Garden Library
Seed Starting & Saving
How to Read a Seed Packet for Better Garden Success
Learn how to read a seed packet and understand planting depth, spacing, germination, days to maturity, and more for better garden success.
How to Thin Seedlings for Healthier Plants: A Complete Guide
Learn how to thin seedlings for healthier plants. Discover why thinning matters, when to do it, and how to improve airflow, spacing, and growth in your garden.
How to Direct Sow Seeds in Southern Gardens: A Complete Guide
Learn how to direct sow seeds in southern gardens. Discover when to plant, how deep to sow, watering tips, and how to improve germination in warm climates.
How to Harden Off Seedlings Before Planting Outdoors: A Complete Guide
Learn how to harden off seedlings before planting outdoors. Discover why hardening off matters, how long it takes, and how to help young plants adjust safely.
How to Start Seeds Indoors for Southern Gardens: A Complete Guide
Starting seeds indoors is one of the best ways to get a head start on the gardening season. It gives gardeners more control over timing, helps extend the growing season, and makes it easier to grow healthy transplants for the garden. For Southern gardeners, indoor...
Seed Starting – Transplant or Direct Seed?
Learn which seeds are best started indoors and which are best direct seeded. A practical guide to seed starting, transplanting, and planning by frost dates.
Seed Viability
Learn how long garden seeds can last with good storage. This seed viability guide includes common vegetables and general storage life.
Hardening Off Transplants
Learn how to harden off transplants before planting them outside. Gradually exposing young plants to sun, wind, and temperature changes helps prevent transplant shock.
Seed Saving Guide
Seed Saving Guide Crops – The chart is organized alphabetically by crop type, all the way from amaranth to wild arugula. Species – The species column shows the scientific name for each crop type. This is important because varieties of the same species...
How to Start Seeds
How To Start Your Own Seeds I really enjoy starting my vegetables and herbs from seed. Every time I see that first sprout coming up I feel like I am seeing a miracle. In a way it is. In just a couple of months that little sprout is a huge plant with tomatoes, squash...
Safe Seed Pledge
The Safe Seed Pledge: "Agriculture and seeds provide the basis upon which our lives depend. We must protect this foundation as a safe and genetically stable source for future generations. For the benefit of all farmers, gardeners and consumers who want an alternative,...
Seed Saving Basics
Germination Chart
Germination Chart (Days to germinate are for optimal conditions) Type OPTIMUM SOIL TEMPERATURE FOR GERMINATION DAYS TO GERMINATE AT OPTIMUM SOIL TEMPERATURE Bean, lima 85 degrees F 7 to 10 days...
Florida Plant Hardiness Zone Map
New updated 2023 Florida Vegetable Gardening Plant Hardiness Zone Map Use this to determine your zone when Planning out your garden. Then go to the Florida Planting Guide for planting out dates. Remeber this is Not perfect, we still need to pay attention to the...
Seed Storage
Seed Storage The Florida Backyard Vegetable Gardener's Way There are many companies out there selling "Seed Vaults", "Survival Seed Packages" etc. They are very expensive and have elaborate packaging. I have done extensive research on proper seed storage. Here is what...
Seed Saving and Germination Testing
Seed Saving and Growing Your Own Seed Saving can become a very addicting hobby. It is also a way to insure seed quality and purity if done properly. Hybrids & F1 Hybrids You can’t or wouldn't want to save seeds from hybrids, or F1 hybrids. They would not grow true...