Planting Seeds - future food

After you've selected your vegetable types and ordered your seeds, planting seeds is the next activity on your list of things to do - assuming that you know when to plant based on time tables that are right for your grow zone and the micro-climate your seedlings will find themselves in.

Seed planting is relatively easy. The right way to do it may vary a bit for each type of seed, but there are far more things on the "don't do list" than there are on the "do list."

Let's get started.

Perhaps the most important thing is good soil. We use good potting soil mainly because it provides something that is easy to work with and not at all challenging for the seedlings as they sprout.

You can make your own soil or simply use something that has been commercially prepared. We're normally focused on organic methods and organic seeds, and some of the soils have constituents that aren't entirely organic (although not toxic). Since the potting soil makes up such a small amount of the soil that our plants grow in, we don't get concerned about this - but you might.

The advantage of planting seeds in (and on) potting soil is that it provides a loose growing medium that holds moisture, provides good drainage, allows aeration, and is relatively free of soil borne pathogens that can interfere with starting seeds.

Test your soil with water to see what it is you have to work with. Most potting soil tends to be peat moss, wood chips and sand, so it isn't much in the way of soil, but it seems to work well for planting seeds. Find something that works for you and stay with it. My experience shows that testing a bit of soil first by watering it will show you it's properties in terms of drainage, shrinking and forming mud. Once you see what happens, you can vary your seed planting accordingly.

For planting seeds in soil that tends to "mud up," I suggest using that soil on the bottom and more loose soil on the top. Once the seed sprouts, its roots can find their way into the mud, but it might have a difficult time breaking through the mud (especially when it dries) if that is the medium you use to cover the seed.





The next important factor is seed depth. A good rule to go by is to plant seeds in soil that is from one to two times their diameter. Too shallow and there won't be enough moisture to support softening of the seed. Too deep and the seedling will expend way too much energy just trying to find daylight.

There are a few varieties that require light for germination, so be mindful of this with planting seeds. Some of our "planting" is best done on or very near the surface of the soil. This is especially true for several varieties of lettuce.

With tiny seeds, the size of poppy seeds and smaller, it's best not to plant them at all, but simply scatter them on loose soil. They'll find their way into the soil just fine without any help from the gardener.

Some may argue that seed position is important, but I find it makes little difference when planting seeds. With beans, the "eye" faces down. With melons and cucumbers, the point faces up. Even if you don't follow these rules, the seeds do just fine.

When in doubt, lay the seed on it's side, and it will use gravity to find soil and sunlight.

A word about fertilizers and planting seeds - don't. Let the seedlings get up and running before you use any kind of fertilizer.

I'm going to address planting dates, watering, lighting, transplanting, caring for seedlings and other issues separate from planting so I can keep the discussion focused in bite size pieces. The best way to "eat an elephant" is one bite at a time.

Done with Planting Seeds, back to Vegetable Seeds