How deep to sow seeds
Discover the correct depth to sow various types of seed, in our at-a-glance guide.
Seeds vary hugely in size, from the dust-like seeds of orchids to huge and almost indestructible coconuts. Their size is related to how long the seeds need to survive before they find suitable growing conditions in the wild. Orchids, for example, are shed onto permanently moist leaf mould and can grow straightaway. Coconuts, on the other hand, come equipped for a long sea voyage before being buried in the sand on a tropical beach.
The size of each seed acts as its own instant guide to sowing depth - as a general rule, cover seeds with roughly their own depth of compost.
Here are our recommended sowing depths for many popular seeds.
Sow on the soil or compost surface
Foxgloves
Lobelia
Nicotiana
Polyanthus and primula
Sow less than 0.5cm deep
Annual poppies
Aquilegias
Lettuce
Marigolds
Peppers
Tomatoes
More like this
Sow 0.5-1cm deep
Chard
Cosmos
Cucumbers
Lupins
Radishes
Sweet peas
Sow 1-2cm deep
Courgettes
French beans
Pumpkin
Spring onion
Sunflowers
Sweetcorn
Sow 2-4cm deep
Beetroot
Broad beans
Nasturtiums
Peas
Rocket
Runner beans
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