Master Gardener Practice Exam 2026 - Free Master Gardener Practice Questions and Study Guide

Large seeds carry substantial energy reserves, so they can be planted a bit deeper to ensure good soil contact, moisture, and adequate temperature for germination. Planting about three-quarters of an inch to one and a half inches deep hits a sweet spot: it protects the seed and helps keep moisture available, yet isn’t so deep that the seedling can’t reach the surface with its stored energy. If you go shallower than this, seeds risk drying out or being crusted over; if you go deeper than about a col at the far end, the seedling may struggle to emerge, especially in cooler soils. In practice, many large seeds such as beans, corn, and squash germinate reliably within this depth range, which is why the best answer is the depth range of 3/4 to 1 1/2 inches.