Different Approaches to Sowing Seeds

Garden advice on how to sow seeds in the garden to get the best results from gardening efforts. Many people have their own little preferences and gardening styles but there are some simple basic rules of thumb.

Sowing seeds can be done in a number of ways, the basic being:

• Sowing in drills
• Broadcast sowing

Sowing in Drills

With the sowing in drills method you simply need to dig narrow straight trenches into your soil and sow the seeds relatively close together. You can move the plants more appropriately apart once the seedlings have grown enough to handle. This style of sowing seeds is ideal for vegetables and nursery planting.

Broadcast Sowing

This style is more the hardy plants a certain types of salad vegetables. The seeds are effectively scattered randomly and for planting where you just intend for the plant to grow in situ through to maturity. The results of this style of sowing obviously gives a totally random growing results.

Soil preparation is the key to getting the best start. Quality soil that has been nurtured of given a boost with fertiliser of quality compost is going to be the best foundation for a healthy crop and plan growth.

Prepare the seedbed with a good rake until the soil is fine and easy to manipulate. Sow the seeds preferably by hand in either of the methods discussed. Simple thing to consider when sowing include the weather. One of the worst times to sow seeds is on a very windy day when it can be quite easy for seeds to be blown from your hands, not something you want, especially when you are looking for neat results, and also work close to the soil level in order to avoid seeds falling to hard and bouncing off in all directions.

After laying the seeds a good tip is to get a nice dry piece of board and gently but firmly press the board into the soil over the seeds. Avoid using a wet board as the seeds, especially small ones will stick to it. Then for great results cover the seeds with about half an inch of sand.

Using the back of your rake gently rake over the seeded area to ensure an even coverage and consistent growth opportunity.

To finish the process water the seeded area with a fine watering can to avoid flooding the area