A Guide to Direct Sowing Seeds

Growing from seed can be a rewarding experience, but it can sometimes be a bit tricky to know the best method for sowing your seeds for the best results. Some seeds prefer to be sown directly where they will grow to avoid disturbing their delicate root systems during transplanting. Others don’t mind being moved at all and in fact will get a head start growing in a container before planting out in the garden.  This article will help explain what direct sowing is, when and why to do it and what varieties to use.

What is Direct Sowing?

Direct sowing is simply the act of sowing your seeds directly into the ground where the crop will be harvested. There are multiple benefits to direct sowing your seeds including:

No Transplant Shock

Transplant shock occurs when a plant is disturbed by moving it from one container to another, or from a container to a garden bed. This can shock the plant due to the change in temperature, disturbance or damage of the roots, changes in soil pH or salinity, changes in moisture, and so on. These changes to the plant’s growing environment can cause plants to struggle to re-establish themselves in their new surroundings and wilt, become malnourished or become diseased. Not all plants experience this shock, and some don’t seem to mind it at all. Direct sowing your seeds where they will remain undisturbed until harvest time avoids transplant shock altogether!

No Need to Harden Off

Hardening off plants is necessary when moving them from a warm, stable, protected environment, to the unpredictable and ever-fluctuating environment outside. Plants grown in growing houses or indoors require an in-between environment such as a patio or protected outdoor area to get used to the change in environment gradually. This gives the plants time to “harden” to the elements and grow stronger stems, leaves, and roots before being left in the elements permanently. Direct sowing out in the garden allows your plants to get used to their environment from the start and so they grow much stronger than those started indoors.

Some Plants Prefer It

There are a number of varieties that will perform much better for you when direct sown as opposed to being started in containers or seed flats. Various root vegetables begin to develop their taproots early in life and if damaged in the early stages of forming can result in some oddly shaped or deformed crops. Seeds that grow tap roots are at risk of being twisted, broken, or damaged during transplanting and can even become diseased or die off. Varieties with taproots include beetroot, radish, turnip, carrot, coriander, parsley, dill, and poppy.

Avoid Unnecessary Work

Let’s be honest, nobody wants to do extra work for little gain, and for some plants, direct sowing will give a result that is equal to or even better than transplanting. Crops with large seeds have enough energy and vigour in them to do just as well direct sown which will save you much-needed time and effort. Crops such as peas, beans, corn, sunflowers, cucumbers, zucchinis, pumpkins, and melons are all just as good direct sown as they are in pots. You can also avoid a whole lot of work by scattering seeds such as lettuce, spinach, cottage garden mixes, and annual flower blends.

What Seed Varieties prefer Direct Sowing?

When to Direct Sow Seeds

For information on when to sow your seeds, refer to the back of your seed packet for the guide to sowing times for that particular variety. Seeds will not germinate unless the soil temperature is adequate for your chosen variety so you may need to alter your sowing time based on the actual temperatures you are experiencing. When planting spring varieties it is best practice to wait until the last frost has passed for the season before sowing seeds outside to avoid your young plants burning. 

How to Direct Sow Seeds

When direct sowing seeds it is important to prepare the soil so that the seeds have the optimal environment to germinate and set root. You can do this by first removing any rocks, sticks, and weeds from the soil, and break up any clumps, then add organic matter if the soil quality is poor. Avoid turning the soil too much as this can ruin the soil structure and encourage weed seeds to germinate. Finish off by raking the bed smooth and lightly watering prior to sowing. Follow the directions on your seed packet to ensure you are sowing your seeds at the correct depth. For very fine seeds, they may germinate better when lightly pressed into the soil rather than being buried.