There are many ways to grow a plant from seed, but planting outdoors — also known as direct sowing — can often be overlooked or seem too daunting. Gardeners often start their seeds indoors, where conditions are easy to control and extreme weather won’t interfere with healthy growth.
However, as we move into spring, the threat of frost lessens and the soil begins to warm, making the climate more favorable for sowing seeds outdoors. Here we take a quick look at the advantages of indoor and outdoor sowing and a deep dive into how to sow seeds outdoors the right way.
For plant species with a long growing period, planting indoors allows you to start earlier in the year since you don’t need to wait for the last frost. Yet, sowing seeds outdoors is a compelling option for many garden varieties.
The benefits of direct sowing
Direct sowing has a few key advantages. You likely won’t need to buy any special equipment, such as seed trays or grow lights, as you will use the natural environment. Since you are planting directly into the garden, you also won’t need to deal with transplanting young seedlings, which can sometimes put the plants into stress. Not only is planting outdoors more economical, but you will often be rewarded with stronger, healthier plants since they are able to maximize their nutrients and sunlight from the very beginning of their growth.
Getting it right
Nevertheless, there are right and wrong ways to sow seeds outdoors. It is critical to wait until the weather has warmed enough for the ground to thaw, so that the soil can be worked and made into a hospitable growing environment. One way to check if the garden is suitable for planting is to watch for the first weed seedlings to emerge — if they can grow, so can your plants.
If you live in an area that sometimes experiences a surprising late freeze, you can still move ahead, but you might want to consider setting up additional protection for young seedlings, which I explain below.
Once the weather has turned, it’s time to get planting, so grab your best gardening gloves and get outside.
Outdoor seed sowing guide
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Outdoor planting is generally simpler than indoor seed starting, but still requires a few basic tools. Before you start, review your materials and ensure everything you need is on hand.
It’s worth having a garden fork to work the soil, a rake to create an even surface, a trowel or draw hoe to dig spaces for the seeds, and a watering system (a can or hose are fine). If you plan to plant in even rows, you might also want stakes and string or bamboo cane to mark out clear rows.
Finally, it can be useful to have a series of craft sticks or other markers so that you can label where each batch of seeds has been planted. This will be important in the early stages of growth, to ensure you are watering the right area.
2. Prepare the soil
If you’ve been working in your garden for a long time, you are likely familiar with its soil type. Still, it can be useful to test your soil to assess its current nutrient profile and see if you need to supplement it with specific fertilizer.
If you are new to outdoor sowing, it’s worth conducting a soil test to determine what kind of soil you have so that you can choose appropriate seeds to plant. Your best chance of success is to grow plants that are meant to thrive in that environment.
Once the soil has been identified, it’s time to prep it for sowing. Remove any debris, rocks or weeds that may have piled up over the past few dormant months. After a long winter of freezing and thawing, the soil has also likely become compacted, so aerate the soil and break up any clumps.
You might want to supplement with fertilizer or compost to create optimal growing conditions, but remember that not all plants like fertile soil. Always defer to the preferences of the specific plants that you will be growing. Lastly, rake this mixture back into an even layer.
3. Prepare your seeds
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Many seeds are packaged in a way that allows them to be sown immediately after opening. However, some need a little bit of extra preparation before they can go into the ground. Make sure to read the instructions on any seed packets that you have before moving forward, as each species prefers a different approach:
Soak: You might need to soak the seeds in water for a few hours before planting to soften the skins and make germination easier.
Scarify: Another form of preparation is to scarify the surface of the seeds with a light sandpaper. By gently rubbing at the surface, it will thin and become easier for water and nutrients to penetrate.
Stratification: Some seeds need to undergo stratification to germinate successfully. In nature, this means spending extended time in damp, cold winter conditions that soften the seed’s barrier. At home, you can recreate this by putting the seeds in a container with appropriate soil mix, moistening the dirt, and then placing the container in the refrigerator for several weeks.
4. Sow your seeds
Once the soil and seeds are ready and the weather cooperates, it’s time to sow. Check how closely the seeds should be planted together and at what depth. Then, use your trowel to create appropriate indentations in the soil.
In some cases, you will want to dig individual holes with regular spacing. In others, you will want to dig a long furrow in the soil, also known as a drill. This can be a useful way to ensure that you plant in orderly rows —use the string or bamboo cane to mark out the lines before you dig. Place the seeds in the dirt and then gently cover with soil, so that they are no longer exposed to the naked eye.
5. Water now and water consistently
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Immediately after you’ve planted the seeds, use your watering can or hose to moisten the soil and help it settle into place. If you notice any areas are too thinly covered or patchy, this is the time to add additional soil.
The seeds will need moisture to germinate, so keep the environment damp at this stage. Consistent light watering is more important than flooding the area, since you want to keep the ground moist and not saturated. You can use a diffuser setting on your hose, to avoid pummelling the ground or soaking the soil. As the plants grow, you will be able to water less frequently.
6. Consider additional protection
While you may be able to plant directly into the soil and leave the seeds uncovered, installing some coverage to protect them from the elements can be helpful. A cloche or tunnel can help retain heat overnight during early spring, so that unexpected frosts don’t kill the seeds before they have a chance to germinate.
They can also protect any local wildlife that may like to feed on seeds, such as birds or squirrels. These covers will often only be needed for a short period, when the seeds are most vulnerable, but can make a big difference if you live in an area with fluctuating or inconsistent weather.
7. Monitor growth
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It might take a few weeks to see the fruits of your labor, but that’s because all the action is happening under the soil’s surface. Keep watering on a regular schedule and check for progress. This might also be a good time to apply additional fertilizer, depending on your soil type and the plant species you are growing. Otherwise, just be patient and keep an eye out for the first sprouts of green to emerge.
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