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7 Tips for Successful Seed Germination for the Home Vegetable Garden
Follow these simple steps to get higher rate of germination and healthier seedlings for the garden.
The first step to increasing germination is to understand the seeds’ purpose and why they function.
A seed is a completely self contained little miracle that carries inside it everything it needs to start growing and develop into a seedling. It is equipped with a food storage facility as well as all the information required to grow, including knowing that the right conditions exist for it to sprout.
After the seed is created, it goes into dormancy. It is sleeping and breathing. Yes, it’s breathing. It’s taking in oxygen and exchanging off carbon dioxide. In this state, seeds can last a long time and remain viable because it takes very little energy to stay in the dormant state. To keep seeds dormant, and extend their viability be sure to keep them in a cool dry place away from direct sunlight.
1. Be consistent for consistent results.
Once a seed perceives that the right conditions exist for sprouting it will start to change. It then is active and the germination process is initiated. Germination requires a constant ideal environment for a successful sprout.
Any interruption to the process can result in a decrease in the chances of success., The seed has just so much stored energy and when you send it the signal to start its journey and then turn that signal off then it won’t be able to replenish the energy needed to start the process. Drying out or exposure to extreme temperature changes could result in the germination process to be unsuccessful.
Make sure that once you start to germinate seeds, they remain moist and maintain temperatures, cool nights that are an essential part of the process for seeds that are outside is one thing. Searing heator drought can hinder the process of germination.
2. Use appropriate seed starting mix for best results.
Seeds don’t require fertilizers or plant food to sprout and these nutrient sources can accidentally feed bacteria, moss, algae or other organisms. They will wait for your seed to grow before eating the seed.
Preparing the Mix for Planting Your Seeds
Prepare your germinating mix using equal parts peat moss and perlite and a commercial starter blend. Potting soil can be used in the absence of fertilized prior to use. A well-composting soil can also be used, but be sure to avoid partially composted material. Compost should be fine and crumble easily without large pieces.
Tips: Consider using coir rather than peat in your sprouting mix; it is a renewable coconut husk material and retains water very well. Mix it with perlite to prevent over saturation of the potting media. Also, be sure to purchase the finest powder based Coir and not the «chipped» Coir that isn’t as fine and will contain fiber clumps that can impede seedling growth.
3. Make sure your containers are clean and have good Drainage Holes for Spouting your seeds
Reduce the risk of ‘damping off’ young seedlings by making sure that the containers are kept clean. Clean containers prevent the growth of molds, bacteria, and other harmful organisms from growing and harming the seed that is germinating.
Be certain your container has enough drainage by drilling holes into the bottom of the container. Alternatively, you can use rolled newsprint or newspaper or peat pots, which permit moisture to evaporate through their walls. This allows the potting mix to pull water into the sides and down the sides of the container.
4. Clean Used Containers with Hydrogen Peroxide and not Bleach.
Clean all containers that can be used for the sprouting of seeds with the hydrogen peroxide solution. The best way to do this is to first clean the container with dish soap and warm water and then rinse it in an ointment of the 3% solution for ten to fifteen minutes. It also has the benefit of not causing any harm to the future plant or to you, because the ‘residual by-product’ of h2o2 is oxygen, which the seed actually needs to sprout properly.
5. Soak or Pre-Sprout Seeds Before Planting To Improve Results and Reduce Germination Time.
Pre-soaking or even pre-germinating seed will greatly boost the rate of germination and shorten the time needed to sprout seeds for the garden.
Using the Paper Towel Packet to Pre-germinate Your Seed:
Prepare a solution of.05 to 1.0 percent hydrogen peroxide in clean, filtered or distilled water. Utilizing normal paper towels, laid flat, soak the towel with the solution.
Distribute the seeds you wish to germinate in the center of the towel in a single layer.
Fold your paper towels’ sides until you’ve got small pieces roughly one-quarter in size. It’s the same as the entire paper towel.
Set the packet with the extra toweling on top of a clean dish in a moderately warm (65 to 75 degrees) place out of the direct sunlight or air circulation.
Set the dish in a place that you won’t forget to keep it moist.
Note: Seeds do not require light to sprout (except for lettuce ). However, lettuce is usually grown directly in the garden or its final growing location and is best sprinkled over the soil, is not even placed in a container.). The other seeds that germinate can be placed in a cupboard or on an unfinished shelf that does not see extreme temperature fluctuations or direct sunlight which will cause drying out of the paper towel.
It is possible to save the seed inside this paper towel until it starts to sprout. Make sure you re-moisturize it by spraying it with a few drops of the solution at least once a day, or more often in drier conditions.
Note: If you are growing seeds indoors during winter, in a warm house this will require paying careful attention, since the paper towel will dry out more quickly.
Some people prefer covering the seed packets with a bit of plastic wrap. If you choose to do this make sure you don’t pack the seeds up tight — leave gaps for air to flow through and out of the edges. Seeds will sprout quicker and you don’t have to worry about getting them wet. remember they are still breathing air throughout the process.
