, use the current product description or contact the seller.
Compare the estimate with the frost-free portion of your season. Our frost-date seed-starting calendar explains how to work backward from an outdoor planting date.
Planting depth, spacing, and thinning
Planting too deeply can exhaust a small seed before it emerges; planting too shallowly can expose it to drying. Follow the packet first. When no crop-specific direction is available, extension guidance sometimes uses a rough rule of planting a seed about two times as deep as its width, but light-germinating species are important exceptions.
Do not confuse seed spacing with final spacing. Gardeners often sow small seeds closer together and then thin after emergence. Final spacing provides room for roots, leaves, airflow, and harvest access. For rows or blocks, multiply final spacing by the number of plants to estimate the bed length; use our seed-quantity planning guide for a practical calculation.
Organic, non-GMO, heirloom, hybrid, and untreated
- Certified organic describes regulated production and handling. Verify the statement and certifier on the current listing.
- Non-GMO addresses genetic engineering; it is not the same as organic certification.
- Heirloom describes a variety's history, although definitions vary.
- Open-pollinated varieties may reproduce relatively true to type when isolated and maintained carefully.
- Hybrid describes a deliberate cross and does not mean genetically engineered.
- Untreated is a treatment statement, not an organic-certification claim.
A five-step packet workflow
- Confirm the crop, variety, and current product attributes.
- Choose direct sowing or indoor starting.
- Put the sowing window, depth, and expected emergence on your calendar.
- Calculate final spacing and the number of plants you can accommodate.
- Record the lot or pack year, sowing date, emergence, and actual harvest timing.
Seed packet questions
Is the pack date an expiration date?
No. It identifies when the seed was packed or labeled. Storage temperature, moisture, crop, and initial seed quality affect how quickly viability changes.
Does a germination percentage predict my exact garden stand?
No. A controlled germination test describes that lot under defined conditions. Outdoor soil, temperature, water, depth, crusting, and pests also affect emergence.
Can I use days to maturity as my harvest date?
Use it as a planning estimate. Confirm whether counting begins at sowing or transplanting and allow for seasonal conditions.
Which packet direction wins if a general chart differs?
Use the current variety-specific packet unless a reliable local source identifies a reason to adjust for your region.
Continue planning your seed garden
- How long seeds last in storage
- Soil temperature for seed germination
- When to start seeds indoors
- How much seed do I need?
Return to the Seed Learning Center for crop guides, seed-starting help, and shopping pathways.