John Myers
As soon as the rays of the spring sun have sufficiently warmed the soil, you can sow the first lettuce and vegetables directly in the bed. This is the perfect start for the little plants, as they will germinate quickly and root well in moist, well-prepared soil.
The right seed
The rule here is: the better the quality, the more seeds will sprout and grow into strong plants. A good choice is open-pollinated organic varieties, as these have been grown under natural conditions. As a result, the plants are more robust and later require less fertilizer and pesticides.
Pay attention to the time of sowing printed on the seed bag. If this does not correspond to the current temperatures, lettuce tends to shoot or herbs do not open at all.
Proper soil preparation
- An even soil temperature is important. This should be around ten degrees.
- Thoroughly chop the soil.
- Level the ground with the rake.
If the earth is still too cold, it is better to wait a few days. Although carrots and radishes, for example, germinate at five degrees, the first leaves appear only hesitantly. If you sow later, the plants will develop faster and catch up with the seeds sown earlier in a very short time.
Sowing methods
How you sow depends on the type of vegetable.
Spread sowing
Cut and picking lettuce is sown by broadcasting. Before that, all weeds must be thoroughly removed, since this is hardly possible later. Then distribute the seeds evenly over the surface and sprinkle some finely crumbly substrate over them. Press carefully.
As soon as the leaves are about seven centimeters long, the first cut is made. If you later leave a plant every twenty centimeters, it will develop to its full size and you will get delicious lettuce, for example.
Clump seed
This is recommended for zucchini, among other things. Place three to four seeds in a hollow and cover them with some soil. Observe the planting distance specified on the seed bag. After germination, only leave the strongest plant.
Row sowing
This is very often practiced, for example with carrots, radishes, or radishes. The distance between the individual seeds and seed rows depends on the space required by the vegetable and is noted on the seed packaging. Do not sow too densely so that strong plants can develop from the tiny cotyledons.
