Planting Methods

TilthIQ tracks four planting methods that reflect how a plant is started and established. Choosing the correct method ensures accurate lifecycle tracking, appropriate status steps, and correct harvest date calculations.

Direct Sow

Direct Sow means seeds are planted directly into the garden bed or container outdoors, with no indoor starting phase.

Best for: Crops that do not transplant well, fast-maturing crops, or warm-season direct sowing once frost risk is past.

Examples: Carrots, radishes, beans, peas, beets, sunflowers, squash, corn

Lifecycle: Germinating > Sprouted > In Ground > Harvesting > Done

Direct Sow plantings skip the Hardening Off and Transplanted status steps since the plant never moves locations.

Indoor Start

Indoor Start means seeds are germinated indoors under lights or on a sunny windowsill, then hardened off and moved outdoors when the weather is suitable.

Best for: Crops that need a long growing season, started weeks before last frost.

Examples: Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, leeks

Lifecycle: Germinating > Sprouted > Hardening Off > Transplanted > In Ground > Harvesting > Done

TilthIQ tracks both the indoor phase and the outdoor phase separately, so your start date reflects when seeds were sown indoors.

Transplant

Transplant means you are taking a plant that has already been started (purchased from a nursery, received from another gardener, or grown by someone else) and placing it directly into your garden.

Best for: When buying starts rather than growing from seed, or when receiving divisions from a friend.

Examples: Any plant purchased as a started seedling at a garden center

Lifecycle: Transplanted > In Ground > Harvesting > Done

For transplants, the start date should reflect when the plant went into the ground, not when it was originally seeded.

Cutting/Division

Cutting/Division applies to plants propagated vegetatively — from cuttings, root divisions, offsets, or runners rather than seeds.

Best for: Perennial herbs, strawberry runners, garlic cloves, potato seed pieces, asparagus crowns.

Examples: Mint divisions, rosemary cuttings, artichoke offsets, strawberry runners

Lifecycle: Transplanted > In Ground > Harvesting > Done

How Method Affects Harvest Dates

Harvest date calculation varies by method:

• Direct Sow / Indoor Start — calculated from the outdoor planting date plus days-to-maturity
• Transplant / Cutting — calculated from the date placed in the ground plus days-to-maturity, with an adjustment for transplant establishment time

Tip: For Indoor Start plants, TilthIQ adjusts the harvest calculation based on the plant's age at transplant time. If you update your start and transplant dates accurately, the harvest estimate will be quite reliable.