What prevents the rest of the seeds from developing?
Lee Ann Aronson, a University of Arizona Maricopa County Cooperative Extension Master Gardener, says the most common reason seeds do not germinate is that the soil dries out too much, especially when temperatures are warm. Keep the soil moist, like a wrung-out sponge, but not soggy, she suggests. It may be necessary to apply water lightly three or four times a day to keep the surface moist until seeds sprout, especially when the weather is hot or when wind dries out the soil. Because of this, some gardeners wait to sow cool-season seeds until temperatures abate in mid-October. Other reasons you may not see sprouts coming up include: birds eating the new sprouts (cover the ground loosely with shade cloth or burlap as a barrier against birds); seeds being washed away, which happens very easily with smaller seeds that usually are planted close to the surface (i.e., carrot, lettuce); seeds planted at the wrong depth; or seeds too old to germinate. Q: I’m a new Scottsdale resident, and I do
