My Italian grandma’s seed trick works every time – a finger is the perfect ruler, the old ways are the best ways
A GARDENING fan has shared a trick his Italian grandmother taught him that helps him properly plant seeds.
All you need for the fail-proof hack is a finger to serve as a guide.
The Young Nonno (@theyoungnonno) demonstrated the gardening hack in a viral Instagram video.
His Italian grandma introduced him to the old but effective trick that ensures proper seed planting.
“My Nonna taught me this trick to start any size seed perfectly, every time, using just one finger,” he said.
“The old ways are the best ways.”
He explained that tiny seeds, such as herbs, lettuce, and celery, should only be planted as deep as the tip of a finger.
In a seed starter, he pressed his fingertip gently into the top of the soil, dropped the small seeds in, and then covered the plot with more soil.
Medium-sized seeds, such as tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants, require more soil depth.
To properly measure how deep the seeds needed to be, he simply went as far as his fingernail.
“No further than that,” he added.
Larger seeds, such as melons, cucumbers, and squash, require the most amount of soil depth.
He explained that he went as far as his middle joints to accommodate the large crops.
“The larger the seed, the deeper it goes,” he said.
An additional tip, he said, is to keep the soil moist until the seeds germinate and in an area with a minimum of six hours of direct light a day.
In a comment, he added that the number of seeds in each drop varies depending on several factors.
Easy gardening tips to save money, maximize space, and repel pests
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- Banana peels, vinegar, and coffee grounds are often recommended as natural fertilizers.
- Dollar Tree sells four packs of seeds for $1.25.
- Try a vertical planter like Amazon’s Mr. Stacky 5 Tier Stackable Planter, $35 to make more use of a small space.
- Use netting like the Garden Netting Pest Barrier, $8, from Amazon to keep away bugs that eat your vegetables.
- Try sacrificial planting to reduce the use of pesticides and keep pests away from your garden. Deliberately growing certain plants to attract agricultural pests can keep them away from the plants you want to protect. Examples include marigolds, lavender, catnip, and chives.
- For pesky weeds in your garden, the Grampa’s Weeder – The Original Stand-Up Weed Puller Tool with Long Handles, $45, from Amazon is a helpful tool you can use without having to bend over.
“The number of seeds is up to you really and the size of the starting pot — whether you want to ensure germination and/or thin or separate them later,” he said.
He also shared a watering technique with a commenter who struggled with keeping their soil moist.
“Any tips for keeping it damp? Those trays dry out really fast and overwatering always brings mold,” they said.
A simple addition, Young Nonno said, made a world of a difference with the small starter trays.
“You could water from below — keep the containers in a tray with a little water underneath,” he suggested.