What Does "Days to Maturity" Mean?Updated 4 months ago

Days to maturity is a key piece of information on vegetable seed packets, identifying the approximate period from germination to when your produce will be ready for harvest. It’s important to remember that first you wait for the seeds to germinate, then count the approximate days to maturity before expecting your harvest. Some early produce may appear sooner.

However, flowers and herbs do not include days to maturity for several reasons:

• Herbs: Since herbs are typically harvested for their leaves, you can start doing light harvests as soon as the plant is large enough to handle some cutting.
• Flowers: Flowering times vary greatly depending on the species, season, and growing conditions. Some may bloom only in a specific season, while others flower intermittently across multiple seasons.

Remember, these timelines are estimates, not precise harvest dates. For example, a vegetable marked for 88 days to maturity may take slightly longer or shorter, depending on various factors like weather and growing conditions.