Sowing in a square

In a Makkelijke Moestuin, you sow vegetables in squares instead of rows. This places them in the right spot with the right amount of space between them. This page explains how to do it.

Vegetables sown at the correct spacing in a square — *We sow in squares, not rows*

The Makkelijke Moestuin sowing system

How to sow is explained on this page. First, if you would like to understand how our system of squares, plant spacing and crop rotation works, read this guide:

How do you sow in a Makkelijke Moestuin?

Before we begin: if you use the app, it will guide you through every step. That makes it even easier 😀

Makkelijke Moestuin app

Your gardening help

Makkelijke Moestuin app

Your gardening help

Makkelijke Moestuin app Your gardening help

Sowing in a square step by step

Step 1:

First, loosen the MM-mix in the square. If you have just harvested another vegetable from it, add three tablespoons of MM plant food.

Then moisten the MM-mix thoroughly. Seeds cannot germinate if you sow them in dry mix.

Loose, moist MM-mix ready for sowing — *Loosen and moisten the MM-mix*

Step 2:

Check the app or the sowing calendar to see how many plants fit in one square.

If nine plants fit, as with beetroot, divide the square into nine equal sections.

A trowel makes this very easy:

A Makkelijke Moestuin square divided into equal sections — *Divide the square into equal sections*

Step 3:

Use your finger to make a hole in the centre of each section.

Make each hole as deep as the seed packet or app recommends. Sow too deeply and the seedling may run out of energy before it reaches the surface. Sow too shallowly and the seeds may wash away when watered or be eaten by birds.

Pour a little water into each hole.

Making sowing holes at the correct depth — *Make a sowing hole in each section*

Step 4:

Place two or three seeds in each hole.

Why two or three instead of one? Not every seed will necessarily germinate. Sow several in each hole and at least one is likely to emerge 🙂

Several seeds placed in each sowing hole — *Place two or three seeds in each hole*

Step 5:

Close the holes and gently add a little more water. Pour slowly and not too much at once, or the seeds may wash away.

Carefully closing the sowing holes — *Carefully close the sowing holes*

Step 6:

Add a plant label straight away. Otherwise, you will soon forget what you sowed.

A plant label marking a newly sown square — *Add a plant label immediately after sowing*

Simple right? You can do the whole process in less time than it takes to read this 😉

After sowing

During the days after sowing, keep the MM-mix in the square moist so the seeds cannot dry out. The mix retains moisture well, but the top layer can still dry quickly, especially in sunny or windy weather.

Then wait for the seeds to germinate and appear above the MM-mix. Some seeds, such as rocket, emerge after only four days. Beetroot takes much longer: between 10 and 15 days.

Young beetroot seedlings emerging from the MM-mix — *Beetroot seedlings emerge after 10 to 15 days*

What happens underground?

It can take a while before a seedling appears above the MM-mix, but plenty is already happening below the surface.

A root emerges from the seed first and grows downwards. A little later, the shoot and its first leaves start growing upwards.

Do not assume too quickly that nothing is happening. Most of the time, you simply need a little more patience 🙂

Good luck!