> ## Knowledge Base Index
> Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://help.seedschoice.com/sitemap.xml
> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
> Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash).

# Growing guides and sowing calendars

Growing advice lives in two places. All the core topics are here in the Help Center, across four categories. The full original guides are at [seedschoice.com/pages/guides](https://seedschoice.com/pages/guides).

## Sowing

- [Germination: warmth, moisture, light and depth](https://help.seedschoice.com/en/article/germination-warmth-moisture-light-and-depth-pj7fuu/) — what every seed needs and how deep to sow
- [Starting seeds indoors](https://help.seedschoice.com/en/article/starting-seeds-indoors-vhfh0g/) — when to begin, what you need, step by step
- [Direct sowing outdoors](https://help.seedschoice.com/en/article/direct-sowing-outdoors-1vdn9m/) — which crops, when, how deep and how far apart
- [When to sow what: the sowing calendar](https://help.seedschoice.com/en/article/when-to-sow-what-the-sowing-calendar-fa6bdb/) — the growing year plus the vegetable month table
- [Sowing calendar: flowers, herbs and fruit](https://help.seedschoice.com/en/article/sowing-calendar-flowers-herbs-and-fruit-aavan4/) — the other three month tables

## The seed itself

- [How to choose the right seeds](https://help.seedschoice.com/en/article/how-to-choose-the-right-seeds-3lva4l/) — choosing by light, soil, goal and experience
- [What is on the seed packet?](https://help.seedschoice.com/en/article/what-is-on-the-seed-packet-1vc3jfy/) — every term on the packet explained
- [Storing seed and how long it stays viable](https://help.seedschoice.com/en/article/storing-seed-and-how-long-it-stays-viable-sy39ml/) — shelf life by type and how to test old seed
- [Seed quality, testing and organic certification](https://help.seedschoice.com/en/article/seed-quality-testing-and-organic-certification-2vbr8d/) — how our lots are tested and certified

## Growing by type

- [Growing vegetables from seed](https://help.seedschoice.com/en/article/growing-vegetables-from-seed-1kboep8/)
- [Growing flowers from seed](https://help.seedschoice.com/en/article/growing-flowers-from-seed-gfsh9/)
- [Growing herbs from seed](https://help.seedschoice.com/en/article/growing-herbs-from-seed-25jin5/)
- [Growing fruit from seed](https://help.seedschoice.com/en/article/growing-fruit-from-seed-1mwm2gz/)

## Garden care

- [Preparing and improving your soil](https://help.seedschoice.com/en/article/preparing-and-improving-your-soil-1syb49z/) — identifying and improving your soil type
- [Composting](https://help.seedschoice.com/en/article/composting-w5gcue/) — greens and browns, and how long it takes
- [Watering your garden](https://help.seedschoice.com/en/article/watering-your-garden-zg6hg2/) — deeply rather than often
- [Feeding and fertilising](https://help.seedschoice.com/en/article/feeding-and-fertilising-c01wbg/) — N-P-K, when and how much
- [Mulching and weed control](https://help.seedschoice.com/en/article/mulching-and-weed-control-1v3l6x2/) — locking in moisture and smothering weeds
- [Common garden pests](https://help.seedschoice.com/en/article/common-garden-pests-s0z00g/) — slugs, aphids, caterpillars and birds
- [Preventing plant diseases](https://help.seedschoice.com/en/article/preventing-plant-diseases-l2tqq4/) — mildew, rust, rot and blight
- [Harvesting and storing your produce](https://help.seedschoice.com/en/article/harvesting-and-storing-your-produce-1b2yybk/) — picking on time, freezing, drying and curing

## When something goes wrong

- [My seeds are not coming up](https://help.seedschoice.com/en/article/my-seeds-are-not-coming-up-1yghgdm/) — the six most common causes, each with its fix
- [Leggy, weak seedlings](https://help.seedschoice.com/en/article/leggy-weak-seedlings-13lqa4/) — why they stretch and how to rescue them
- [Damping off and seedling mould](https://help.seedschoice.com/en/article/damping-off-and-seedling-mould-54g25b/) — what to do now and how to prevent it
- [Hardening off seedlings](https://help.seedschoice.com/en/article/hardening-off-seedlings-ndf5a6/) — the 7 to 10 day routine

## The original guides

The full versions are on the website, and every sowing calendar comes with a free printable PDF:

- [Seed growing 101: a beginner's guide](https://seedschoice.com/blogs/news/seed-growing-101-beginners-guide)
- [Calendar overview](https://seedschoice.com/blogs/news/sowing-calendar) · [Vegetables](https://seedschoice.com/blogs/news/vegetable-sowing-calendar) · [Flowers](https://seedschoice.com/blogs/news/flower-sowing-calendar) · [Herbs](https://seedschoice.com/blogs/news/herb-sowing-calendar) · [Fruit](https://seedschoice.com/blogs/news/fruit-sowing-calendar)
- [All growing guides](https://seedschoice.com/pages/guides)
## Ready to sow? What you can sow now
* [Vegetables you can sow this month](https://seedschoice.com/collections/vegetables-sow-now)
* [Flowers you can sow this month](https://seedschoice.com/collections/sow-now)
* [Herbs you can sow this month](https://seedschoice.com/collections/herbs-sow-now)
* [Vegetables to sow directly outdoors](https://seedschoice.com/collections/direct-sow-vegetables)
* [Fast-growing vegetables](https://seedschoice.com/collections/fast-growing-vegetables) — quick results, ideal for beginners
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