Direct sowing without the disappointment

Direct sowing saves a great deal of pricking out, but it is less forgiving than a tray on a bench.

Prepare properly

Rake to a fine tilth, water the drill rather than the surface, and sow into moisture. A dry seedbed is the single most common reason for a poor row.

Mark your rows

Sow a few radish along the row. They germinate in days and show you exactly where the slower seed is coming.