Is it too early to start sowing seeds?

Every year, without fail, we find ourselves standing in the greenhouse in early spring, seed packets in hand, asking the same question: is it too early to start sowing seeds? The days are getting a touch longer, the urge to grow your own vegetables is strong… but outside, it can still feel very much like winter.

The short answer? Not all seeds are ready to go just yet, but some absolutely are. Let’s take a gentle wander through when to start sowing seeds, what you can sow now, and how to avoid ending up with leggy, unhappy seedlings. Find out exactly which seeds to sow and when with our handy sowing calendar.

Understanding Your Growing Season (and Your Frost Date)

Before you sow vegetables, it helps to know your last frost date. This is the average date when cold temperatures finally ease and it’s safer to move seedlings outdoors. Most seed packets are based around this, often saying things like “start seeds 6–8 weeks before last frost”.

In a cold spring, starting too early can cause more problems than it solves. Plants grow, but without enough light and warmth they can become weak, stretched, and stressed. Your growing season matters just as much as enthusiasm.

Starting Seeds Indoors: When It Makes Sense

Starting seeds indoors is brilliant for giving certain crops a head start, especially warm season vegetables and tender crops that need a long growing season.

Good candidates for seeds indoors include:

• Tomato seeds (and later tomato seedlings)
• Chilli peppers and sweet peppers
• Cucumber seeds
• Aubergine seeds
• Onion seeds and spring onions

These vegetable seeds benefit from being started weeks earlier in a warm, protected space. Using grow lights or a very bright windowsill makes a huge difference to healthy seedlings.

Just remember: not all seeds want this treatment.

Not All Seeds Want to Be Sown Early

Some seeds really dislike being moved. Root vegetables like carrots and parsnips are best direct sown outdoors, once soil temperature has warmed a little. Cool weather crops such as broad beans, peas, and some salad greens can cope with chilly conditions, but even they have limits.

If seed packets say “direct sowing” or “direct sown outdoors”, trust them. Sowing seeds indoors too early can mean lots of effort for very little reward.

What You Can Sow in Early Spring

If you’re itching to get going in early spring, here are a few seeds to sow without too much worry:

• Broad beans
• Salad greens
• Cool season crops like spinach
• Certain flower seeds

These cope better with cooler soil and fluctuating temperatures, especially if you use a cold frame or fleece for protection.

Getting Seed Sowing Right Indoors

If you’re seed starting indoors, a few basics make all the difference:

• Use a proper seed starting mix or fine potting mix (not garden soil)
• Choose seed trays or seed starting containers with drainage holes (even yogurt cups work – just add a few drainage holes)
• Fill containers to just below the soil line
• Sow tiny seeds on the surface, larger seeds a little deeper
• Water gently so newly planted seeds aren’t washed away

Many seeds can be sown individually, especially larger seeds, which helps avoid disturbing delicate roots later.

Watching Seeds Germinate (and Knowing When to Wait)

Once seeds germinate, the real patience test begins. Newly germinated seedlings need light, airflow, and careful watering. Too much warmth without light leads to floppy growth. Too much water leads to rot.

If your seedlings outdoors would face frost, hold back. Seedlings outdoors should only go out once frost date has passed and soil temperature is suitable.

A Gentle Reminder: There’s No Rush

It’s tempting to sow many seeds in the first week the sun reappears, but succession planting often gives better results. Sowing more seeds a little later can mean stronger plants and an easier growing season overall.

Garden centres and your local garden center will still have plants later on, and your own vegetables will thank you for good timing rather than haste.

So, is it too early to start sowing seeds? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Check your seed packets, respect your frost date, and remember, the joy is in the growing, not the racing.