Planting Seeds

Seeds. They come in all different shapes and sizes. They are a world of genetic material all wrapped up in a tiny shell.

Planting seeds can be intimidating. You need to plant them deep enough, but not too deep. They need a lot of moisture, but shouldn’t be watered too hard. Some seeds need to be “scratched”. Some need to not be covered with soil at all.

When you plant seeds, the first thing you want to do it read the seed packet. Pay close attention to the planting depth. Some seeds need to be deeper than others. Once you’ve determined the depth your seed needs to be planted, rake your planting area to clear out any rocks or small weeds. Determine the style of planting you would like to use. Vining crops like to be planted in mounds called hills. Carrots, and beets work well in rows. Radishes and zinnias are great for broadcasting. Here are tutorials on each style.

Some seeds, like malibar spinach have a tough outer coat and need “scratching” or nicking before they’re planted. This is scraping the seed lightly on a hard surface to open just the top coat a bit to let moisture in.

After you’ve planted your seed, you’ll need to water thoroughly. Be careful not to water with a stream so intense it washes out your carefully planted seed. You want a soft stream more like rain than a firehose. Water well, then wait a few minutes for the soil to soak up the moisture, then go back and water again. You will need to keep watering daily or every other day until your seed germinates. Each type of seed takes a different amount of time to germinates. Some, like radishes, are quick, sometimes in less than 5 days. Some, like carrots can take up to 25 days.

Ger-mi-na-tion: the development of a seed or spore after a period of dormancy; sprouting

Seed Planting depth Days to germination

carrots 1/4-1/2 inch 14-28

beets 1 inch 7-14

cucumbers 1/2 inch 7-10

Beans 1-2 inches 6-10

squash 1 inch 7-12

radish 1/4 inch 5-7