When does “days to maturity” start for plants?
Question:
When does “days to maturity” start? Some of my flower farmer friends say it’s when you start the plant inside before transplanting them outside. Others have told me it’s when you transplant it outside.
Answer:
The answer is… it’s a little complicated. 🙂
The broad, mostly followed rule when companies put these estimates on a seed packet is that for direct-sown seeds in the garden (e.g., corn, peas, radishes), the count starts from germination (which you don’t really see, technically, as it’s underground, but you do see the quickly following sprout pushing up through the soil–close enough). For seeds started indoors, the count starts when they are transplanted out and begin actively growing the garden.
That said, be aware there aren’t any real rules or regulations governing these estimates, and different companies handle it differently–it’s helpful if the packet specifies, which some do. And there are other factors at play in how accurate the estimate is, as well. Temperature, day length, precipitation, soil conditions, pollinator presence/absence, etc., all play a huge part in when a plant matures to the harvest point. Unsurprisingly, plants grow according to their genetics+growing conditions, not the human estimates printed on the label. And a commercial operation like a flower grower has running may shorten the estimate, too, because of focused cultivation and optimization of all the factors above.
In the end, these estimates are just that–estimates. They should give you a good working idea for how long this crop will take, but shouldn’t be used by home gardeners as a firm milestone to circle in red on the calendar.
Happy gardening.