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 Watercress vs. Beet vs. Artichoke
The comparison
| Fact | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Moderate | Moderate | Challenging |
| Life cycle | Perennial | Not yet verified | Not yet verified |
| Germination time | Not yet verified | Not yet verified | 8–12 days |
| Germination temperature | 10–16 °C50–61 °F | 7–29 °C45–84 °F | 21–26 °C70–79 °F |
| Sowing depth | 6 mm¼ in | 1.5 cm½ in | 6 mm¼ in |
| Spacing between plants | 20 cm8 in | Not yet verified | 46 cm18 in |
| Sun | Full sun, partial shade | Not yet verified | Full sun |
| Water | Not yet verified | Moderate | Not yet verified |
| Containers | Yes | Yes, 1.9 L or largerYes, 2 qt or larger | Not yet verified |
| Frost tolerance | Not yet verified | Half-hardy (light frost) | Not yet verified |
| Soil pH | pH 6.5–7.5 | 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.
VegetablesNasturtium officinale
Watercress is a fast-growing perennial that grows in wet or saturated soil or shallow water, in sun or partial shade, and its peppery leaves are harvested for salads and soups.
How to grow watercressVegetablesBeta vulgaris
Beets are cool-season root vegetables you can sow straight into the garden or into pots. They need steady moisture, and seedlings usually need thinning.
How to grow beetVegetablesCynara 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.
Watercress vs. Acorn SquashWatercress against another vegetableBeet vs. Acorn SquashBeet against another vegetableArtichoke vs. Acorn SquashArtichoke against another vegetable
Watercress vs. Armenian CucumberWatercress against another vegetableBeet vs. Armenian CucumberBeet 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.
