Tower Garden Seeding Guide: How Many Seeds Should You Use?
Tower Garden Seeding Guide: How Many Seeds Should You Use?
Starting your own seeds can feel like stepping into a mysterious world of possibilities—exciting, right? But soon, questions start popping up: How many seeds should I use? How long do they take to germinate? When can I move them to my Tower Garden? Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered with answers, plus our trusty Tower Garden Seeding Cheat Sheet to make you feel like a pro from day one. Let’s dig in (pun intended). 🌱
How Many Seeds Should I Use?
First things first—when you’re seeding in rockwool for your Tower Garden, quality matters. Since you’re often using just one seed per cube, you’ll notice right away if it doesn’t germinate (unlike traditional gardening where you toss a bunch of seeds in a row and hope for the best). Here’s a breakdown of how many seeds to use for different types of plants:
Lettuce 🥬
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Head Lettuce (Bibb, Iceberg, etc.) – 1 seed
That tiny seed will grow into a gorgeous head of lettuce! Using more than one seed per cube can cause overcrowding, leaving your plants fighting for space. -
Leaf Lettuce (Romaine, Green Leaf, Red Leaf) – 1 seed in cooler months, 2–3 seeds in summer
Why the difference? Leaf lettuce loves cool weather and tends to bolt (go to seed) in the heat. Adding 2–3 seeds in the summer boosts your chances of success, giving you more lettuce to harvest sooner! -
Spring/Mesclun Mix – 6–8 seeds
Prefer baby greens? Go wild and toss in up to 12 seeds per cube for a lush harvest.
Herbs 🌿
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Chives – 20+ seeds (Yes, really!)
The more seeds you plant, the fuller your bunch will be. Just don’t exceed 50 seeds unless you want a jungle! -
All Other Herbs – 6–8 seeds
This includes basil, cilantro, parsley, dill, and more. Perfect for a fresh herb garden at your fingertips.
Leafy Greens 🌱
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Kale, Chard, Collards, Mustard Greens – 1 seed
These greens grow big—especially chard. Trust us on this one. If you leave it too long, it’ll break the shower cap on your Tower Garden. Been there, done that! 😉 -
Spinach – 5–6 seeds
Spinach can be tricky to germinate. Plant a few extras to boost your chances. -
Arugula – 6–8 seeds
Spicy and quick-growing, arugula thrives with multiple seeds per cube.
Fruiting Vegetables 🍅
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Beans, Peas, Cucumbers, Melons – 1–2 seeds
These plants don’t take up much space, so using two seeds can give you a better harvest without overcrowding. Just be gentle when pruning—each plant needs its leaves! -
Squash, Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant, Okra – 1 seed
These heavy hitters need room to grow. Too many seeds in one cube can lead to a jungle-like situation with poor airflow and higher chances of disease. Less is more!
Strawberries 🍓
Want fresh strawberries? Don’t start them from seed! They take forever to grow and won’t produce well until their second year. Instead, opt for strawberry seedlings, which will start producing fruit in about a month.
Bonus Tips for Seed Success! 🎯
- Keep Your Rockwool Moist, Not Soaked – Seeds need moisture to germinate, but too much water can drown them.
- Maintain Proper Light & Temperature – A grow light and warm environment can speed up germination.
If you’ve ever found yourself saying, “Why didn’t my seeds germinate?”—we’ve got a full post on that! Check it out for troubleshooting tips.
Download Your Seeding Cheat Sheet!
Want an easy reference? Download our Tower Garden Seeding Cheat Sheet and keep it handy. Simply right-click and select “Save link as” to store it on your computer.
Related Blog Posts
🌟 How to Grow the Perfect Seedling
🌟 Why Didn’t My Seeds Germinate?
🌟 Where Can I Find Good Quality Seeds?