i know this is a bit long, but this is my experience as a newbie gardener last year. i would also like to confirm this w/ those gardeners who have more experience. sorry to post on your message, but i also just found a pack of seeds that i've had hiding for well over 5 years, so I'm curious.

last year my mil and i started gardening. i planted seeds spread apart from each other, while my mil planted them close together in rows. i was trying to avoid transplanting. hers sprouted nicely, while i was seething w/ envy because mine barely sprouted. i couldn't figure out why this happened and all she did was boast. "I've always had a hand for gardening." (eyes rolling.) so i decided to do what she did. i planted the seeds close together in rows and voila! most of them sprouted. so my mil does not have the "golden touch" like she thought she did.

so my idea is that i think when they're closer together, they seem to have their own communication that sends some sort of a signal to the others. i thought it was interesting and i'm going to do an experiment this summer to find out if it's true.

what are the board's thoughts on this?