Every year when I am ready to put in my Garden no matter what season it is, I always germinate my seeds a certain way so I’m not waiting forever to see if they sprout or not. I don’t do all my seeds but I do most of them to make sure I’m not wasting time and resources.
Germination of a seed is when the seed has been hydrated and starts to emerge from its seed coat. Basically sprouting to be able to grow into a plant.
There are 5 ways I am going to share with you, of how you can germinate seeds quickly! First I am going to share this Germination Rate Chart to give you an idea of how long approximately each different vegetable takes.
This sheet shows you the type of vegetable, the temperature at which it germinates roughly, along with the approximate days it takes.
Here you can get a printable copy of this!
It can take a while to germinate seeds depending on the seed but also the temperature. Most seeds like around 70-75 degrees fahrenheit. The colder it is the longer they will take to germinate. You have to pay attention to the soil temperature as well as the air temperature for germination.
Seeds need 3 things to germinate.
These things are essential. Now let’s talk about the 5 ways of how to get them to germinate seeds quickly!
Personally I think this way is the best way to germinate seeds quickly. You can clearly see which ones are germinating, how far away in germination they are, and you save resources. I use this method all of the time. Not for every seed I plant, which we will talk about below, but most of them.
You can get results faster this way.
NOTE: Add more water to the paper towel if you notice they are starting to dry up. Seeds with longer germination days always need a bit more water after 4 days.
This is my least favorite way because you can waste seed trays doing this and then you have replant. It is better than sticking it straight into the big garden and wondering what went wrong though!
I still do this sometimes when I purchase from a seed supplier such as True Leaf Market vs The Home Depot because the germination rate of a seed seller is generally higher and more promising.
Simply grab some seed trays, there are a few different kinds, a cardboard material seed tray and a plastic seed tray. Add some peat pellets or potting soil to your trays and then add seeds to each one. I typically add 2-3 just so I get better germination results. You can separate them later to make sure you use all 3 that grow if you have a very good germination rate!
Next cover them with water (not a swamp of water) but just damp enough the seeds aren’t drowning in water. You might need to add more water to keep them damp the next few days.
I set them with light such as a window or a grow light because the soil provides the dark for them. They know how to navigate to the light so they can start growing roots.
Presoaking seeds is another way to germinate quickly for things like beans. I remember as a kid we always did this for beans and it was so hard to wait overnight, I just wanted to plant them! This though can give you a better idea in your green bean row what would have to be replanted again. I love doing this because sometimes I get so busy and don’t pay attention to which plants didn’t germinate that it’s gonna be later that I get in those replants and it seems to never happen.
This type of germination is for things that have a hard outer seed coat. When you soak the seed, it swells to emerge faster. Usually the directions will tell you to germinate this way.
Add your seeds to water and make sure they are fully submerged. Soak them for 24 hours. Then you want to immediately add them to the soil to grow.
This is kind of a way to mimic nature and it isn’t for all seeds. A cold treatment is not something I use often but is another way to germinate seeds quickly. Exposing the seeds to a moist, dark, cold place for 24 hours can mimic winter seasons so when they come out, they start to germinate.
Add seed starting soil or potting soil to a plastic bag and dampen it. Then add the seeds into the soil. Don’t forget to label the bag if doing multiple! Set the bag in the fridge for 24 hours and then plant your seeds into your garden or pot you wish for them to grow in.
Nicking seeds is the last way to germinate seeds quickly. This is a way that helps you get to the embryo faster so the seeds can start germinating. Make sure the seeds aren’t somewhere that bad bacteria can grow on them or you might lose them after you worked hard to germinate them.
Simply take a knife and cut the seed or “nick” it. Then plant it in moist seed starting soil.
No. Seeds don’t need sunlight. They need a dark place like soil to germinate it. The goal is to mimic the soil but have a way for you to tell your germination rate or to use the ones that germinate to better ensure they will grow! Adding grow lights above a seed tray with soil and seeds in it just helps the seed to grow up and grow roots down so it isn’t wasting time growing in the opposite direction.
Seeds want a temperature of 70-85 degrees fahrenheit normally. Some are higher than that but for the most part they want that range.
You should sow these into your garden directly but can use the germination method with the plastic bag to see the rate of how many that germinate verses don’t. For instance if you have older seeds more than a few years old you might want to use the first method (plastic bag method) to see if it’s worth planting a row of carrots straight into your garden with that seed packet. Old seeds don’t germinate as well as when you first buy them or harvest them.
Here is a list of vegetables to sow straight into your garden from seed:
You can germinate your seeds quickly using these 5 methods simply. Happy planting!
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