Get seeds off to a good start - Garden; planting methods - Brief Article

Sunset, Oct, 2003

The annuals listed on page 74 reseed best in soil that is not regularly cultivated. You can give them their own separate bed or tuck them into little pockets of the garden where there's still bare ground.

* Select a site that drains well and gets at least six hours of sun per day. Rake the soil lightly before sowing seeds.

* For a natural look the first year, broadcast half the seeds over the desired area, then sow the remainder in a direction perpendicular to the first. Walk on the soil to make sure the seeds are firmly in contact with the soil.

* Keep the area moist until seedlings emerge--usually 5 to 14 days after sowing. Water with a sprinkler set to a fine spray or a garden hose with a mist nozzle. When seedlings have grown a few inches tall, taper off Irrigation. Then water only when plants appear drought stressed.

* After the annuals stop blooming, allow them to set seed. Once most Of the seeds have ripened and the foliage has begun to turn brown, pull up the plants and scatter the remaining seeds where you choose. Then let nature take over.