In article ,
Spider wrote:
On 20/04/2014 17:23, Roger Tonkin wrote:

I've been growing veggies from seed for well over 40 years, so
never really bother to read the instructions on the seed
packets (except perhaps for a guide to the depth of planting).
However idly looking through some this week, I noticed that I
am supposed to "pre-water" the soil - Why???

I've always preferred to plant in dryish soil, when you can
hand close and firm the row and even move some of the seed that
has fallen out of line in necessay. Giving the soil a good
watering after palnting and firming if rain is not immenent.

Is there any science in this wet soil method?

I'm not sure if you'd call it science, rather a practical approach.
Watering the seed tray after placing your seed can have the effect of
washing all the seed into crowded patches of seed, rather than in the
neat rows you had laid them. It is then very difficult to separate
them, so many seeds germinate in one area, often failing due to
overcrowding.

Er, don't you use a suitably fine rose on your watering can?
I accept that does apply for surface- and near-surface-sown seeds,
but it doesn't for anything that is best 1/2" or more. And, in
light soils, that's about the minimum depth, because the top can
dessicate in a day.

I often sow onto wet compost. I may lightly cover the seeds with a
little dry compost if required. So far I haven't had a problem.

I do the same as Roger, except in two cases. If the soil is bone
dry, it won't accept water. And for the aforementioned surface-sown
seeds.

I have tried sowing onto dry compost, then plunging the trays in water
to soak right through so the seeds are wetted, but even this can cause
some seeds to 'swim' away from their allotted place.

So can rain!

If you're having success with your existing dry soil method, then there
is no need to change.

As always, the extremes are usually inferior, but there is a large
area in the middle where it makes very little difference!


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.