Hey everyone! I just planted a bunch of seeds directly into the ground last Saturday, including spinach, chard, carrots, onions, peas, and even some potatoes (I know, not technically seeds!). Before planting, I gave them a little splash of water. We got a light drizzle on Sunday, but nothing substantial, and it's been sunny and dry around 8°C since then, with no rain forecasted until Friday. My community garden plot is away from my house, and the water pumps haven't been set up yet, so I'm hauling water myself, which isn't the best. On Saturday, I managed to get two 10L buckets in, which was just a quick splash. I noticed it's still damp about 10cm deep, but the top layer is dry. Should I be watering every other day, once a week, or just wait for the seeds to sprout?
5 Answers
Seeds need consistent moisture until they germinate. Since your soil is damp deeper down, you can compress the top soil to help draw moisture up to the seeds. Covering them with cardboard or a tarp can help too! For tricky seeds like carrots, mixing them with cornstarch to make a gel and piping it into the furrow is effective. Check out 'Gardening Without Irrigation' by Steve Solomon for tips on how to use minimal water.
In Florida, I usually have to water my directly sown seeds in the morning and again in the late afternoon just to keep the soil moist enough. It can be a lot of work, but it's important!
Keeping the seed level moist is crucial until they sprout. Without knowing your specifics, I'd say the potatoes might be okay for a while, but the others should get watering every other day—or maybe daily if your soil dries out quickly. Carrots really need constant moisture till they germinate, so consider watering lighter several times a day or covering them while you check for sprouts.
Try covering the seeds with cardboard and then wet the cardboard completely. Just lift it each day to check for sprouts—this will keep the moisture in without overwatering.
You’ll want to keep the soil around your seeds slightly moist during germination, but don’t get too caught up in a strict schedule. Different factors like your climate, soil type, and sunlight will dictate how often they need water. Monitor the soil and water when it seems dry instead of sticking to a rigid plan.
It's tough for me too since my garden plot is at a community site and the waterpumps aren't installed. After some rain last Sunday, I'm going to see how dry it is today and hope for more light rain soon!