Rutabaga first. I have a seed packet that has a lot of tiny RB seeds. I read online about planting about 2" apart then thinning later, how far apart the rows should be etc. But does each hole just get one seed? I am concerned as to what happens if a number of the seeds do not germinate. Should I put maybe 3 seeds in each hole to protect against that?

Lettuce. So this seed packet is full of a bunch of tiny tiny seeds so I do not see planting one seed in each hole. Can't I just dig a trench and drop a continuous thread of seeds from one end of the trench to the other? These are Romaine seeds. And could I do the same thing with the spinach seeds I have?

Thanks to all who respond. I live in SE Florida.

Germination rates differ from locality and prevailing weather conditions. Rutabaga, lettuce and spinach I count on 50% germination. Some year more, a few years less. Rutabaga and romaine need a bit more space than spinach. I plant all of of the by sowing thin in multiple rows In other words I create a bed of 2-6 rows 6 inches apart. The bed itself is a row separated 2-3 ft. from adjoining rows. I sow the seeds anticipating a seed every inch. but I don't do any measurements just sprinkle the along the row. Rutabaga I double the distance between rows and between seed.

Dillard, how do you keep slugs out of the spinach?

Good question! Deeby, I grow my spinach in big pots. I can get three short trenches in each pot.

Sluggo, on the rare occasion I have slugs. Slugs don't care for sandy soils that don't hold water. Spinach is pretty care free here. Few critters will eat it and I plant mildew resistant varieties.

The soil my spinach is planted in is on the Sandy side. I really don't have a lot of slugs in my yard, thank goodness. I've never had any hosta damage from them.

Thanks Dillard.

John, one method to help sow tiny seeds is to mix them with sand or fine vermiculite. Not only makes it easier to distribute them, but marks the row. If they grow in too crowded, wait until they have their first set of leaves then snip some with scissors at the soil line to the recommended spacing. Don't try to pull out extras by the roots.

One time I saw a slug climbing up the side of my lemon tree container. I salted him and then sprinkled salt on the patio floor around the pot.
No slugs since-maybe his slug friends saw everything and freaked out.

I only salted one once. It grossed me out so much that I went out and bought diatomaceous earth and used that. When I drank I used to put out a shallow saucer of beer and let them drown in it.

farmerdill said:Germination rates differ from locality and prevailing weather conditions. Rutabaga, lettuce and spinach I count on 50% germination. Some year more, a few years less. Rutabaga and romaine need a bit more space than spinach. I plant all of of the by sowing thin in multiple rows In other words I create a bed of 2-6 rows 6 inches apart. The bed itself is a row separated 2-3 ft. from adjoining rows. I sow the seeds anticipating a seed every inch. but I don't do any measurements just sprinkle the along the row. Rutabaga I double the distance between rows and between seed.
...

So for spinach you do a 2"x6" seed/row spacing?
For Rutabaga and Romain a 4"x 12" seed/row spacking?

Approximate of course, but yes. Ed I know you like to measure with a caliper and micrometer, but eyeballing is close enough for me.

"OCD Me"

I was just trying to figure out a more intensive planting than what most planting guides call for.

Such a fine line when direct sowing the small garden seeds... sow too thinly and you could have had more plants in the same area. Too thick and you feel like you are wasting all those baby seedlings that you pull out. But when you thin them to the "proper" spacing you will be so much happier with your plants! I have a tendency to overcrowd things, it's a constant battle with myself to give them enough room.

Well, me too! I always sow lettuce very thick, because I start picking it so early and because the seed is so tiny. Spinach I space further out, the seed is much bigger. Also I usually plant some lettuce seed that's several years old; I'm always buying lettuce seed! And the older the seed is the less it germinates. I had one pot where the lettuce didn't come up at all. I looked at the package and the seed was 5 years old!

I know this is an old thread but I have a couple questions about rutabaga. I was misspelling it & could only find 7 references to it here. So everything I have found I put together & put in my blog here so I would have it all in one place. However, I still have a couple questions.

I found rutabega seed at my local feed store. They sell it in large amounts, like 1/2 pound, etc. Even the smallest size has TONS of seed that I will never use all of. They have 2 kinds of rutabega seed - one I can't remember the name of & one labeled "rutabega turnip". They also had various turnip seed so I'm confused about the rutabega turnip. As I've explained in my blog post, I have to have rutabega, not turnip so I have to make sure I get rutabega. So, can anyone tell me what the rutabega turnip would be? Rutabega or turnip?

I was going to plant some in containers & some in the ground but I haven't found any information on how many I can put in a container or if its even a good idea.

My husband seems to think they grow like potatoes, with several coming from the roots. I haven't seen any information on this but what I have seen points towards 1 seed=1 plant=1 rutabega.

1.Rutabaga and turnip are family. As a general statement, Rutabaga is much larger and has a much longer DTM. In most cases that means you will need larger spacing both between plants and between rows.
2. Rutabaga turnip has two meanings that I know. (a) many vendors will include a statement with Gilfeather turnip seeds that it has Rutabaga characteristics. In size and DTM it is roughly half way between a standard turnip and a rutabaga. You will sometimes see a statement that it is sweeter than a turnip. However turnips come in many sizes, shapes and colors. Many are much sweeter than the Purple Top White Globe they are using for comparison. I would expect a vendor to know variety names. (b) I heard a few older southerners use the term rutabaga turnip for standard rutabaga.
3. Rutabagas like all brassica One seed one plant. as far as spacing, minimum for most rutabagas is 8 inches. They do not bulb up well when crowded. You can get away with 6-8 spacing with a Gilfeather.
Rutabaga (Brassica napus 'American Purple Top') Rutabaga (Brassica napus 'Helenor')

I think I'm going to see if they have more information on the seeds they carry. I just wish they had smaller quantities.

One packet should grow you more rutabagas than you can eat. larger quantities are for folk either growing or for market or growing a a wild life area.Most of the seed and feeds around her handle bulk seeds have little measuring cups in two sizes ( maybe a quarter cup and a half cup) and just dip them out. Start at about 2 dollars for the small dipper.

I'm having trouble imagining buying half a pound of rutabaga seed! Unless the feed store is selling the seed in those quantities very cheap, you might want to consider ordering a smaller packet from one of the many seed companies that sell it, Kathy (or you might be able to find it on a rack at Walmart, Tractor Supply, or wherever)