Direct Tech
This technique requires less work than raising transplants and is ideal for large-seeded crops such as beans, peas, and cucurbits.
What is direct sowing?
This sowing method is preferred for crops like beans, peas, and corn, where plants are spaced in rows for easier management.
What is row sowing?
This process involves soaking seeds like beans and peas for a few hours or overnight before planting to jump-start growth.
What is pre-soaking?
The practice of sowing seeds that have already sprouted, which can give crops like lettuce a head start.
What is pre-germination?
This is the primary benefit of using direct sowing for large numbers of plants, making it much easier than growing transplants.
What is less labor?
The soil temperature for cool-weather crops should be at least this temperature in the top 2 inches for good germination.
What is 40°F?
This sowing method, often used for crops like melons and cucumbers, involves planting seeds in a mound to improve drainage.
What is hill sowing?
This is the term for the temperature range in which warm-weather crops like beans and cucurbits require soil for optimal germination.
What is 60°F?
This important concept ensures that seeds are distributed evenly and that gaps in plant growth can be filled in with extra plants.
What is thinning?
This method of sowing involves placing seeds in deep troughs that are later filled with a mix of soil and compost, often used for heavy soils.
What is furrow sowing?
This is the common term used for sowing seeds thickly to ensure enough viable plants, compensating for less than fresh seeds.
What is over-sowing?
This method is used to ensure seeds are spaced equidistantly across a bed, often through short rows or with the help of jigs.
What is equidistant sowing?
This common gardening issue occurs when the seedbed's surface crusts over, often due to too fine a texture.
What is soil crusting?
When direct sowing, the general guideline is to plant this many times more seeds than the number of plants you want to grow
What is four times?
This practice is recommended when sowing small, delicate seeds like carrots or parsley, to reduce damage during planting.
What is fluid sowing?
The first step in preparing a seedbed that involves digging, shaping, and ensuring proper aeration and drainage.
What is seedbed preparation?
This technique allows you to plant pre-germinated seeds safely by suspending them in a gel, often used for delicate crops like carrots and parsley.
What is fluid sowing?
The material added to heavy soils to improve their texture and drainage for easier seedbed preparation.
What is organic matter?
The result of sowing too many seeds too thickly, which can lead to overcrowding and extra work.
What is over-sowing?
This sowing method works well for crops that need to be spaced out at regular intervals and are grown in large rows, such as beans or peas.
What is row sowing?
A technique where you scatter seeds onto the soil, often used for small-seeded crops like carrots or spinach.
What is broadcast sowing?
The spacing rule for direct sowing, where seeds should be planted at a depth 2 to 4 times the diameter of the seed.
What is depth of planting?
These can cause seed failures when they dry out, trapping the seeds inside and preventing them from germinating properly.
What is gel drying out?
The essential bacteria required for the first time a nitrogen-fixing leguminous crop is grown.
What is inoculation?
When preparing a bed for sowing, this type of soil texture is ideal because it prevents capping and allows for good drainage and aeration.
What is crumbly soil?