Seedlings that don't germinate: 5 common mistakes made by novice gardeners

If you're starting out in gardening for the first time, it's perfectly normal to make beginner's mistakes when learning how to sow. Growing is still a complex concept! That's why we're here to help you avoid making the most common mistakes in your vegetable garden!

What mistakes can you 100% avoid?

You want to plant tomatoes, lettuces, radishes or courgettes? Here are a few recommendations to help you manage your garden seedlings better!

1. Remember to water your plants after sowing

Have you just planted your first seedlings? Perfect! Bear in mind that your seeds need watering in line with their growth. Although sparingly, they still need water to keep the soil moist. As you go along, you'll be able to decide how much water each plant needs. So, at first, don't be afraid to be too generous, without drowning your seedlings.

2. Avoid squeezing the seeds too tightly

The first mistake in garden centres is to be heavy-handed when sowing! Seeds that are compressed together don't make it easier for them to germinate. They won't be able to develop ideally. If you want to enjoy your crop of tomatoes, spinach, chard or courgettes, you need to thin them out and space them out as soon as they are sown. This is the sine qua non for a superb harvest. A seed drill sold for a handful of euros can help you to choose the right amount of seed.

3. Respect the sowing calendar and germination temperature

If you're new to gardening and are starting your very first seedlings, however, don't be impatient! It's not advisable to sow too quickly or too early. It's important to choose the best soil, i.e. soil with the right climate. Keep an eye on the weather and any risk of frost! Good weather is a good time for your seeds to germinate. One of the easiest ways to ensure that you stick to the right planting periods is to use a calendar adapted to your region.

4. Don't ignore your region's climate

Following on from the previous point, there are certain varieties of vegetables and aromatic plants such as carrots, spinach, red cabbage, leeks and parsley that tolerate the cold very well, while others such as tomatoes or courgettes only like the heat. You should therefore choose the type of seed you plant according to where you live.

5. Don't neglect the quality of your seeds when sowing in the vegetable garden

If you want your seedlings to succeed, selecting the right courgette or other vegetable seeds is crucial to achieving this. Your choice of seed is crucial. Don't go overboard at this stage, or you risk reducing your chances of getting your seeds to germinate right from the start. Don't forget that this is what gives optimum results from the moment they are planted. So make sure you buy your seeds carefully!

Bonus: don't sow the same vegetables on the same plot

If you're a beginner, you probably don't know about crop rotation. It's an unstoppable device that ensures the soil in your garden isn't impoverished. To do this, it's a good idea from one year to the next to grow the same vegetables in a different place in your kitchen garden, all the more so for greedy vegetables like tomatoes or cabbages. A good way to prepare your growing areas properly is to create a plan for your vegetable garden.