Everything starts with a seed in the ground. Sowing places seeds at the right depth, spacing, and time so they can germinate and grow into a crop. Methods range from hand scattering to precision planters that place individual seeds with centimetre accuracy.

Depth matters. Too shallow and seeds dry out or get eaten. Too deep and seedlings exhaust their reserves before reaching light. Most crops go in at one to five centimetres, depending on seed size and soil moisture.

Common sowing methods

• Broadcasting by hand or machine
• Drilling in rows with a seed drill
• Precision planting for uniform spacing
• Transplanting seedlings started elsewhere

Timing drives yield. Sow too early and cold soil stalls germination. Sow too late and the crop misses the best growing window. Farmers watch soil temperature, moisture, and weather forecasts before committing seed to the field.