You are assuming that people actually field plant (aka direct seed) tomato seeds? Very few do that IMO. Even commercial growers use plant plugs.

Dave

Just for the sake of argument will a tomato seed planted at a depth of 3" or more still usually germinate. Just wondering if anyone has ever tried it before?

That is much too deep. The seeds are likely to germinate, as long as it is warm enough, but the seedlings are likely to die before they can reach the sunlight.

There were several large truck farms in the county where I lived in coastal South Carolina, consisting of tomato fields as far as one could see. Not one of the millions of plants was a result of direct seeding.

nighthawk0911

Just
for the sake of argument will a tomato seed planted at a depth of 3" or
more still usually germinate. Just wondering if anyone has ever tried
it before?

--------------------------

I also think , that is way too deep.

Normal seed cover should be about 3 times the size of see. Lets make it 5 times. But 3" is like 50 times the size of seed. The sprouts wont be able to push through that much soil on top of them. Even if some did, it will be a small percentage. This is given that soil temperature is high enough to trigger germination.

Why would anyone even want to plant a tomato seed 3" deep? There would have to be some point to such an experiment, a goal of some sort, to even discuss it much less debate it.

Dave

If seeds germinated from a depth of 3-inches, weeds would rule the world. Do you really believe that even a tiny fraction of weeds germinate from that deep? Can't imagine why tomatoes would be any different.

In fact, when I till, I don't recall ever uncovering underground foliage.

@Daniel - I have planted mater and other seeds 2" down in potting mix and they do fine and pop up just as quick. Just wondering how much deeper you can plant them if you wanted to. I can see where planting seeds deeper might be better in some situations to help keep seeds from drying out and having the root down a bit deeper before the plant breaks surface.

There were a number of times as a kid that my master gardener father instructed me to "plant your seeds" deeper in the field to keep them from drying out.

@digdirt - You're assuming that nobody ever direct sows seeds anymore. Some us still do, especially when planting over landscape fabric.

No, if you put tomato seeds 2 inches deep, they won't "pop up quick".

@Daninthedirt - I have a couple of Big Beef tomato seedlings in pots right in front of me that say otherwise. Planted seeds at 2" last week & doing fine. The next ones I do will be at 3" and so on.

FYI: Co-op Extension often recommends corn be planted at 3" or "down to moisture" in hot dry conditions or sandy oil. Yes I know tomatoes & corn aren't the same animal.

Preventing seeds from drying out in drought, hot weather or sandy soils in field conditions calls for planting seeds at maximum possible depth - the question is what is "maximum" depth.

Large seeds, like corn, can be planted deeper, because the seedling that emerges is stronger and bulkier.Same with beans, peas and cucurbits.

I just don't believe tomato seeds planted 2 inches deep will pop up quick. My seeds planted half an inch deep will pop up MUCH faster.

You can do an experiment on germination rates as a function of depth. Why don't you report back. I'm guessing that almost no one plants tomatoes that deep.

I know what it says on the back of the pack of seeds, I also know seeds need to kept moist and not allowed to dry out. Sometimes I do transplants & sometimes I just do seeds. In Florida sandy soil the first two inches of soil is often dry & dries out quickly after rain/watering. Well I already know they will germinate from 2" and do so quickly.

The deeper you plant the seed the deeper the roots start out as well.

Necessity is the mother of invention.