HOW TO
DETERMINE THE PROPER
DEPT TO PLANT SEEDS
Planting at the right depth improves a seed's chances
Planting seeds at the right depth improves their chances of developing into
hardy seedlings and increases germination rates. The precise depth varies
depending on the size and type of the seeds you have. And while seed packets
always provide a recommended seed depth, sometimes we lose the seed packet
with all of its specific planting instructions, or we get some seeds from a
friend, minus those helpful instructions. That's when we need a way to figure
out how deep to bury those seeds in the seed-starting mix or garden soil.
General Wisdom for Planting Depth
Although there are plenty of opinions on this, common gardening wisdom advises
not to plant any seed deeper than twice its diameter. The classic "quarter-inch"
planting depth found on many seed packets is too deep for many small seeds.
Information on Seed Company Websites
If you know which type of seeds you have, look for that seed variety on major seed
company websites. Many sites include information about the best seed planting depth
along with the descriptions of the seeds they sell. Even if you don't know the
specific variety of your seeds, you can still gain some insight reading about similar
plants. For example, if your neighbor gifts you with some bush bean seeds, you can
read about bush bean seeds of several varieties on a seed company website and make a
good guess at the correct planting depth.
General Guidelines for Seed Depth
If you can't find the recommended planting depth for your specific seeds online, here
are a few tried-and-true guidelines you can follow:
In general, seeds should be planted at a depth of two times the width, or diameter, of
the seed. For example, if you have a seed that's about 1/16 inch thick, it should be
planted about 1/8 inch deep. Large bean seeds, which can be up to 1/2 inch wide, may
need to be planted an inch deep.
For tiny seeds, place them on the surface of the soil and barely cover them with soil
or vermiculite.
Don't compress the soil atop the seeds as you plant them. The soil should be firm but
not compacted.
Seeds to Cover With Soil
Most seeds, including most of the familiar vegetable and fruit seeds, require covering
with soil:
Brassicas
(broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower)
Chard
Tomatoes
Spinach
Peas
Beans
Melons
Peppers
Seeds That Should Not Be Covered
Some seeds need light to germinate. Simply place them on the surface of
the soil and press them gently to ensure good contact with the soil. Do
not cover them with soil. Most of these are tiny seeds, and only a few
of them are popular for vegetable gardens. Some examples include:
Dill
Lettuce
Ornamental peppers
Coleus
Petunias
Sweet alyssum
Ageratum
Cleome
Problems With Planting Too Deep
Large seeds are more tolerant of being planted too deep than tiny seeds are.
Common effects of planting too deep include limited or failed germination and
weak seedlings. If you have any of these problems with your seeds, double-check
the recommended planting depth, or plant a little shallower the next time.
How to Determine the Proper
Depth to Plant Seeds
https://www.thespruce.com/how-deeply-should-seeds-be-planted-2539711
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World
Crop
Database
https://world-crops.com/
Vegetation:
Common and Scientific Names
http://www.library.arizona.edu/exhibits/swetc/azso/back.1_div.2.html
Classification
of
Vegetables
https://www.shiveshskitchen.com/2015/09/classification-of-vegetables.html
Fruits
&
Veggies Resources
State Programs and Resources
https://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/state-programs-and-resources
Make
soil
loose
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/make-soil-loose-23694.html
CROP
INDEX
https://hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/Indices/index_ab.html
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Plants Database
National Gardening Association
http://garden.org/plants/
The Plant
Encyclopedia
http://theplantencyclopedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
The Big
Bug Hunt
https://bigbughunt.com/
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