Sowing seeds and watering seedlings

How deep and how far apart

A useful rule: sow a seed about twice as deep as it is wide. Tiny seeds such as lettuce and rocket go only about 1 centimetre deep; big broad bean seeds go about 5 centimetres. For a row, run the edge of a trowel along the soil to make a shallow groove called a drill, water it first, then sprinkle the seeds thinly along it and cover them with fine soil. When the seedlings come up, pull out the extras so the rest stand at the spacing on the packet. This is thinning, and it gives each plant room to grow.^[1][3]

Watering little plants

Seeds need soil that stays evenly moist, not soggy, until they come up. Use a watering can fitted with a rose, the cap with small holes on the spout, so the water falls like light rain and does not wash seeds out of place. Water in the morning or evening, at the soil rather than over the leaves. Once plants are growing well, water less often but more deeply: a thorough soaking once or twice a week in dry weather sends roots down, where the soil stays moist for longer.^[2][5]

Practice: Sow a row of rocket

1. Make a drill about 1 centimetre deep across your bed with the edge of a trowel.
2. Water the drill gently through a rose, then sprinkle rocket seed thinly along it.
3. Cover with fine soil, press it down lightly and push a labelled stick in at one end.
4. Check the soil each day and water when the top feels dry.

1. 1.How deep should you sow a small seed like rocket?
   About 5 centimetres deepAbout 1 centimetre deepAbout 10 centimetres deepOn the surface, uncovered

2. 2.What does thinning mean?
   Watering seedlings through a roseCovering seeds with fine soilAdding compost on top againPulling out extra seedlings early

3. 3.Which kind of crop must wait until after the last frost?review
   Tender cropsHardy cropsLeafy cropsRoot crops