From: songbird@anthive.com   
      
   Bob F wrote:   
   ...   
   > My theory is that if seeds start to sprout, then dry out, they tend to   
   > die. So I water newly planted seeds regularly but lightly so the soil   
   > around them stays moist until they sprout and grow a bit. More than once   
   > a day if they begin to dry out. Then I decrease the frequency of   
   > watering, but water more so the deeper soil gets wet so the roots grow   
   > down into it as the top soil dries out.   
      
     yes, when i start beans here in mostly clay i water twice   
   a day but lightly to keep it moist enough.  once they sprout   
   i reduce to once every other day or so and then after that it   
   might gradually ease off to once a week.  depends upon how   
   much rain we get.  in sandier soil with more minerals and less   
   clay and organic matter you'd have to water more frequently.   
   in the arid southwest it's a whole different ballgame.  you   
   might need some shade, a wind break or mulches to keep seeds   
   cool enough and evenly moist enough.   
      
      
   > Getting that soil test earlier, and adding the lime, nitrogen, and   
   > potassium it said I needed has made my garden take off! we went from a   
   > really dismal looking garden of bolting tiny yellowish plants, to very   
   > strong healthy rapidly growing dark green produce everywhere.   
      
     glad it helped out.  :)   
      
     have you been getting regular rains there?  it had been   
   really dry here for quite a long time.  so much that i was   
   wondering how much BER my tomatoes were going to get as   
   usually the first few that come ripe might have some BER.   
   this year none of the first few pickings had really bad   
   BER but it was close.  will have to pick again in a few   
   days.   
      
      
     songbird   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)