How deep should you plant seeds?

[Penellype]

I found this video today https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e7zM6y2KUM and with seed sowing season just around the corner I thought people would find it helpful. It certainly surprised me!

[mothhawk]

Thanks for posting the link, Pen, it's really interesting. From his results it seems we should probably plant our seeds like bulbs - twice the depth of the size.

The tomatoes, though, were not a surprise, as I'm sure we've all had tomatoes growing in our compost heaps at all sorts of depths.

[Snoop Puss]

Thanks. That looks fascinating, Penellype. Will watch later.

[Nicos]

Thanks for that Pen. Nice find!

[history gardening]

i have chart somewhere that lists seed starting depth for most common vegetables
i will post it when i get a chance.

[Snoop Puss]

i have chart somewhere that lists seed starting depth for most common vegetables
i will post it when i get a chance.

Could you add it to this thread, history gardening? That way we'll keep all the information together. It's a useful subject and so I'm going to sticky this thread so it comes up towards the top of this section of the forum and is easily visible.
Thanks.

[burnie]

I have always sowed bigger seeds deeper and smaller like carrots on the surface, then just sieve some fine potting compost on top, just hide them a bit.

[Mark Rand]

The video makes me think that I might sow some of my seeds a bit more deeply this year.

[history gardening]

here is one chart it contains 2 page and info on 16 vegetables seed depth and other info i will post
other chart in bit.

note this chart and info dates from 1944

[Snoop Puss]

Thanks history gardening.

[history gardening]

here is the second set of charts

[Snoop Puss]

Very useful, especially the distinction between heavy and light soils. Thanks, history gardening.

[mothhawk]

I found this piece from Dig for Victory guide 19. the method for runners is interesting. I may try that. I guess the idea is to keep rainwater around the roots?
I also love that end note - seed is precious. We don't appreciate these days that it really was, back then, when supplies must have been so difficult to obtain.


HOW TO SOW SEEDS

• Don’t try to sow seed when soil sticks to your boots. Wait for a fine spell.
• lf the ground is lumpy, first break up the lumps and level the surface with a rake.
• Before sowing, hoe or lightly fork the top 2 or 3 inches of soil, then carry on as shown in the following pictures.
• Not all seeds are sown at the same depth : 1 inch is best for beet, parsnips and spinach beet ; 3/4 inch for carrots, onions and turnips ; ½ inch for lettuces.
• Peas and beans are sown deeper : 2-3 inches for peas ; broad beans, 3 inches ; dwarf beans, 2 inches ; while for runner beans, first make a flat-bottomed trench 2 inches deep and 18 inches wide, and then sow the seed 3 inches deep in this. Don’t fill in the trench.
• lf possible, let your rows run north to south.
• Always sow thinly. Seed is precious.

Always sow thinly. Seed is precious.

[history gardening]

mothhawk why not just post the whole dig for victory leaflet 19
if you want i will post it. I own original copy and have high quality scans of
dig for victory leaflet 19.https://archive.org/download/digforv...aflet%2019.pdf

[Snoop Puss]

mothhawk why not just post the whole dig for victory leaflet 19
if want i will do it I own original copy

Let's keep this thread on topic about depth for sowing seeds, please.

For anyone interested in these leaflets, see this post for a link: https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...37#post2555737