How Many Seeds Do I Plant? (2024)

FAQs

How Many Seeds Do I Plant? ›

Check the individual seed instructions, but keep in mind that usually, seeds should be planted two-to-three times deep as the seed is wide. Depending on the seed, it's usually a good plan to plant more than one seed (but not too many!) Some seeds just aren't viable, so it's good to plant two or three just in case.

Like most things in gardening, there are always exceptions to this rule of 2-3 seeds per hole. If you're planting large seeds like cucumbers, melons, or pumpkins, you should only use one seed per hole. However, you can still plant seeds close together and then thin them out once they've established themselves.

If only a few plants are needed, it is not necessary to plant all the seeds in a packet.

Take the total number of inches available for the crop and divide by the in- row crop spacing. For instance, 120 in. divided by 1 in. per pea seed equals 120 pea seeds.

Fill your cell trays halfway with potting soil. Take another cell tray and stack it on top of the cell tray you are planting into. This will pack down the dirt and create divots to sow seeds into. Plant 2-3 seeds per cell and fill the tray with potting soil.

Usually, you want to plant two or three seeds per hole because not every seed will germinate. The packet your seeds came in will also let you know approximately how long it will take for them to germinate. Make sure you label the container with the date and the name of what you planted.

Quality grass seed labels include guidance on optimal seeding rates to maximize your results. Don't overdo or cut corners. Too much grass seed causes undue competition for resources such as light, water and nutrients, and grass seedlings struggle as a result. Too little seed leaves lawns thin or bare.

The Short Answer

Most seedlings require water every day or every other day. First, check the soil moisture using your finger by checking the soil color near the drainage hole. If the soil feels or appears dry or brittle, irrigate thoroughly until water pours out of the bottom of the tray, then stop.

I know it's rough, but the answer is yes. Because here's what happens if you don't: None of your plants will have the room they need to grow to their fullest potential. Overcrowded plants often grow leggy (they basically grow too tall and thin in their search for more resources) and show signs of stress.

It is better to plant seeds too shallow than too deep. Some seeds, such as certain Lettuces or Snapdragon, need light to germinate and should not be covered at all. Once you start sowing seeds and get dirt on your fingers, you will not want to stop and make labels.

How do you properly plant seeds? ›

Make shallow indentations in the media and sow the seed evenly. Lightly water the surface, and place the container in a warm area (not in direct sunlight). As seeds germinate, move seedlings to a well-lit area, such as under fluorescent lights.

Add one seed to each pot or cell. Use the crease of the seed packet or place seeds in a creased piece of paper to help direct the seeds where you want them to go. Sometimes not every seed will germinate. To increase your chances of success, add 2-3 seeds to each pot and thin out the extras once everything has sprouted.

This season, it is very important to control planting soil depth and seedbed. Good seed depth--1.5 to 2.0 inches or even deeper--is recommended in dry conditions to ensure good moisture availability for successful seed germination.

As a general guide, after your seeds germinate they can grow in smaller (1.5″ cell trays) for about 2-3 weeks, in larger 2″ trays they can grow in them for about 3-4 weeks before needing to be transplanted. When it's time to transplant, wet your seedling tray soil & your garden's soil. This makes the soil stickier.

A seed tray positioned in a light spot on a windowsill

Place your seed tray in a light spot. A warm windowsill, preferably facing south, is good.

Any smaller plastic or styrofoam container can be recycled and used as a container for starting seeds. Make sure to poke drainage holes in the bottom to prevent over-watering. Some recycled containers to consider include: yogurt containers.

As a general rule, vegetable seeds will be planted at a depth that is twice that of the seed width. For example, a pea is much larger than a carrot seed and will be planted much deeper than a carrot seed.

Seed spacing – Medium: Plant four plants or seeds per square foot, in two rows of two. Includes lettuce, kale, Swiss chard, broad bean, garlic, bok choy, spinach, roquette, or arugula. Leave a space of 15 cm or 6″ between plants. Seed spacing – Small: Plant eight plants or seeds per square foot, in two rows of four.

The sharing ratio represents the relationship between your number of downloads and uploads. If you seed (upload) a full copy of your downloaded content, you have a 1:1 sharing ratio. Private trackers require members to maintain at least a 1:1 sharing ratio to ensure members contribute to their communities.