Planting & seeds
When will my crop be ready to harvest?
Days to maturity turned into a calendar date, counted from sowing or from transplanting depending on the crop.
How this works
Seed packets count days-to-maturity from direct sowing; for transplants, count from the day it goes in the ground.
Questions people ask
Is days to maturity counted from seed or transplant?
It depends on the crop, and getting it wrong costs weeks. Tomatoes, peppers and brassicas count from transplant; beans, carrots and squash from sowing.
Why is my crop later than the packet says?
Days to maturity assumes ideal weather. A cool spring, short days or drought all stretch it, so expect 10 to 20 percent longer in a bad year.
Does days to maturity mean the whole harvest?
No, it is first pick. Beans and cucumbers keep producing for weeks after; sweet corn is close to a single date.