Methods, rates and timing of sowing seeds and planting seedlings
For an early harvest, seeds of carrot, parsley, dill, celery and coriander, garlic cloves and tulip bulbs are sown in autumn before frost; their seedlings withstand the ground freezing. For each crop the row spacing, the distance in the row and the sowing depth are set: there is a sowing scheme. Sowing methods are row, narrow-row (7.5–15 cm), wide-row (45 cm and more), strip, hill, square-hill and staggered. The method depends on the crop, its purpose (grain, greens, silage) and soil fertility. Seed quality means purity, germination rate, size, plumpness, freedom from disease and from damage. Seed is cleaned of weed seeds and straw and tested for germination before sowing; if part of it does not sprout, more is sown. Large, plump seed gives strong seedlings, so sorting is recommended. Seed that has been treated with a dressing may be poisonous: children do not touch or eat such seed.
Germination test: sprout 20 bean seeds on damp cotton wool in a cup for a week, count how many sprouted and work out the percentage. Do not use treated seed.