Most of the plants grown in the North-Central Texas area can (and should) be ‘direct sowed’ or planted in the soil from seed. Here are some basic steps to take to ensure you have good success.
Remove or push aside and mulch or covering. Note: wood mulch is shown here — planting with the Citizen Gardener method avoids wood mulch inside the bed. Any woody material in the soil will take up nitrogen, so it is good to avoid it.- Level out and smooth the area you will be planting in. Remove any rocks, twigs, or material that will make it difficult to plant seeds.
- Press holes at the recommended plant spacing about an inch deep. (use any improvised poking tool, including your finger)
Fill holes partially up with vermiculite or other material suitable for starting seeds. Leave empty space equal to the desired seed planting depth. Drop one or more seeds into the hole. (if more than one plant sprouts, you will need to thin them to the proper spacing so they don’t compete for resources)
Fill the hole, then press lightly on the area to slightly compress the soil so that it wicks water and removes any air pockets.- Label what the seeds are with a plant label and record the event along with the date in your garden diary.
- Water the area and keep it moist until the seeds sprout.
