Welcome Back Gardeners,
This really is a simple topic, but there seem to be some complexities that may be keeping you from gardening with success from a package of seeds. Keep reading for 10 helpful tips to increase your odds.
#1 Look at your location and the last typical frost date for your area. If it is after this period you are probably safe to start your garden.
#2 Prepare your soil with amendments and till like stated in a previous post.
#3 Read the seed package and if the package doesn't have instruction you may have to look on the companies website as some seed companies are now putting instructions online. Every seed package will tell you the days to germination, where to plant, planting depth, how far apart the spacing should be between plants and rows, and days till harvest.
#4 Disregard the instructions on the package as gospel if you have a smaller space that you would like to plant more densely. Even though plants grown closer together do not usually reach full potential size they often will produce well and keep weeds down. Also the plants can shade each other in the mid day sun so wilt and sunburn is not as big of a factor. Also remember that when planting you can put seeds closer together and then thin the seedlings once they have sprouted by selectively picking which ones are doing the best and weeding out the rest.
#5 Planting Depth is one of the most important yet not an exact science. I find that the most important factor in depth is not to plant too deep. Most seeds are planted in 1/2 of soil or less. Some are planted 1-2 inches deep but are usually the larger seeds like squash, corn and peas. If you notice a whole row doesn't pop up you may have dug slightly too deep with your trench.
#6 Creating a planting trench is easy with a straight piece of wood like a 1x1 or fence board. Whatever you have laying around the yard will work though. Using the edge of the board make a straight ditch by wiggling the board down into the soil. This is where you have to pay attention to the depth of your trench so it isn't too deep.
#7 Cover your seeds with soil gently. Once covered pat lightly and mark the row if you'd like to with your seed package.
#8 Watering: Now unless a storm cloud is headed your way you will need to water your garden to get the seeds germinating. Use a nozzle with a light spray to avoid causing erosion in your freshly tilled and planted garden. Keep the garden moist while the seeds are germinating. In California the top layer of the soil may dry out causing the seeds to die before they have sufficient root structure. You may have to water twice daily to keep those dry spots moist while your seeds are sprouting. It is also important to not get the garden too wet. If water logged the seeds may rot before germination. Make sure your garden has good drainage and not in a low laying area to avoid this problem.
#9 Now you should wait to see what happens and if a few days you should see the earth give way to new life full of your little seedling rows.
#10 Keep an eye on your new growth and if it starts to disappear you may have to spay a pesticide in order to save your seedlings.
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Don't worry if your seeds don't germinate, be reassured that every year I end up replanting something. Here are a few things I've gained from the nothingness that occurs after a faulty plant.
1-Keep garden moist
2-Don't plant seeds when too cold, or frost
3-If having trouble with germination you may have a soil pest, look for nematodes which are very small worms that eat the seeds. These pests also eat the roots of new seedlings killing the plant. Marigolds planted in the area with the problem may help alleviate the nematode burden according to some sources.
4-Don't plant to deep
5-If nothing happens in ten days consider replanting
6-If all else fails buy small plants and try seeds next year.
Galations 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Don't give up on your garden, you'll figure it out and will be greatly blessed.
Psalm 126:6
He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.
CHECK OUT THESE PRODUCTS I THINK YOU MIGHT FIND HANDY IN YOUR GARDEN, Thanks again the California Vegetable Gardener:
This really is a simple topic, but there seem to be some complexities that may be keeping you from gardening with success from a package of seeds. Keep reading for 10 helpful tips to increase your odds.
#1 Look at your location and the last typical frost date for your area. If it is after this period you are probably safe to start your garden.#2 Prepare your soil with amendments and till like stated in a previous post.
#3 Read the seed package and if the package doesn't have instruction you may have to look on the companies website as some seed companies are now putting instructions online. Every seed package will tell you the days to germination, where to plant, planting depth, how far apart the spacing should be between plants and rows, and days till harvest.
#4 Disregard the instructions on the package as gospel if you have a smaller space that you would like to plant more densely. Even though plants grown closer together do not usually reach full potential size they often will produce well and keep weeds down. Also the plants can shade each other in the mid day sun so wilt and sunburn is not as big of a factor. Also remember that when planting you can put seeds closer together and then thin the seedlings once they have sprouted by selectively picking which ones are doing the best and weeding out the rest.
#5 Planting Depth is one of the most important yet not an exact science. I find that the most important factor in depth is not to plant too deep. Most seeds are planted in 1/2 of soil or less. Some are planted 1-2 inches deep but are usually the larger seeds like squash, corn and peas. If you notice a whole row doesn't pop up you may have dug slightly too deep with your trench.#6 Creating a planting trench is easy with a straight piece of wood like a 1x1 or fence board. Whatever you have laying around the yard will work though. Using the edge of the board make a straight ditch by wiggling the board down into the soil. This is where you have to pay attention to the depth of your trench so it isn't too deep.
#7 Cover your seeds with soil gently. Once covered pat lightly and mark the row if you'd like to with your seed package.#8 Watering: Now unless a storm cloud is headed your way you will need to water your garden to get the seeds germinating. Use a nozzle with a light spray to avoid causing erosion in your freshly tilled and planted garden. Keep the garden moist while the seeds are germinating. In California the top layer of the soil may dry out causing the seeds to die before they have sufficient root structure. You may have to water twice daily to keep those dry spots moist while your seeds are sprouting. It is also important to not get the garden too wet. If water logged the seeds may rot before germination. Make sure your garden has good drainage and not in a low laying area to avoid this problem.
#9 Now you should wait to see what happens and if a few days you should see the earth give way to new life full of your little seedling rows.
#10 Keep an eye on your new growth and if it starts to disappear you may have to spay a pesticide in order to save your seedlings.
.JPG)
Don't worry if your seeds don't germinate, be reassured that every year I end up replanting something. Here are a few things I've gained from the nothingness that occurs after a faulty plant.
1-Keep garden moist
2-Don't plant seeds when too cold, or frost
3-If having trouble with germination you may have a soil pest, look for nematodes which are very small worms that eat the seeds. These pests also eat the roots of new seedlings killing the plant. Marigolds planted in the area with the problem may help alleviate the nematode burden according to some sources.
4-Don't plant to deep
5-If nothing happens in ten days consider replanting
6-If all else fails buy small plants and try seeds next year.
Galations 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Don't give up on your garden, you'll figure it out and will be greatly blessed.
Psalm 126:6
He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.
Remember that all the hard work early on in your gardening process will be rewarded when it comes time to enjoy your harvest. Like the rest of life you get out what you put into it!
God Bless you and your garden!
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