Greetings.

Last November my neighbor and I planted the same three varieties of spinach seeds (out of the same packets) in our community garden plots to attempt overwintering. Each bed was covered with remay and left to fend for itself through a wild and crazy winter. This has worked well more often than not for fellow gardeners. It isn't overwintering started plants, but just planting the seed so it comes up early in the spring.

Spring arrives ... hers are fully germinated and thriving. She is eating spinach like crazy. Not a single one of mine germinated. Our plots are 25 feet apart. I followed the instructions on the seed packet (Johnny's). I'm assume she did as well, but I probably ought to check that out.

So my question ... what the heck? What would account for complete failure to germinate in my bed?