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Most commercial seeds sold in
nurseries come with
instructions on when and how to plant the seeds on the packet.
But, apart from a few vegetables with very specialized needs, it is
possible to apply some general seed planting principles to the planting
of all types of seeds.
Seed planting depths
Seeds come in a variety of sizes and each size needs to be
planted at different depth for optimal germination. If you plant
seeds to a depth of one and a half to two times the width of the
seed you will generally get a good strike rate, providing all other
factors are right. Below is a visual guide for some common seeds.
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Seed planting
distances - the basic principle
I believe the basic principle governing all seed planting is that it is generally better to
plant more seeds then required
in a given area and then thin them out to your intended spacings for mature
plants when the seeds have developed into small seedlings. The
reason for doing this is that if some of the seeds fail to germinate or
are eaten by pests there will usually be enough that survive to cover
any that are lost.
As I grow a lot of my seeds myself I can easily afford
to waste some seeds, but even commercial seed packets come with far more
seeds than the average urban gardener is likely to use before the use by
date expires. So it is not really a waste to plant more seeds than you
need.
While this principle remains true for all seed plantings there are some
minor variations depending on the size and type of seeds sown. The
below section deals with some of those variations.
Planting larger
seeds in a row
When planting larger seeds in a row (such as peas or beans) I generally
plant them as follows :-
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Plant the seeds at
half the distance recommended on the seed packet and at a depth
outlined in the
SEED PLANTING
DEPTH SECTION section. |
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As the seeds
develop into seedlings some will not germinate and some may be eaten
or damaged by pests. |
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When the seedlings
are ten to twelve centimetres high thin out to the desired spacing
for the mature plants. If there are gaps in your line caused
by seeds that didn't germinate or plants eaten by pests then
transplant some of your unwanted seedlings to these gaps. But
make sure you water them well with a liquid fertilizer to ensure
that they strike. |
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By the time the seedlings have
matured into adult plants they should be evenly spaced at the
correct distance with no gaps in the line. |
This section still under
construction. |