Working outside in the garden with the sun on your back, what could be better! Get a head start on summer and grow your own seedlings according to the planting guides below. Vegetables, herbs, perennial flowers and annuals: we have it all!

Most Read! Our magazine "Seeds are key"

and our latest magazine "The excitement of new seeds"

When to start indoor seedlings

February is a good time to start planning your sowing and get essential material. But before you put the seeds in the soil, make sure the timing is right for when you will be able to transplant to the garden.

  • Determine when the last frost should be in your area
  • Check the seed packet to know when you can sow
  • Choose the right seeds for your hardiness zone

Vegetable seedlings: what you need to know

If a big vegetable harvest is what you have in mind, check out the optimum growing conditions for vegetable seedlings according to each variety. Use the garden planner below.

NameDateDepthContainerGerminationTransplantingSpacing in the vegetable gardenMaturity
AsparagusEarly February2,5 cmTray14-21 dMid-May60 cmSpring
EggplantMid-March3 mmTray8-17 dMid-May40 cm60-80 d
BeetMid-May1 cmSoil  15 cm50-95 d
BroccoliEarly April6 mmTray10-12 dEarly June60 cm60-80 d
CeleryEarly March3 mmTray21-25 dEnd of May20-30 cm90-110 d
CauliflowerEarly April6 mmTray10-12 dMid-May50-60 cm70-90 d
Pumpkin and squashEarly May2,5 cmPeat Cup8-10 dEarly June1,25 m – 2,5 m90-120 d
CucumberMid-April2,5 cmPeat Cup8-10 dEarly June25 cm50-70 d
SpinachMid-May3 cmSoil  10 cm60-80 d
LettuceMid-April6 mmTray8-10 dMid-May20-25 cm45-90 d
OnionEarly March1 cmTray12-14 dMid-May15 cm50-120 d
PepperEarly March1 cmTray6-8 dJune30-45 cm70-80 d
LeekEarly March1 cmTray10-14 dMid-May15 cm110-120 d
TomatoMid-March to Mid-April6 mmCTray or pots5-8 dEarly June45-60 cm50-80 d

Source : W.H. Perron

Produce your own herb seedlings

Because they enhance all cooking, herbs are practically indispensable. If you start your herbs from seed, you will be able to rely on a plentiful and flavourful crop. Here is an outline of the optimum growing conditions for most herbs.

NameDateOutside/InsideGermination
DillMid-MayOutside5-7 d
BasilMid- AprilInside12-18 d
ChivesMid- AprilInside7-10 d
CilantroMid-MayOutside5-10 d
MarjoramMid- AprilInside8-10 d
OreganoMid- AprilInside3-10 d
ParsleyEarly AprilInside12-21 d
Summer SavoryMid-MarchInside2-10 d
SageMid-MarchInside5-12 d
ThymeMid-MarchInside2-20 d

Growing flowers from seed

If you love your flowers, seedlings are a great way to expand the number of flower varieties you can grow and enjoy throughout the summer. Here are some pertinent details concerning the most common varieties.

NameAnnual/PerennialDateDepthGerminationTransplantationSpacing
AlyssumAnnualMid-AprilOn the surface7-12 dLate May20-30 cm
BegoniaAnnualEarly FebruaryOn the surface15-20 dEarly June15 cm
ColeusPerennialEarly AprilOn the surface10-15 dEarly June20-30 cm
DahliaAnnualEarly April3 mm5-10 dLate May30-50 cm
GaillardiaPerennialEarly AprilOn the surface15-20 dLate May30 cm
GeraniumAnnualEarly February6 mm5-15 dLate May20-25 cm
ImpatiensAnnualMid-FebruaryOn the surface10-18 dEarly June20-30 cm
LavenderPerennialJanuaryOn the surface4 to 6 wksLate May50 cm
Bee BalmPerennialMid-FebruaryOn the surface15-20 dLate May30 cm
PansyAnnualMid-February6 mm7-14 dEarly May15-20 cm
PetuniaAnnualEarly FebruaryOn the surface10-12 dLate May25-30 cm
Black-eyed SusanPerennialLate April6 mm5-10 dLate May25-30 cm
SagePerennialEarly AprilOn the surface10-12 dLate May25 cm
SunflowerAnnualMid-May, outside3 cm6-10 dLate MaySmall: 15 cm
Large: 20-25 cm
Giant: 30 cm

W. H. Perron sowing guides for annuals, biennials and perennials.

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