Side by side
Pick two or three seeds to see how they grow, side by side: sprouting, spacing, sun, water, frost and pet safety in one table.
Comparing Acorn Squash vs. Cucumber vs. Asparagus
The comparison
| Fact | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Easy | Moderate | Moderate |
| Life cycle | Annual | Annual | Perennial |
| Germination time | Not yet verified | 7–14 days | Not yet verified |
| Germination temperature | Not yet verified | Not yet verified | 18–27 °C64–81 °F |
| Sowing depth | Not yet verified | Not yet verified | 1.5–2 cm½–¾ in |
| Spacing between plants | Not yet verified | 30 cm12 in | 30–46 cm12–18 in |
| Sun | Full sun | Full sun | Full sun |
| Water | Moderate | High | Not yet verified |
| Containers | Not yet verified | Yes | Not yet verified |
| Frost tolerance | Not yet verified | Tender (no frost) | Hardy |
| Soil pH | pH 6.0–8.0 | pH 6.0–6.8 | pH 6.0–8.0 |
| Toxicity to cats | Non-toxic | Non-toxic | Not yet verified |
| Toxicity to dogs | Non-toxic | Non-toxic | Not yet verified |
| Links |
Up close
What each one is, in a few lines, with the full growing guide one click away.
VegetablesCucurbita pepo
Acorn squash is a sprawling annual vine that prefers full sun and moderately moist soil. It is easy to sow from seed when the soil is warm, and it is non-toxic to cats and dogs.
How to grow acorn squashVegetablesCucumis sativus
A warm-season climbing vine for sunny spots. Sow it after the last frost once the soil is warm, give it a trellis and plenty of water, and pick often to keep it producing.
How to grow cucumberVegetablesAsparagus officinalis
Asparagus is a long-lived perennial vegetable that most gardeners start from crowns. Growing it from seed adds a year or more before the first harvest, and the plant needs full sun.
How to grow asparagusKeep comparing
Add a third seed, or swap one for a close relative from the same category.
Acorn Squash vs. Armenian CucumberAcorn Squash against another vegetableCucumber vs. Armenian CucumberCucumber against another vegetableAsparagus vs. Armenian CucumberAsparagus against another vegetable
Acorn Squash vs. ArtichokeAcorn Squash against another vegetableCucumber vs. ArtichokeCucumber against another vegetableAsparagus vs. ArtichokeAsparagus against another vegetableThe table, row by row
Every row is a fact from each seed's own profile, lined up so the differences stand out.
Germination time and temperature
How many days the seeds take to sprout, and the temperature range they sprout in.
Sowing depth and spacing
How deep to sow each seed and how far apart the plants should grow. “On the surface” means the seed isn't covered.
Days to maturity and life cycle
How long until the plant is ready, counted from sowing or from transplanting (each value says which). Annuals live one year, biennials two, perennials longer.
Sun and water
Full sun means 6 or more hours of direct sun a day, partial shade a few hours. Water needs are rated low, moderate or high.
Containers, frost tolerance and soil pH
Whether it grows in a pot, with the smallest pot when it's known. Frost tolerance runs from tender (no frost) to hardy. Soil pH 7 is neutral.
Toxicity to cats and dogs
Whether the plant is toxic to cats and dogs.
Quick wins
Days from sowing until the first shoots appear, in good conditions.
Pet friendly
Listed as non-toxic to both cats and dogs. Each seed's page has the details.
Not safe for pets: borage, buckwheat, caraway, carnation and 14 more.
Comparing
Each seed's page explains how to grow it from seed, with facts researched and reviewed by our editors.
