Horticulture Tips

Safflower Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/4”
Seed Spacing:1”
Plant Spacing:12”
Days to Germination:10-14 days
Germination Temperature:70°F

Carthamus tinctorius. False Saffron has tufted, thistle-like, glowing orange and yellow flowers with dark green foliage on strong, well-branching stems. Good for fresh and dried bouquets, this decorative edible may be direct sown outdoors as soon as the ground may be worked in the spring. Press the seeds firmly 1 ⁄4" deep in well-draining, fertile loamy soil in full sunlight.

Keep uniformly moist until the seedlings emerge, in 1 to 2 weeks. To raise as transplants, sow the seeds 5 weeks before the last frost date in a good seed starting medium, provide even moisture and a consistent 70˚F temperature until the seedlings emerge in 2 weeks. Once established, thin plants to 2" to 3" apart. Prior to transplanting when 3" tall, acclimate the seedlings by gradually exposing them to outside conditions for 1 to 2 weeks. Space plants 12" apart in the

Mexican Hat Sowing Instructions
Planting Depth:1/8”
Seed Spacing:2”
Plant Spacing:12”-16”
Days to Germination:14-28 days
Germination Temperature:70°F

Ratibida columnifera. The Mexican Hat flower has drooping, fiery yellow to red flowers below a long, reddish-brown central disk that look like sombreros on single, leafless stems with low growing, feathery foliage. Sow seed directly into the garden in early spring. It requires full sun, well-draining soil and a cold period to germinate reliably. Press firmly into the soil, lightly covering with soil, and water moderately. Light aids germination. Keep the bed moist until the seeds germinate, which can take 2 to 4 weeks. (It may also be direct sown in the fall for spring germination.)

To start seed indoors, wrap the seeds in a moist paper towel, place in a plastic bag and refrigerate for 2 to 4 weeks. Sow seeds in a starter tray. Transplant outdoors after the seedlings are 2" tall.

Thin seedlings to 12" to 18" inches apart and water moderately

That moment when you can bring the seedlings you've tended indoors outside and lovingly plant them in their carefully laid-out beds is sweet. But the seed starting doesn't end when you've moved those seedlings outdoors! There are lots of veggies and flowers that prefer to be sown directly into your garden beds. Direct-sowing seeds is so rewarding, and easy. All it tales is a bit of patience and close attention. In this blog post, we lay out how to direct-sow, and tell you which vegetables, herbs and flowers prefer this method.

We all love growing herbs in our gardens. It's wonderful to have them at hand when cooking, and it's so nice to enjoy their good looks, scents and flavors while wandering the garden, too. But there are really only so much herbs you can use while cooking on a day to day basis. Why not use up your herbal surplus by making herbal teas? Most herbs that are commonly grown for tea, like Rosemary, Lemongrass, Lemon Balm and Spearmint, can be steeped both fresh and dried, so be sure to plant enough to store for the colder months, when a hot cup of tea will warm you up and remind you of your garden while it's covered in snow.

There's a certain level of pride and satisfaction that comes from starting seeds indoors, under grow lights. Setting up the lights, choosing just the right seed starting mix, sowing the seeds carefully, and watching over the soil for little sprouts to emerge. But darn it all, don't you sometimes want to just shove a seed into the ground, splash it with a hose and come back in a few days to see it growing all on its own? That can happen... Some annual flowering varieties actually prefer being sown where they're meant to grow. Here are our top ten picks for the absolute easiest flowering annuals to grow from seeds!

If you have a veggie garden on the small side, or if you're just starting out in the world of veggie gardening, there are certain crops you might hesitate to grow because they take up too much real estate. If you're feeling hemmed in by the constraints of your garden, try these smaller versions of normally-space-hogging veggies. They'll help you make the most of your garden's square footage, and make summertime dinners so much more interesting and delicious.

It's the depths of winter, and our gardens are peacefully slumbering. We've retreated indoors to cozy up to the fire and catch up on our favorite TV shows. But really, as much as we might enjoy the reprieve that winter brings, does your desire to garden ever sleep? Ours doesn't! Luckily, there is seed starting to plan for, and our seed catalog, but there are so many more ways to keep our gardening minds and hands active in the coldest months, both indoors and out.

One of the most-asked questions we get here at Kitchen Garden Seeds is, "When should I start my seeds?" It's a good question, and the short answer is, "It depends." It depends on your climate, the type of seeds you're sowing, and more. We thought we'd lay it all out for you in this post, which will help when you're planning your seed order.

Starting seeds indoors is fun and satisfying. It saves you money on plants and allows you to grow varieties that you just can't find locally. After months of wintry weather, starting seeds gets your hands back into the soil at long last. Just imagine Eggplants, Tomatoes and Zinnias, all started from tiny seeds. But how does one get started? Here's all the information you need.

Garlic Growing Instructions

Harvest-Time Tips for Globe Onions and Garlic

Deer Resistant Seed Varieties

Mini Meadow/Habitat Flower Garden Planting Instructions

Onion Set Growing Instructions

Harvest-Time Tips for Globe Onions and Garlic

The Flavor Makers: Onions, Leeks and Shallots

Deer Resistant Seed Varieties