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 Canary Melon vs. Cayenne Pepper vs. Apple Tree
The comparison
| Fact | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| Life cycle | Not yet verified | Not yet verified | Perennial |
| Germination temperature | 27–32 °C81–90 °F | 27–32 °C81–90 °F | Not yet verified |
| Sowing depth | 2.5–4 cm1–1½ in | 1.5 cm½ in | Not yet verified |
| Spacing between plants | 61 cm2 ft | 30 cm12 in | Not yet verified |
| Days to maturity | Not yet verified | 70–85 days from transplanting | Not yet verified |
| Sun | Full sun | Full sun | Full sun, partial shade |
| Water | Not yet verified | Moderate | Moderate |
| Containers | Not yet verified | Yes, 19 L or largerYes, 5 gal or larger | Not yet verified |
| Soil pH | pH 5.5–7.0 | pH 6.0–6.5 | pH 5.8–6.5 |
| Links |
Up close
What each one is, in a few lines, with the full growing guide one click away.
Fruits & otherCucumis melo var. inodorus
Canary melon (Juan Canary) is a winter melon that needs full sun, warm soil and a long season. Start with transplants, since it ripens later than cantaloupe.
How to grow canary melonFruits & otherCapsicum annuum
Cayenne is a hot chili pepper (Capsicum annuum) that needs full sun and a long warm season. Start seed indoors about 8 to 10 weeks before the last frost, then transplant once the soil has warmed.
How to grow cayenne pepperFruits & otherMalus domestica
Apple trees are perennial, deciduous fruit trees that grow best in full sun. Trees grown from seed won't match the parent fruit, so most apple trees are grafted.
How to grow apple treeKeep comparing
Add a third seed, or swap one for a close relative from the same category.
Canary Melon vs. AlfalfaCanary Melon against another seedCayenne Pepper vs. AlfalfaCayenne Pepper against another seedApple Tree vs. AlfalfaApple Tree against another seed
Canary Melon vs. American PersimmonCanary Melon against another seedCayenne Pepper vs. American PersimmonCayenne Pepper against another seedApple Tree vs. American PersimmonApple Tree against another seedThe 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.
