Sowing for a garden is an art

What a thrill it is to watch sprouts of newly planted seeds poke up through the soil. But what a disappointment when, instead of an orderly row of well-spaced seedlings, only a few come up here and there down the row.

If you did space seeds evenly down the row, the problem of spotty germination could rest with the seed itself. No seed stays alive forever, and how long a seed remains viable depends on the kind of seed and storage conditions.

To test seed viability, put some seeds between a couple of pieces of moistened paper towel. Keep the towels moist, wait a week or two, and then count the percentage of seeds that germinate. If the percentage is low, sow more thickly the next time, or just buy new seeds.

Even good seed will not germinate in cold soil, and planting too early could result in a forlorn-looking row of seedlings. The minimum germination temperature is often written on the seed packet. You could have stuck a thermometer into the soil.

You also could have just looked at what was blooming as a guide. Then, you would have planted peas and other cool temperature seeds when forsythia was blooming and warmth-loving seed, such as corn, when lilac was blooming.

Planting too deep or too shallow can affect germination. As a rule, plant seed at a depth equal to two or three times its thickness.

Poor soil conditions can also cause poor germination. Too much water in a soil forces out air, so seeds suffocate.

Obviously, there's some art in getting everything right for seeds to grow. But do not be intimidated: You have millions of years of evolution on your side. Seeds want to germinate, and do so under a range of conditions.