Seed packets pack a surprising amount of planning information into a few lines of small print. Misreading any one of them is a common reason first plantings fail.
Days to maturity
This counts from either direct-sowing or transplanting outdoors — not from the day you started seeds indoors. A tomato listed at "75 days" means 75 days after it goes into the ground as a transplant, not 75 days from seed.
Sowing depth and spacing
Depth matters more than most gardeners assume: seeds sown too deep may never reach the surface, while seeds sown too shallow dry out before germinating. As a rule of thumb, plant at a depth of roughly twice the seed's diameter.
"Days to germination" vs. "days to maturity"
These are frequently confused. Germination time tells you how long before you see a seedling at all; maturity tells you how long until harvest. A packet listing "7–14 days germination, 60 days maturity" means roughly 46–53 additional days of growing after the seedling emerges.
Hardiness zone map
The small map on the back is a planting-date guide, not a growing guarantee. It shows recommended outdoor planting windows by region — cross-reference it with your specific USDA zone and average frost dates rather than reading it as a strict rule.
