What seeds do you cover

[rary]

Was out in the greenhouse sowing some seeds and while checking some already sewn I realised that there are very few which I cover with newspaper or whatever and yet several years ago it was the reverse, as there were only a few that you were advised that they germinate better in the light, do any of you practice covering your seeds?

[veggiechicken]

I don't cover any seeds with newspaper. I plant at the same depth as the size of the seed - so the bigger the seed the deeper it is.
Tiny seeds lie on the surface and may have a sprinkling of vermiculite over them, if I can find it!

[SarrissUK]

I don't use newspaper either. All my seeds will get at least a sprinkling of compost over them, and a little water to tuck them in

[Scarlet]

I sow some seed ....very fine flower seed on the surface. Most seed for me, like VC is sown depending on size.
This is worth a read:https://www.thompson-morgan.com/effect-of-light

[Teds Mum]

Seeds that have yet to germinate are placed on the lower shelves of my greenhouse bench, there is less light there but I do not cover them completely.

[Small pumpkin]

I also do the same as VC.

[Bren In Pots]

I also do the same as VC.

Me too

I did read here on the vine about covering parsnip seeds with a plank of wood but its not something I've tried.

[rary]

On thinking back on when the covering the seed trays/boxes was practiced, it could have been related to keeping the heat in the compost as it was in the days before electric heating cables and propagators etc. also windows were not double glazed so the window sills got very cold overnight

[nickdub]

most seeds I chit in a plastic box, before sowing

If I'm surface sowing fine seeds like primula say, then I usually put the whole tray in a plastic bag.

[Penellype]

I don't cover seeds with newspaper, but what I do varies with type of seed, and is mainly concerned with keeping compost moist as compost that dries out is very good at killing germinating seeds.

The methods I use are:
Tomatoes and peppers - sown individually or in 2s or 3s in pots, covered with a little compost, watered and pot covered with a plastic bag. These go upstairs in a warm room - light is not excluded but they are not under lights.
Indoor sowings of most other seeds that don't need light to germinate are sown to the required depth in pots and put in the unheated propagator, where they are watered and sit on damp capillary matting. The propagator cover keeps the moisture in, again its not dark but no added light.
Lettuces and celeriac which need light to germinate are sown on the surface of compost. Lettuces go in the grow light garden straight away, celeriac goes on a sunny windowsill with the pot covered with a plastic bag, as it likes to be damp.
Carrots hate drying out, and they are the only seeds I sow outside and cover (apart from with plastic covers to keep frost out). I tried fleece, but this didn't work, and what I find best is a square of insect mesh tied securely round the top of the bucket with string. This allows the rain in while stopping the compost from drying out too quickly, and has the advantage that you can see the seedlings through it.

[bramble]

I usually cover my seeds with a little sprinkle of vermiculite.
I remember my father always covered his with newspaper and would keep the trays on the lower shelf out of the sunlight.

[Amypinga]

I’ve always covered most seeds (except lettuce and celery) with a little to a lot of compost depending on the size of the seed.
But, I’ve just been reading Eliot Coleman ‘new organic grower’ and he only covers big seeds like peas/beans, most he says that he just presses them onto the compost block.
So I’m wondering about trying that this year