Can I cover my direct sow seeds?

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cautiousOpt Hamilton, Canada May 01, 2020

Hello, I’m very new to gardening. I have started a bunch of seeds indoors, but I’ve also measured the temperature of my soil and checked the farmer’s almanac and the long range forecast and everything says it’s a go to direct sow. So I have, but obviously my covered seeds indoors have already sprouted. Is it okay for me to cover my seeds outdoors with clear plastic until they sprout???
Also, how do I then stop the birds eating the sprouts?
Thank you!

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Zen_Man Ottawa, KS(Zone 5b) Jun 02, 2020

Hello cautiousOpt,

" Is it okay for me to cover my seeds outdoors with clear plastic until they sprout??? "

Clear plastic does such a good job of trapping heat from sunlight that you would be running a risk of "cooking" your seeds in the ground. I am not familiar with conditions in Hamilton, Canada and the clear plastic might be "safe" there, but many people use clear plastic to trap solar heat to sterilize the soil and kill weed seeds.

" Also, how do I then stop the birds eating the sprouts? "

Have you had birds eat your young seedlings? The only trouble I have had with birds eating my zinnias seeds has been in the zinnia heads while the zinnias are trying to set some seeds. I use reflective pinwheels to scare and repel birds from my zinnia patch. The sun reflects off of the reflective pinwheels to give a strobe like effect. I have on occasions hung screen wire over individual zinnia plants to keep the birds off of them.

ZM

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