Seeds vs. Transplants

• Transplants insure a reliable plant population; usually produce earlier than crops planted from seed; but cost more.

• Success in seeding vegetable crops depends on factors such as seed, vigor, soil moisture, planting technique and soil fertility.

• Use new viable seed to insure a good plant population.  Seeds need to absorb moisture before growth can begin.

• Planting depth for seeds will depend on the variety. Check the seed packet for instructions

• Seeded vegetables can be tricky to get up in the heat of summer. Soil often forms a crust on the surface after tillage and watering. This “crust” can hinder tender seedlings from breaking through. Here are a couple of tips to help get seedlings up in the summer:

1. Open a furrow down the row as you normally would to sow the seeds. Before sowing, take your garden hose and thoroughly soak the bottom of the seed furrow with water. Next sow the seed. Finally, cover the seed to the proper depth with dry soil and firm. The seed should stay moist enough until germination, and if you avoid overhead watering, the soil will not form a crust to hinder seedling emergence.
   
   
2. Or, you can place a board or wet burlap over the seed row to provide constant dampness to encourage germination and emergence. You need to check every day for signs of emergence, and remove the covering when you see the first seedlings breaking through.