What do the different Growing Difficulty ratings mean?

We use a simple set of variables to determine the difficulty of growing:

• Is seed preparation required?
• Are there any specialized processes involved?
• Does it need a little extra diligence during the growing period?
• How long does it take to be ready for harvest?

Generally a seed that is rated as Easy to grow requires little to no prep, does not call for any special steps or processes, requires only watering, and is ready to harvest as early as 7 days after sowing. The vast majority of seeds we carry fall into this category.

Seeds rated as Medium difficulty may need some prep (for example, soaking the seed prior to sowing), may require an extra step during the planting process (such as  being covered by grow medium instead of just being sown on top), may need a little extra care (for example, the seed is mucilaginous so it gets sticky when wet), and may need more time to be ready for harvest (micro herbs are a good example).

Seeds rated as Expert (there are very few) require more attention and some special or very specific techniques to grow successfully.