From: bobnospam@gmail.com   
      
   On 8/23/2022 3:47 PM, songbird wrote:   
   > T wrote:   
   >> Hi All,   
   >>   
   >> I have noticed that I am unable to get ANY seed to   
   >> germinate if I plant it after the thrid week in May.   
   >> That is when the freezing nights stop.  (In May,   
   >> we have 70 to 80F days and 30 to 40 F nights.)   
   >>   
   >> In june we have 80 to 90 F days.  I am wondering   
   >> if the hot days and moist soil cooks or rots   
   >> the seeds.   
   >>   
   >> I only water every two days.   
   >>   
   >> Your thoughts?   
   >   
   >    depends upon the seed and seed quality you are   
   > planting, the soil, the conditions that happen after   
   > the seed is sown.   
   >   
   >    it may just be that you have such mineral laden   
   > soil that there is no moisture retained (sand or   
   > mineral grains are not moisture retainers).  could   
   > it be that the seeds are placed too shallow for   
   > your conditions?  they might fry if it is full sun,   
   > sandy and hot enough.   
   >   
   >    perhaps your water is really bad, alkaline, etc.   
   >   
   >    sometimes things need shade aka a nursery crop or   
   > some other things like fire or the seed has to be   
   > mechanically abraded.   
   >   
   >    without knowing a lot more about your attempts   
   > and more exact details we're just guessing.   
   >   
   >    perhaps you are talking about direct sown seeds   
   > into your garden soil and we're thinking you're   
   > talking about trying to start things in sterile   
   > seed starting mix with more controlled conditions.   
   >   
   >    and that really gets to the next point.  when   
   > you plant a seed you are asking a question, but   
   > if you've not done any prep work then perhaps   
   > you are asking a rather poor question which can   
   > be improved...   
   >   
   >    the more you can describe things when you ask a   
   > question here the better the replies you might get   
   > in return.   
      
   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.   
      
   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.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)