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 English Cucumber vs. Asparagus vs. Artichoke
The comparison
| Fact | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Moderate | Moderate | Challenging |
| Life cycle | Annual | Perennial | Not yet verified |
| Germination time | 5–10 days | Not yet verified | 8–12 days |
| Germination temperature | 18–29 °C64–84 °F | 18–27 °C64–81 °F | 21–26 °C70–79 °F |
| Sowing depth | 2.5 cm1 in | 1.5–2 cm½–¾ in | 6 mm¼ in |
| Spacing between plants | 23–30 cm9–12 in | 30–46 cm12–18 in | 46 cm18 in |
| Days to maturity | 50–65 days from sowing | Not yet verified | Not yet verified |
| Sun | Full sun | Full sun | Full sun |
| Water | High | Not yet verified | Not yet verified |
| Containers | Yes, 3.8 L or largerYes, 1 gal or larger | Not yet verified | Not yet verified |
| Frost tolerance | Tender (no frost) | Hardy | Not yet verified |
| Soil pH | pH 6.0–6.5 | pH 6.0–8.0 | pH 6.5–8.0 |
| Links |
Up close
What each one is, in a few lines, with the full growing guide one click away.
VegetablesCucumis sativus
A warm-season annual vine grown for crisp, long fruit. Sow after the last frost in full sun, keep the soil evenly moist, and expect to manage pollination, bitterness and pests.
How to grow english 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 asparagusVegetablesCynara cardunculus var. scolymus
Globe artichokes are large, thistle-like plants grown for their edible flower buds. They need full sun and rich, well-drained soil. Seed results are variable, so many growers start with plants or divisions.
How to grow artichokeKeep comparing
Add a third seed, or swap one for a close relative from the same category.
English Cucumber vs. Acorn SquashEnglish Cucumber against another vegetableAsparagus vs. Acorn SquashAsparagus against another vegetableArtichoke vs. Acorn SquashArtichoke against another vegetable
English Cucumber vs. Armenian CucumberEnglish Cucumber against another vegetableAsparagus vs. Armenian CucumberAsparagus against another vegetableArtichoke vs. Armenian CucumberArtichoke 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.
