In article , Phil L
writes

If you are planting seeds now, you will have to keep it well watered for
germination to take place, as I have just discovered with my beetroot
(singular, as in a beetroot)

When I lived down south with dry soil, I used to make the drill, then
water it, using a watering can to soak the bottom of the drill, sow the
seeds, then covered with dry soil - this seemed to stop evaporation, so
the initial watering was enough for germination.
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"