Best Way To Germinate Seeds - Learn How the Pros Do It

The Best Way to Germinate Seeds - It's Easy as 1,2,3

Beginning gardeners often want to know what is the best way to germinate seeds. Of course, most of the time this will depend on the type of seeds that you are planting. Other factors that influence seed germination include moisture, salt content in the soil or starting medium that you will use and heat.

For vegetable plants that require a long growing season and that can handle transplanting without having to worry about root damage, indoor germination is ideal. Plants that handle indoor germination well include tomatoes, brussel sprouts, cauliflower and peppers. None of these plants require light to trigger germination.

Vegetables that need to germinate in the same place where they will grow are better when left to germinate outdoors. These plants include turnips, lettuce and radishes. Because they have delicate root systems, lettuce can get damaged by being transplanted. Turnips and radishes, because they are grown specifically for their roots, should also not be transplanted.

For best results, use seeds that are less than two years old. Make sure that you buy them from a reputable seller who will not sell old seeds.

Because there is a chance that you might have seeds that are too old or for other reasons are not viable, before you attempt to germinate your seeds, you might want to try a test sample. To do this, place 100 seeds between two layers of wet paper towels. Roll the paper towels into a tight cylinder and store in a plastic bag to maintain moisture levels.

Leave the seeds alone for the length of time specified on the pack for germination, then check them to see how many have sprouted. The number of seeds that sprout will give you an idea of the percentage of seeds that you can expect to germinate in your garden. For example, if 50 of the seeds germinate in the test sample, then you can expect a 50 percent rate of germination when you plant the rest.

Methods of Germinating Seeds

The first thing you need to germinate seeds is a growing medium. For the purpose of starting plants, potting soil is not recommended as it contains too many nutrients. You can use paper towels, as you would when testing seed viability. However, you would then need to move the seeds to another medium once they have begun to sprout.

There are simple, inexpensive materials that you can use to make a growing medium. These materials are usually at your local gardening supply store. A 1:1:1 ratio mixture of vermiculite, milled sphagum moss and perlite is usually sufficient for this task. These materials are best because they are known for being able to hold moisture while discouraging fungal infections and allowing enough air to flow through.

Once you have chosen your growing medium to start your plants, you have to decide on a container to use. For plants that you will be starting indoors, a plastic container about two to three inches deep and wide enough for the number of seeds that you will be planting is sufficient.

Some people like to use an egg carton or wooden box while others prefer plastic containers (like Tupperware) for this. In any case, you should be able to cut holes in the bottom of the container for drainage and it needs to be something that can maintain the moisture level of your growing medium.

Caution: Do not soak your soil-less growing mixture in water before planting your seeds. 

Place the growing medium in the containers that you will be using and sprinkle water on top to dampen it. Because oxygen is important to the process of growing seedlings, be careful not to over-water them or plant the seeds too deeply. Otherwise, the seeds will rot instead of growing.

Check the instructions on the seed packet to see what depth they need to be placed in to best facilitate sprouting. Then plant the seeds and cover them to maintain moisture level. The cover should be removed as soon as the sprouts begin to appear in order to prevent a fungal infection.

The best way to germinate seeds in containers is to place them in a warm area that is well lit, but not with sunlight. Keep them out of sunlight unless the packet says otherwise.

Seeds that are started indoors need to be transplanted as soon as two leaves begin to appear on the sprouts. Make sure that they are placed in an area where they will receive the proper amount of sunlight and are placed in the proper kind of soil.

More Information On Germinating Seeds

Some people prefer to grow plants from seedlings, but starting plants from seeds at home is an easy and less expensive way to begin growing your own garden. It takes a little more time and patience, but it is worth it in the end.

When you are working with multiple types of seeds, it is important to label your containers so that you know what you have planted.

Make sure that you keep your seed packets for reference as they have useful information about when and how to start your plants, how much water, sunlight and soil they need and how long they take to germinate. This will save you the trouble of having to look this information up or trying to guess at it.

After a couple of weeks, your seedlings will need fertilizing as the soil-less mix does not have the nutrients that they need to continue growing. They will also need a little water. Using a squirt bottle, like those used to hold dishwashing liquid, will help you control the amount of water and fertilizer you will use. This will help you make less of a mess. As always, make sure that you are not using too much water as this will not help your plants to sprout.

For plants that need to be germinated outdoors, the soil needs to be loosened up before planting the seeds. Soil that is too tight will prevent the seedlings from sprouting and pushing through.

If you plant the seeds too deeply, this might also prevent germination. It is important to read the instructions on the packet to see how deep the seeds need to be planted.

What kind of containers do you prefer for germinating seeds?

1. Store bought seed trays
2. Plastic containers 
3. Plastic zipper bags
4. Egg cartons
5. Wooden boxes
6. Other homemade or store bought containers

Step	How To Complete	Notes
Prepare the growing medium	Dampen paper towels or place mixture in container	Do not soak your growing medium
Place the seeds in soil-less mixture	Make sure that seeds are placed at the correct depth.	Seeds that are planted too deep will rot instead of germinating; also, make sure that you plant seeds in a loose material that will discourage fungi and bacteria from forming.
Put containers where it is warm.	Find an area that is 75 degrees or more, and has the proper amount of light.	Direct sunlight is not recommended for seedlings. Read the seed packets to see how much light they need.
Cover seed containers.	Use plastic wrap or newspaper to cover seeds planted indoors. Use a special cloth for plants started outdoors.	Covering will help maintain moisture; remove cover once seeds begin to sprout.
Transplant seedlings started indoors.	Place them in the correct soil and make sure that they will have enough sunlight.	Seedlings should be transplanted once you see two true leaves begin to form.