Give the seed a limited amount of water to start off the germination process and ensure that all the seeds are at the same stage of development at the same time. Primed seeds germinate more evenly and quickly, and often at a lower temperatures, making them useful for early sowings. Due to the expense of this method, it is only available for a limited number of plants such as carrots and parsnips. Easy sowing The seed of popular varieties is often available in forms that can make sowing even easier. The following two types are useful for anyone who has difficulty handling smaller seeds.
Pelleted seed is covered with a soluble coating that makes it easy to handle and space out evenly.
Thorough watering after sowing is essential to ensure the moisture needed for germination penetrates the coating quickly. Seed tapes are becoming more widely available. These strips have seeds embedded in them at regular intervals, so they don't need thinning out later. Simply lay the seed tape in a seed drill and cover it with soil, making sure it is in full contact with the ground. Sowing in drills Broadcast sowing Thinning Treated seeds Easy sowing Search for plants by plant name or sun exposure and soil type.