Daily gardening tip · Northern hemisphere · Friday 21 August 2026 · late summer
Sow Seeds Deeper in Late Summer
Planting seeds in late summer often fails because the hot sun dries out the top layer of soil before the seeds can sprout.
15 minuteseasyseeds sowing
Water the planting area thoroughly a few hours before you sow.
Make your planting furrows about twice as deep as you would in the spring.
Place the seeds in the damp soil and cover them fully.
Lay a damp burlap sack or a thin board over the planted row to block the hot sun.
Lift the cover daily to check for sprouts, and remove it as soon as they appear.
Why it works
In late summer, the very top layer of soil loses moisture rapidly to the hot air. Planting seeds slightly deeper places them in cooler, wetter soil, while a temporary cover prevents evaporation so the seeds do not dry out and die during germination.
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