Planning reference

Seed Depth vs Spacing

Use seed depth and seed spacing as separate planting checks: depth controls emergence conditions, while spacing controls the final stand, airflow, harvest size, and bed layout.

What each setting controls

Seed depth
Place seed at a crop-appropriate depth so moisture, oxygen, temperature, and light conditions support germination instead of trapping seedlings.
Seed spacing
Set seeds or thin seedlings to a crop-appropriate distance so roots, leaves, airflow, harvest size, and bed access are not crowded.
Thinning
Use thinning to correct close sowing after emergence instead of leaving weak clusters that compete for water, light, and nutrients.
Soil temperature
Check soil temperature and crop germination range before blaming depth or spacing for slow emergence.

Decision workflow

Prepare the seedbed first
Use a fine, firm, moist seedbed before setting depth or spacing, especially for small direct-sown seed.
Set depth before spacing
Place seed at the listed depth first, then use row, band, square-foot, or final-thinning spacing for bed layout.
Do not bury or crowd to compensate
Do not fix poor emergence by crowding seed or burying it deeper than the crop needs.
Thin to the final stand
After emergence, thin to the strongest seedlings at the final spacing rather than keeping every sprout.
Match the bed format
Convert row spacing to bed spacing only when the bed has permanent paths, loose soil, reach access, and enough airflow.

Use these paths

Source basis