How Does Overcrowding Affect the Growth Rate of Seeds?

Inhibits Germination

• Seeds planted too close together often do not germinate. If they do, the roots are so entangled with one another that there is no way to separate the seedlings without damaging them. Even thinning causes root damage. When the tiny roots on young plants break, it often kills it. Plants with taproots die when their roots are damaged as well. Root damage is one of the main causes of seeds and seedlings not growing or developing as quickly as they should.

Nutrient Competition

• Seeds need adequate moisture to germinate. When too many seeds are planted together, they compete for the available moisture. Seeds that do not get enough moisture do not germinate. In the event the seeds are able to take up enough moisture to begin sprouting, but then cannot get adequate moisture, light or the nutrients because of competition, they die. Heavy watering or fertilization is not a solution to this problem and in fact, can create even bigger problems.

Prevents Development

• Overcrowded seeds and seedlings grow very slowly and do not properly develop. When the embryo begins growing and the root emerges, there must be enough room for the plant to develop both above and below ground. When seeds are planted too close together and not thinned, the resulting plant does not thrive. If it lives, the seedling and the resulting plant are often stunted. Roots either develop very close to the soil level or shoot straight downwards searching for room for the tiny feeder roots to develop. This makes it harder for the plant to take up the nutrients applied at soil level. When the ground below becomes depleted, or does not get adequate moisture, the plant suffers or dies.

Encourages Disease

• Overcrowding seeds encourages disease. Seeds and seedlings need air circulation. A lack of air circulation results in high humidity, which leads to problems such as powdery mildew. While it is possible to salvage seeds and seedlings affected by disease, their growth rate is slower than that of a healthy seed or seedling. “
  They may catch up as they mature, but that is not always the case.