Imo, drip irrigation is a good option.

The hose watering may be the issue. It not only displaces seeds but can drive them deeper than needed for best germination. It is often just too much pressure. It also tends to be overly cold water. Drip tape, if that is what you are using, or soaker hose work best for me rather than drip hose with emitters. It delivers a slower, less dramatic level of water.

Dave

I usually have success with direct seeding, so I think that my method works well, assuming that the seeds are good. The soil is usually too heavy and if its overwatered and than dried, it makes the heavy crust on the top, and the seeds often cannot sprout through it.

So my method is: 1) Make a row for sowing; 2) Water the row; 3) Mix several handfuls of peat moss into the row so the soil is fluffy; 4) Sow the seeds ( I prefer to soak carrot and beet seeds overnight in the paper towel, it is not necessary for brassicas); 5) Put more of peat moss on the top to cover the seeds; 6) water very carefully but do not overwater. I use small plastic kids watering can. It makes very gentle and slow shower. I water once a day, just one small can for a row and the top dries out during the hot hours but the inside of the row stays moist and loose. Too much watering can displace seeds. I water the tiny seedlings the same way for about a week and then they are ready for the gentle watering from the hose. I think that drip irrigation will be fine too, just do not overdo it.

My method for sowing carrots and other small seeds is to till, make raised beds, sow, put down drip irrigation and run over night. If it is really hot, then I cover with old row cover and wet it down with a hose several times a day or put a sprinkler on a timer. If it is cooler, I just turn the drip on for a few hours every day or until the top of the soil is moist.

I meant "soaker hose."

Here is what my beds look like after I plant and let them soak over night.

Here is the results.

A few weeks later....

jrslick, when you say soak overnight, do you literally mean let the drip irrigation for like 10 hours? that looks like good germination to me

Yes I mean run overnight. But I live in Kansas and most of the time it is very dry during the end of July/Early August when we are trying to start seeds. I try to get the entire soil profile wet moist and cooled down.

Here is a post from my blog about starting carrots. Starting fall and winter carrots in the heat.

Awesome! Thanks, believe it or not I actually stumbled upon that blog post a couple months ago. I'm going to try your method for my next direct seeding attempts. I'm in Sonoma CA where it is very hot and dry right now.

antmary explained my problems with "crusting" of soil. I would imagine this is common. I now amend where I am seeding and that helps greatly in germination. If the soil is high in organic matter I have zero issues with germination or "crusting." So your issue may be more germination related and not water.