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 Turnip vs. Beefsteak Tomato vs. Armenian Cucumber
The comparison
| Fact | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Easy | Moderate | Moderate |
| Life cycle | Annual | Annual | Annual |
| Germination time | 7–10 days | 6–12 days | Not yet verified |
| Germination temperature | 16–29 °C61–84 °F | 24–32 °C75–90 °F | Not yet verified |
| Sowing depth | 6 mm–1.5 cm¼–½ in | 3 mm⅛ in | Not yet verified |
| Spacing between plants | 8–15 cm3¼–6 in | 46–61 cm1½–2 ft | Not yet verified |
| Days to maturity | 60–80 days from sowing | 65–90 days from transplanting | Not yet verified |
| Sun | Full sun | Full sun | Full sun |
| Water | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| Containers | Not yet verified | Yes, 19 L or largerYes, 5 gal or larger | Not yet verified |
| Frost tolerance | Half-hardy (light frost) | Tender (no frost) | Tender (no frost) |
| Soil pH | pH 6.0–6.5 | pH 5.8–6.8 | 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. rapa
Turnips are cool-season root vegetables grown from seed for their roots and leaves. They can be sown in late winter or early spring, or in late summer for a fall crop, in full sun.
How to grow turnipVegetablesSolanum lycopersicum
Beefsteak tomatoes are large-fruited tomatoes grown from seed indoors and moved outside after frost. They need full sun, steady moisture, and a long warm season.
How to grow beefsteak tomatoVegetablesCucumis melo var. flexuosus
Armenian cucumber is a warm-season vine in the melon species, grown from seed for its edible fruit, which is eaten fresh or in salads.
How to grow armenian cucumberKeep comparing
Add a third seed, or swap one for a close relative from the same category.
Turnip vs. Acorn SquashTurnip against another vegetableBeefsteak Tomato vs. Acorn SquashBeefsteak Tomato against another vegetableArmenian Cucumber vs. Acorn SquashArmenian Cucumber against another vegetable
Turnip vs. ArtichokeTurnip against another vegetableBeefsteak Tomato vs. ArtichokeBeefsteak Tomato against another vegetableArmenian Cucumber vs. ArtichokeArmenian Cucumber 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.
