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 Napa Cabbage vs. Bell Pepper
The comparison
| Fact | | |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Moderate | Moderate |
| Sowing depth | 6 mm–1.5 cm¼–½ in | 6 mm¼ in |
| Spacing between plants | 46 cm18 in | Not yet verified |
| Days to maturity | Not yet verified | 70–85 days from transplanting |
| Sun | Full sun | Full sun |
| Water | Moderate | Not yet verified |
| Containers | Yes | Yes |
| Frost tolerance | Not yet verified | Tender (no frost) |
| Soil pH | pH 5.8–6.5 | Not yet verified |
| Links |
Up close
What each one is, in a few lines, with the full growing guide one click away.
VegetablesBrassica rapa subsp. pekinensis
Napa cabbage is a cool-season vegetable with barrel-shaped heads and edible leaves. Sow it in midsummer in full sun for a fall harvest, since spring sowings can bolt.
How to grow napa cabbageVegetablesCapsicum annuum
A sweet, mild pepper that needs a long, warm season. Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost, then grow it in full sun, in the ground or in a large pot.
How to grow bell pepperKeep comparing
Add a third seed, or swap one for a close relative from the same category.
Napa Cabbage vs. Bell Pepper vs. Acorn SquashAdd acorn squash as a third
Napa Cabbage vs. Bell Pepper vs. Armenian CucumberAdd armenian cucumber as a third
Napa Cabbage vs. Bell Pepper vs. ArtichokeAdd artichoke as a thirdNapa Cabbage vs. Acorn SquashNapa Cabbage against another vegetableBell Pepper vs. Acorn SquashBell Pepper against another vegetableNapa Cabbage vs. Armenian CucumberNapa Cabbage 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.
