[andyw]

I've got a few packets of seeds and they all say "sow thinly 1 cm deep in drills" what does this mean?

[arugula]

In straight lines.

[DD.]

A drill in this case is a furrow - commonly made with the corner of a hoe.

In this case 1cm deep. Sow the seeds, rake the soil back over them and tamp it down with the back of your rake to ensure there are no air pockets and the seed is in contact all round with the soil.

[andyw]

Thanks very much, I knew I should have googled this!

[Kleftiwallah]

You can get just as many daft answers here, as you can on Gurgle.   P.S.  what's  1 cm?    Cheers,    Tony.

[digalotty]

i rake over my soil nice and flat and then press a bamboo cane down on top it gives me a nice straight drill to sow in then just pinch over to cover if the seeds are fine , but if they are large like beans i just push them into the soil then pinch

[mrs mud]

while on this topic I was wondering why the peas needed flat bottom drills

[mumofstig]

because you are usually sowing 3 rows side by side, it's easier to do a wide flat drill than try to make 3 narrow drills side by side 

like this
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=50902.msg602800#msg602800

[DD.]

One of my secretaries covers for me again!