Follow Seed Packet Planting Depth Instructions

Plant each seed at the depth specified on its packet. The general rule is to sow a seed two to three times as deep as its width. Very fine seeds like lettuce and petunias are pressed onto the surface and left uncovered because they need light to germinate.

Why It Works

Seeds buried too deep exhaust their stored energy before the shoot reaches the surface and may rot in the moist soil. Seeds planted too shallow dry out quickly or wash away during watering. Following the packet depth gives each variety the exact soil coverage it evolved to germinate through.

Tips

• Use the eraser end of a pencil or a dibber to make uniform planting holes
• Label each tray with the variety and sowing date for tracking
• When in doubt, err on the shallow side; most seeds recover from slight under-planting more easily than from being buried too deep