I normally do fine with transplants and larger seed items such as squash, cukes, butter beans, etc. I am however having a time getting anything to come up in the garden of a small seed variety, such as beets, turnips, parsley, radishes, spinach, etc.

Can anyone please explain how they perform this task? Of course i'm new at this. Thanks

-- Gerald Boudoin (gerald_boudoin@internationaltesting.com), April 30, 2001

Answers

In the past I have sprouted small seeds, then transplanted them with some wormcast to ease any shock. Results vary depending on the crop.

-- Jay Blair in N. Al (jayblair678@yahoo.com), April 30, 2001.

Not quite sure what you are asking... My problems were always the other way around -

For small seeds, perhaps you are putting them too deep. Carrots, for instance, don't even really need to be covered. Beets just get dropped into holes I make with my index finger, not even up to the first joint. I don't add anything, just water really well once the plot is seeded.

If its handling the seeds themselves, just scatter. I do that with carrots... Though I hate to have to thin, I scatter seed in about half the area I wish to plant, then thin into the rest of the bed.

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), April 30, 2001.

If you want to sow thinly enough to avoid having to transplant or thin, mix fine seed thoroughly with dry sand before sowing it. Averages out fairly well, and stops fine dry fluffy seed like carrot from clumping together.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), April 30, 2001.

Gerald, What I usually do is make sure the soil is really fine.I use a salt shaker with larger holes to sprinkle out tiny seeds. That way I don't have to thin too many. I then sprinkle sand very lightly over the seeds. When you water use a very fine spray or else you will wash away the tiny seeds. Do you plant in a raised row or a flat bed? By your last name I am guessing you make really tall rows. E-mail me about this...if you are curious why I asked this....Good Luck

-- Ria in Ky (MinMin45@aol.com), May 01, 2001.

Thank you one and all for your input!! Time for me to get out back and put some of this to the test. You guys are really helpful....Don't know what I'd do without you.. Gerald in Folsom, La.

-- Gerald Boudoin-Folsom, La. (gerald_boudoin@internationaltesting.com), May 01, 2001.