Days to maturity vs. Harvest Date

I have been sitting here calculating the approximate date my plants will mature according to the # of days on the seed package or the plant marker.

So if it says maturity 65 days, does this mean the plant will be ready for harvest by June 30 (65 days from today). What about for lettuce?

Please help, I am really trying to do this better this time around...

I calculate DTM according to the day I transplant. If I direct sow I calculate it according to when the seeds get their first true leaves.

I have no idea if this is correct, but it's working for me.

dizzygardener wrote:I calculate DTM according to the day I transplant. If I direct sow I calculate it according to when the seeds get their first true leaves.

I have no idea if this is correct, but it's working for me.

DTM - Date to Maturity?

yep

ETA (edited to add): I begin looking for signs it's time to harvest a week or more before My estimate. These are just rough estimates. There are many things that can lead to things being ready before or after that estimate.

Also on some plants, like lettuce, brassica, etc. you can harvest early or wait for full maturity. Some seed packets will list both dates.

Melbourne wrote:Also on some plants, like lettuce, brassica, etc. you can harvest early or wait for full maturity. Some seed packets will list both dates.

I knew this for lettuce but not brassicas...good to know!

buttaflie143 wrote:So if it says maturity 65 days, does this mean the plant will be ready for harvest by June 30...

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Days to Harvest or Maturity is one big SWAG. 65 days to harvest? It could happen in 50 days or take 80 days, and everything would be considered normal.

Horticulturalists know that it takes a plant X amount of time to reach maturity in a greenhouse, at a known, consistent temperature. But when that plant is put outside, all the numbers go out the window because all the variables become unknown. If I plant seeds in my SFG near Seattle, do you think they will grow as fast as the same seeds in your SFG in Raleigh? Two distinctly different climates (avg daily temps), yet the seed package says X days to maturity for both locales.

If you're a typical backyard gardener, your plants will be ready for harvest when they decide to be ready. And that is determined by your weather; over which you have no control. Get used to it! Take a deep breath, and repeat after Old Hippie: "It'll be ready when it's ready, by golly!"

DTM & DTH on seed packets are the guaranteed times you won't see maturity or get to harvest

Don't feel bad for using them ...we all do too ..... just take them as "suggestions" and not "gospel".

Deep, cleansing breath. Repeat mantra.
"It'll be ready when it's ready, by golly!"
"It'll be ready when it's ready, by golly!"
"It'll be ready when it's ready, by golly!"

Oh, but I wish it was ready right NOW!!!