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Post by daylilydude on Mar 4, 2018 9:50:30 GMT -5
Do you have a rule of thumb for how deep to plant your outdoor seeds...do you fluff the soil back over them or press it down?
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Post by hairymooseknuckles on Mar 4, 2018 10:16:48 GMT -5
I can't bend over, so I drop my seed through a funnel and pvc pipe, then use my foot to cover and press down. Gotta do, what you gotta do.
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Post by paulf on Mar 4, 2018 10:26:03 GMT -5
I dig a trench at the suggested depth on the package with a hoe, drop the seeds in at the suggested distance apart, cover the seeds by pushing the dirt back in the furrow with the hoe and then walk the distance back the length of the row tamping the dirt down with the back of the hoe so the seeds and dirt make good conduct.
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Post by spike on Mar 4, 2018 10:44:38 GMT -5
Well I start out making the rows with my hoe, bend over dropping seeds as I waddle backwards, turn, fluff the dirt over the seeds and pat down as I waddle backwards over the same row! Eventually my old arthritic back decides to scream at me so I go to Knuckles method of the pvc pipe and use the hoe to cover the seeds.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Mar 4, 2018 11:12:06 GMT -5
Most of what I plant in the ground are beans and peas, and with those I simply fluff up the ground at the base of the trellises, drop the seeds, press them down slightly with a long dowel, with a mark on it for depth, then tap the soil down with the hoe. Things like radishes, I'll sit down on a bucket, and dig a little trench 1/2" deep, drop the seeds in, and brush the soil over them and tap it dowm.
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Post by ahntjudy on Mar 4, 2018 11:45:25 GMT -5
For beans, I prep my soil rows, pat the soil back gently...drag a stick to mark a straight row... then come along and push the seeds in up to my knuckle or so...depending on the seed...then come back and gently do a pat down...
For swisschard, beets and that kind of stuff, I prep the beds, hand tamp it down, then plant the seeds as intensively as I can, using knuckle as a depth measurement, giving each seed/plant its space...then do a gentle pat down...
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Post by brownrexx on Mar 4, 2018 12:16:57 GMT -5
I think that some people plant small seeds too deep and then the poor seed exhausts it's energy before breaking the surface so the rule of thumb that I use is to plant twice as deep as the seed is thick. For seeds like carrots or lettuce, this is not very deep.
I used to just fluff the soil gently over the seeds but then a few years ago I read somewhere that it was good for the soil to make contact with the seeds so now when I plant my seeds I push the soil back over the furrow with my hand and then walk down the row to press the soil in place over the newly planted seeds. It really does seem to work better.
I also try to keep newly planted seed rows moist until the seeds germinate.
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Mar 4, 2018 13:23:23 GMT -5
I press the soil down enough to remove air pockets, but not pack it tightly.
What is just as important is a thorough watering after planting seeds, or planting just before a good rain (not just a mist) is expected. In addition to providing moisture, the water flowing down through the soil shifts the grains so they fill any air pockets I might have missed when pressing the soil down.
But I rarely have to worry about too much water in my garden. The Earthboxes can't be overwatered because excess water just drains out, the soil in the raised beds drains well because it's elevated, and the soil in-ground is sand that dries out very quickly after rains. I'm sure things are different for those of you with clay soil that can get too wet and stay wet for a long time, especially in spring.
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Post by spike on Mar 4, 2018 13:58:22 GMT -5
GOOD POINT! I also plant the carrot seeds, water and lay a 2x4 (slightly raised) over them until they pop up. Feel silly watering a board but it works. Why you might ask? Who the heck knows lol Been doing that my whole life and have no idea what the point is actually. I can't grow a carrot without doing this so it works for me.
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