The 7 Dumbest Mistakes Gardeners Make Planting Seeds., by Gardening Secrets on YouTube. 22 min 11 s.
- Video length
- 22 min 11 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Sow each seed at the depth printed on the packet. As a rule, cover a seed with soil about two to three times its own thickness. Tiny seeds like carrot, lettuce and basil barely need covering.
For very small seeds, scatter them on the surface and press them in with your palm or a board. Then dust a thin layer of fine soil or vermiculite over them, no more than a few millimetres.
Do not press or stamp the soil down hard after sowing. Fill pots loosely, water gently and let the soil settle on its own so air and roots can move.
Check soil temperature with a thermometer instead of trusting the calendar. Most vegetables germinate best between 18 and 24 C, and cold soil slows or stops sprouting.
Water lightly and often in hot weather, and less often in cool weather. Keep the soil damp like a wrung-out sponge, never soaked, so seeds do not rot.
Before planting old seed, fold a few seeds into a damp paper towel, keep it warm and check after 7 to 10 days. If fewer than half sprout, sow thicker or buy fresh seed.
When seedlings crowd each other, snip the weakest ones at soil level with small scissors. Leave the strongest plant spaced as the packet advises.
Direct sow root crops like carrots, parsnips and beetroot in the garden. They dislike being moved, so do not start them indoors for transplanting.
Harden off indoor seedlings over about a week before planting out. Water them well, lift each one by its leaves, and set it in the ground at the same depth it grew in the pot.
Tips and common mistakes
Sowing too deep is the most common reason small seeds never appear, so check the packet depth every time.
A cheap soil thermometer saves weeks of guessing, especially in early spring.
Water with a fine rose or a spray bottle so seeds are not washed out or buried deeper.
Thin seedlings even if it feels wasteful, because crowded plants stay weak and spindly.
Questions
Why are my seeds not germinating?
The usual causes are sowing too deep, cold soil, compacted soil or too much water. Check depth and soil temperature first, then test the seed for viability.
How deep should I plant carrot seeds?
Barely cover them, about 5 mm of fine soil. Carrot seed is small and needs light and warmth to sprout, so deep planting is a common failure.
Should I start seeds indoors or direct sow?
Start tomatoes, peppers and brassicas indoors for a head start. Direct sow root crops and fast growers like radish and lettuce, which resent transplanting.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
