Laura’s Garden Notes: Basil and other light loving seeds

Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. When my lavender seed packs arrived in the mail, I was surprised to learn that they require light to germinate. What? Usually seed planting instructions tell not only how far apart to place seeds but also how deep to bury them in the soil. Lavender seeds, however, are to be just scattered across sandy, well-drained soil in full sun and pressed to make good contact with the dirt. There is no depth measurement, and covering them can actually promote dormancy, del