Which way is up?

[Millymollymandy]

I can't even remember whether I asked this question last year or not, but I don't remember the answer if I did!!

How do you sow seeds such as cucumber and pumpkin? Is there an up? Or do you put them on their sides (but not flat, if you know what I mean)? I think that's what I did last year because I hadn't a clue!

Ditto corn kernels - is there a right way up?

It's bad enough chitting potatoes finding the right way up, and I've had problems with some tiny ornamental allium bulbs too! Help!

[albert onglebod]

On their sides is good. Though I expect they would grow okay whichever way they are in the soil.If you think about it, naturally they would be planted by either animals eating the flesh and passing the seeds or the veg rotting into the ground,they would just lie any old way in the soil.

[Wombat]

I plant the big ones flat and they seem to do OK M3

[Millymollymandy]

Cheers Bert and Nev

[nem]

hehe i had been wondering that as well. even when theyve sprouted i worry whether the sticky out growy bit is the stem or the root. dont laugh its not easy being me!

[shiney]

I didn't even think about it. I just chucked them in the pots! My butternuts are in and if they come up, they come up.

[glenniedragon]

I've just chucked them in, pumpkin leaves are still in the seed, they poke through the surface and loose the seed pod later so which way up/down/sideways doesnt seem to matter much

kind thoughts
Deb

[Andy Hamilton]

You must be a mind reader, I was just about to post about this. We experimented this year and planted them all at different angles. (courgettes) One of them just showed its roots, but now it has corrected itself amd is showing its green leaves. - so yep don't really matter.

[Millymollymandy]

On Gardeners' World recently they said the seeds were more likely to rot if planted flat.

You lot are so far ahead - I won't be planting any of mine till I come back from my holiday at the beginning of June! But then I will just plant direct into the soil I think.

[Wombat]

On Gardeners' World recently they said the seeds were more likely to rot if planted flat.

I suppose I can understand it, particularly in cold weather, water could collect on the flat surface of the seed and cause rot. I haven't had that problem here but we have plenty of warm weather!

Nev