Using the Soaking Method to Jump Start Germination:
You can also soak the seeds in an insignificant dish of H2O2 solution for a few hours. Simply fill an empty dish and place the seeds in the solution. The seeds should be soaked for up to 24 hours prior to planting to get the best results…
If you soak the seeds in water or put them in the paper towel, you can plant them any time after the first eight hours in the soaking or for 24 hours after soaking in the towel.
Utilizing the method of paper towels you can even wait until the sprouts have sprung and then plant them, for a jump start on the whole process.
Watch for the first spur of the new plant to grow. When the spur becomes visible, you can place the seed that is germinating in the soil. This can save up to several weeks in the time to germination.
6. Properly Prepare Your Container with the Planting Mix
The containers should be filled loosely, then shake gently to get the mixture to settle. Tapping the container lightly on the counter or table also works to uniformly fill the container but without compressing it to significantly.
Make use of the edge of a sharp knife or trowel to scrape the surface of the container to create a level, even surface. Do not overtamp or overfill the mix before planting the seed. Remember, the seed needs air spaces to breathe.
Whether planting unspotted seeds or early sprouts, create a small depression within the container using your fingers or place the seed lightly on top of the soil and then cover the seed with soil and lightly tap on top of the seeds.
Most seeds must be planted to the depth of 2 or 3 times its own diameter. A pea, for instance one that is 1/4 inch wide, must be planted between 1/2 and 1/8 of an inch within the soil. Seeds smaller than that can be sprinkled on the soil’s the surface. Sprinkle the seeds that are smaller with a fine layer of mix and gently press them down using the flat end of the hand.
Make sure the soil is damp (not damp) and cover the container with loose fitting plastic that will aid in retaining moisture. The best way to maintain the same level of moisture in seed beds is by watering from the bottom. Place the containers in a shallow tray of water that is about 1/4-1/2 inches deep with pure water. The seedling mix will draw water into the container and you do not need to be concerned about washing the seed out by top watering.
Vegetable produce bags available from the grocery store work well as they are thin and are able to be opened on one side. The container can be inserted into the bag sideways.
When the sprouts have popped up through the surface, remove any plastic covering. Be on the lookout for the first two leaves to appear and this is your signal that it’s time to feed your little sprout a little compost tea or the liquid food for plants.
Be very careful to not overfeed or burn it. Remember that it’s still a baby. As you wouldn’t give a newborn a steak, don’t give your baby plant a full adult-sized meal , or it’ll likely die of shock.
7. Give Seedlings Stimulation and Adequate Light for Strong Stems and healthy plants
If you’re growing seeds in your home and in greenhouses, they will need some stimulation to grow strong stems. This can be achieved through either setting up a small , sluggish fan to move the air over them or by gentle brushing them with your fingers a few times a day. This will help keep the seedlings from becoming fragile and ‘leggy’.
After they’ve been growing, they will require good lighting. A sunny window sill located on the south side of the house, or a sunny outdoor spot in the daytime will do well. Be sure to bring seeds inside at night, if it is still before the last date for frost or the nights remain cold. When you gradually introduce the seedlings to the cooler outdoor temperatures over several days, they’ll be prepared to enter the garden.
Vegetables that have larger seeds, such as beans, peas, corn, squash, melons, peppers, eggplants, and tomatoes are all extremely easy to grow using this method. They can be planted directly in the garden after sprouting. To do this, make the 2 to 3 inches ball of good potting soil or بذور برسيم seed starter mix and place the newly sprouted seed inside the middle in the. Prepare your space in the garden and place the ball of soil with its spouted seed in the garden. Gently cover the soil with.
Tip: If you are planting squash, corn, beans, peas or any other large seeds in this manner, you might prefer to put a covering of shade cloth or netting over the seeded area to avoid having birds steal the newly planted seeds.
Birds are very clever and can happily spend an entire early morning watching your plant seeds, and then spend the afternoon eating seeds right out of your garden! This is particularly true for blue jays.
Smaller seeded vegetables, like celery, carrots and other herbs can be a bit difficult to handle and harder to observe and work with; but the benefits can be just as dramatic and, in some cases, even more. Some seeds take longer to germinate , and this method could cut this time period by up to two to three weeks.
Finally, remember that new seedlings require the same consistency to grow as they did during the process of germination. Make sure that seedlings are protected from extreme winds and temperature changes. Make sure that they have enough light and don’t let them get too hot or dry.
When your seedlings have formed their first ‘true leaves’ that is, the leaves that can be identified as the plant and not as seedling starter leaves, they can begin to be ready to be planted in the garden. Always allow young seedlings to have some days of outdoor exposure and bring them back indoors in the evening before planting them out into the garden. This gives them the opportunity to adapt to the changing outdoor conditions before they are planted.
Once the plants have dried off, plant them into the garden in cool morning hours on an overcast day for best results. Hot sunny weather can make transplants difficult in the first day; so if the weather is hot and sunny consider transplanting in the evening to give the new plants time to adjust to the transplant prior to exposure to the intense sun.
There’s never been better time to grow your own veggies. Modern gardening techniques make it simpler than ever before to cultivate your own organic, healthy food at home. In a time when there is no regulation of GMOs, it is beneficial to be aware of what’s in our food, and growing your own food in your vegetable garden will give you real food freedom.