Can I just plant seeds directly in the ground?
Direct sowing seeds is an affordable and simple way to grow your own plants, and you don’t need any special equipment or experience to do it. You can plant seeds in the ground or in containers, and once they’re established, they’ll need minimal care. Just like it sounds, direct sowing involves planting seeds directly into your garden soil without the use of pots or seed beds. It’s a cheaper, easier, and more natural approach to gardening, and it actually has a number of benefits when done correctly!Gently scatter the seeds over the designated areas. Aim for even distribution, but don’t worry about perfect spacing—a slightly denser sprinkle can be thinned out later. After sowing, lightly cover the area with soil and water it to help the seeds settle into the soil. Keep the soil moist until the seeds germinate.Another option is to tuck seeds directly into soil outdoors. Planting seeds this way is called direct sowing, and it is an easy process that yields great results.If you plan to soak seeds, wait until a day or so before you plan to plant them indoors or outdoors. The seeds should not remain in water for more than 8-12 hours. Before you get carried away and submerge all your seeds, examine the seeds and read the planting instructions on the package.
Can seeds germinate without soil?
To get things growing faster, you can actually germinate seeds in paper towels and a sandwich bag—no soil needed! This simple method will help you skip the clutter and complication of seed starting trays, domes, or temperature sensors. While seeds of some popular plants are best started under glass or on a window sill – in pots or trays of compost – certain seeds can be sown directly outdoors into garden soil, in positions where they are to happily grow.Quick Guide: Directions for Starting Seeds Make shallow indentations in the media and sow the seed evenly. Lightly water the surface, and place the container in a warm area (not in direct sunlight). As seeds germinate, move seedlings to a well-lit area, such as under fluorescent lights.
Do I have to soak my seeds before planting?
Almost all seeds can be pre-soaked, but it is large seeds, seeds with thick coats and wrinkled seeds that will benefit most. Small seeds benefit less and are difficult to handle when wet. Examples of seeds that benefit from soaking include peas, beets, cucumber, corn, squash, pumpkin and beans. For seeds to germinate, you need to keep the growing soil damp but not too wet. Learning how to water seedlings is pivotal for success. Many seed starters cover the container to keep soil moist until seeds germinate. Once seeds sprout, do not miss a watering.If the seeds are very small, they will clump together and be more difficult to sow unless you let them dry first, which defeats the purpose of soaking them in the first place. Think seeds like carrots or lettuce, or flowers that have super tiny seeds, like sweet alyssum or campanula .Chia seeds turn gelatinous when wet, making them almost impossible to sow evenly after soaking. Chia seeds have a gelatinous coating that activates when they get wet, one of the most widely known seeds you should never soak.Before your seedlings germinate, the easiest way to water smaller, shallowly planted seeds is with a mister or very gentle spray bottle. Using a watering can or hose without a mister can displace smaller seeds and can make it easy to over-water.