I planted seed and almost nothing came up
Four causes cover nearly all of it, and three are free to fix. Before you blame the seed, check the soil temperature — it is the most common answer by a wide margin.
What actually works
**45–50°F for peas and potatoes; 60°F for beans, corn and squash.** Seed in cold wet soil rots rather than germinating. A $4 probe ends the guessing, and planting by the probe instead of the calendar is the single biggest improvement most gardeners can make.
Ten seeds on a damp paper towel in a bag for a week. Six up means 60% — sow thicker or buy new. Seed you saved yourself is an unknown until you do this.
Small seed sown deep never reaches the surface. Carrots and lettuce want barely covering.
A hard crust stops seedlings dead. A thin board or a dusting of compost over the row keeps it soft until they're through.
Run the numbers
- Plant count & seed needed → — free calculator, works offline.
- Planting & transplant dates → — free calculator, works offline.
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