How to Grow

Growing from seed starts with understanding the variety you have chosen. This guide covers common questions about planting, seed storage, and caring for seedlings.

Always follow the instructions for your specific variety. Planting depth, temperature, light requirements, and germination time can differ between vegetables, herbs, and flowers.

Getting Started

Where can I get help with growing questions?

For questions about a Vorian Seeds product or its planting instructions, email support@vorianseeds.com. Include the product name and your order number, if available.

For local planting dates, soil advice, or pest and disease identification, consult a local horticultural advisory service. U.S. gardeners can contact their state or county Cooperative Extension office. Canadian gardeners can consult a provincial gardening resource or local horticultural organization.

When should I plant my seeds?

Use the variety’s planting instructions together with your local climate, frost dates, and soil conditions.

Some crops prefer cool weather, while others need warm soil and frost-free conditions. A calendar date alone does not establish whether conditions are suitable.

If you are unsure about the instructions for a product, contact us before planting.

Should I sow directly outdoors or start indoors?

This depends on the crop. Some varieties transplant well, while others are better sown directly where they will grow.

Check the product instructions before choosing your method. Starting seeds indoors too early can leave you with seedlings that outgrow their containers before outdoor conditions are suitable.

How deep should I plant seeds?

Follow the recommended depth for the variety.

Some small seeds need light to germinate and should be surface-sown or only lightly covered. Other seeds require a covering of growing medium. Avoid applying the same planting depth to every seed type.

How should I water newly planted seeds?

Moisten the growing medium before sowing, then keep it evenly moist without leaving it waterlogged.

Water gently to avoid disturbing small seeds, and use containers with drainage. Check moisture regularly rather than watering on a fixed schedule regardless of conditions.

Light, Temperature & Seedlings

Can I start seeds on a windowsill?

A bright windowsill may work, but light levels and temperatures can be inconsistent. Seedlings that stretch or lean toward the window may need more light.

A suitable grow light can provide more consistent lighting. Follow the light manufacturer’s guidance on placement and adjust as your seedlings grow.

Do I need a heat mat?

Not every variety needs supplemental heat. A seedling heat mat may help when the growing medium is cooler than the variety’s recommended germination temperature.

Follow the product instructions and avoid overheating. Reassess the need for supplemental heat after seedlings emerge.

What do “light” and “dark” mean in germination instructions?

These terms describe conditions during germination:

  • Light required: Seeds need exposure to light. Follow the variety’s instructions for surface sowing or light covering.
  • Darkness required: Seeds need protection from light during germination. Use the recommended sowing depth or covering method.

Once seedlings emerge, provide the growing light appropriate for the plant.

When can I move indoor seedlings outdoors?

Move seedlings outside when they are ready for transplanting and conditions suit the crop.

Gradually introduce them to outdoor light, wind, and temperatures before planting them in their final location. This process is called hardening off.

Protect frost-sensitive plants from cold conditions.

Where can I learn more about starting seeds indoors?

For additional guidance, visit the University of Maryland Extension’s indoor seed-starting guide.

Understanding Your Seeds

Are all your seeds organic, untreated, or disease-resistant?

Do not assume that a seed has a particular treatment, certification, or resistance trait unless it is specifically stated in the product information.

If you need clarification about a product, contact us before purchasing or planting.

What do common seed terms mean?

  • Untreated: Generally indicates that a protective seed treatment has not been applied. It does not, by itself, establish organic certification.
  • Treated: Seeds have received a stated treatment. Follow the package’s handling and planting instructions.
  • Pelleted: Seeds have an added coating that makes them larger or more uniform for handling and sowing.
  • Primed: Seeds have undergone a controlled preparation process intended to support germination. Follow any specific storage and sowing instructions.
  • Organic: Refers to a certified production claim where expressly identified. It should not be inferred from appearance or from an “untreated” description.

These are general explanations, not claims that every seed type listed is available in our store.

How many seeds will I receive?

Check the selected product option and package details before ordering. Seed quantities can vary by product and variant.

For products sold by weight, seed count may vary with seed size and the individual lot. Treat any stated approximate count as an estimate.

What does “days to maturity” mean?

It is an estimate of the time needed to reach a stated harvest or maturity stage under suitable conditions.

Depending on the crop and the supplier’s convention, the count may start at sowing or transplanting. Check the product information for the starting point rather than assuming it is the same for every variety.

Weather, growing conditions, and the intended harvest stage can affect timing. It is not a guaranteed harvest date.

Seed Storage & Saving

How should I store unused seeds?

For many common vegetable, herb, and flower seeds:

  • Keep the seeds dry, cool, and away from direct sunlight.
  • Store labeled packets in a sealed, moisture-resistant container.
  • Keep them away from damp areas and sources of heat.
  • Follow any variety-specific storage instructions.

Dry seeds of many common vegetables can be refrigerated in a tightly sealed container that protects them from moisture. Refrigeration is not a substitute for keeping seeds dry.

Storage life varies by species, seed condition, and storage environment. Seed size alone does not determine how long seeds remain viable.

Can I save seeds from plants I grow?

Often, yes, but results depend on the variety and pollination.

Open-pollinated plants are generally better suited to saving seed that resembles the parent variety when unwanted cross-pollination is prevented. Seeds saved from hybrid plants may produce different characteristics.

Harvesting, cleaning, and drying methods vary by crop. For more information, see the University of Minnesota Extension’s seed-saving guide.

My seed package was exposed to freezing weather. Is it damaged?

Cold exposure alone does not establish whether the seeds are damaged. The outcome depends on the species, moisture content, packaging, temperature, and duration of exposure.

Keep the package dry and inspect it for moisture or damage. If you are concerned about a delivered order, contact us with the product name and photographs where practical.

Germination Questions

Why have my seeds not sprouted?

Check the variety’s expected germination period and growing requirements. Possible factors include:

  • Growing medium that is too cold or too warm.
  • Too much or too little moisture.
  • Incorrect sowing depth.
  • Unsuitable light conditions.
  • Seed deterioration or storage damage.
  • A variety-specific preparation requirement.

Some seeds need more time than others. Avoid digging them up repeatedly, which can disturb developing roots.

If the expected germination period has passed, contact us with the variety name, sowing date, and details of your growing conditions.

Should I soak or chill every type of seed before planting?

No. Preparation requirements vary by species. Only use soaking, chilling, scarification, or other preparation methods when recommended for the particular variety.

Applying an unnecessary treatment can reduce rather than improve success.

What if my seeds fail to germinate?

Our 90-Day Grow Guarantee covers qualifying germination claims submitted within 90 calendar days of purchase, subject to the planting conditions and requirements in our policy.

Email support@vorianseeds.com with your order number, the affected variety, and a description of when and how you planted the seeds.

For full eligibility and claim procedures, see Our Guarantee and our Return, Refund & Warranty Policy.

This guide provides growing information and does not shorten your applicable guarantee or consumer rights.

Product Availability

Why is a variety out of stock or no longer listed?

Availability can change because of supply, seasonal demand, or changes to our assortment.

Contact us if you cannot find a variety you previously purchased. We can check current availability and discuss available alternatives, but we cannot promise a restock date unless one has been confirmed.

Contact Us

Email: support@vorianseeds.com
Phone: +1 (307) 381-8790

Service Hours:
Monday–Friday: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM Mountain Time (MT)
Saturday–Sunday: Closed

We aim to respond within one business day. For growing questions, include the variety name, planting date, growing conditions, and photographs where available.