The general recommendation for how many seeds to plant per hole depends largely on the seed size and expected germination rate:
- Small seeds (e.g., herbs, tiny vegetable seeds): Plant about 3 seeds per hole to increase the chance that at least one will germinate
- Medium-sized seeds : Plant 2 seeds per hole, which balances seed use with successful germination
- Large seeds (e.g., cucumbers, beans, melons, pumpkins): Plant only 1 seed per hole to avoid overcrowding and competition
Planting multiple seeds per hole is common because not all seeds will germinate. Once seedlings emerge, gardeners typically thin out the weaker ones, leaving the strongest seedling to grow
. If you have older seeds or seeds with lower germination rates, you might increase the number of seeds per hole accordingly to ensure successful plants
. In summary:
Seed Size| Seeds per Hole
---|---
Small| 3
Medium| 2
Large| 1
This approach optimizes seed use and plant health by compensating for germination variability while preventing overcrowding
