7 Tips For Successful Seed Germination For The Home Vegetable Garden

7 Tips for انواع بذور البرسيم Successful Seed Germination for the Home Vegetable Garden

Follow these steps to get higher seeds that germinate and more robust seedlings for the garden.


The first step towards improving germination is understanding the nature of seeds and how they work.


Seeds are a totally self contained little miracle which carries everything it needs to start growing and develop into an embryo. It is equipped with a food storage facility as well as all the information required to develop, including knowing that the right conditions exist for it to sprout.


When the seed has been created, it goes into dormancy. It's just sleeping, and breathing. Yes, it is breathing. It is breathing in oxygen and giving carbon dioxide. In this state, seeds can endure for a long time and remain viable because it requires very little energy to remain in the state of dormancy. To keep seeds dormant, and prolong their longevity, keep them in a cool , dry location away from direct sunlight.


1. Keep it consistent for the same results.


If a seed is convinced that the conditions are favorable for sprouting, it will begin to change. This is when it becomes active and the germination process can be in motion. Germination requires a stable optimal environment to produce an effective sprout.


Any interruption in this process could result in less the chance of success. The seed has just so much stored energy and should you signal it to begin its journey, but switch off the signal the seed will not have enough energy to re-start the process. Drying out or exposure to extreme temperature changes can both cause the germination cycle to be unsuccessful.


Make sure that once you start to germinate seeds that you maintain their moisture and temperature. Cool nights that are an essential part of the process for seeds that are outside is one thing. Searing heat, or drought will hinder the process of germination.


2. Use appropriate seed starting mix for best results.


Seeds do not need fertilizers or food sources to develop, and the nutrient sources can inadvertently 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 as well as a seed starter blend. Potting soil is a viable option if it is not pre-fertilized. Also, well-composting material can be used, but be sure to avoid partially composted materials. Compost should be fine and crumble easily without large pieces.


TIP: Use Coir instead of peat in your sprouting mix; it is a renewable coconut husk material and retains water very well. Mix with perlite to avoid over saturation of the potting medium. Make sure you purchase the fine powder based coir and not 'chipped' coir which is not as fine and may contain fiber clumps that could hinder the growth of seedlings.


3. Use clean containers with good Drainage Holes for Spouting your seeds


Reduce the possibility of damaging off' of young seedlings by making sure that the containers are kept clean. Clean containers prevent bacteria, molds, fungus and other potentially hostile organisms from developing and harming the seed that is germinating.


Make sure your container has adequate drainage by making holes in the bottom of the container. Alternately, you could make use of rolled newspaper or newsprint or peat pots that allow water to evaporate from their walls. This will also allow the mixing mix to draw in water through the sides and down the sides of the pot.


4. Clean used containers using Hydrogen Peroxide Not Bleach.


Clean all containers that can be used for sprouting seeds with hydrogen peroxide 3% solution. The most effective method is to wash the container using hot water and dish soap, and then rinse it in an ointment of 33% hydrogen peroxide for 10 to 15 minutes. It also has the benefit of being completely non-toxic to the future plant or to you, as the'residual by-product' of h2o2's production is oxygen. This is what the seed actually needs for proper sprouting.


5. Soak or Pre-Sprout Seeds Before Planting To Improve Results and Reduce Germination Time.


Pre-soaking seeds or even pre-germinating them can significantly increase the chances of germination and reduce the time required to start seeds in the garden.


Using the Paper Towel Packet to Pre-germinate Your Seed:


Prepare a mixture of.05 to 1.0 percent hydrogen peroxide in clean filtered or distilled water. Utilizing normal paper towels, lay flat and saturate the paper towels with solution.


Spread the seeds you want to germinate on the middle of the paper towel in a single layer.


Fold in your paper towels' sides until you've created a small packet roughly one-quarter larger than the paper towel.


Place the bag with the extra toweling on top in the dish that is clean in mildly hot (65 to 75 degrees) place out of the direct light or air flow.


Put the dish where you will not forget to keep it moist.


Note: Seeds do not require sunlight to germinate (except for lettuce, however the lettuce seed is typically sown directly into the garden or the final place of growing and is best sprinkled on top of the soil, and is not even placed in a container.). All other germinating seed can be put in a cabinet or an unfinished shelf that does not see extreme temperature fluctuations or direct sunlight, which could result in drying the paper towel packet.


You can actually keep the seeds in this little paper towel packet until it starts to sprout. Make sure to re-moisten it with a spray or two in the mixture at least once per day, or more often during drier conditions.


Note: If you are growing seeds indoors during winter, in a warm house it is important to pay close attention as the paper towel may dry more quickly.


Some prefer to cover the seeds with a bit of plastic wrap, should you decide to do so, do not seal the seeds tight. leave gaps for air to circulate between the edges. The seeds will grow quicker and you don't have to worry about being too damp; remember they are still breathing air during this process.


Using the Soaking Method to Jump Start Germination:


Alternately, soak the seed in small portions of water solution overnight. Fill an empty dish and then place the seeds in the solution. Let them soak for between 8 and 24 hours prior to planting them for best results...


Whether you simply soak the seeds in water or put your seeds in a towel can plant them at any time after the initial 8 hours of soak, or for 24 hours after soaking in the towel.


Utilizing the method of paper towels you can even keep them in the ground until they sprouted to plant them, for a jump start on the entire process.


Begin to look in anticipation for the first plant spur to appear. Once the tiny spur is visible, you can plant the seed germinating in soil. This could save you several weeks in germination time.


6. Correctly prepare your container with the Planting Mix


The containers should be filled loosely, then shake lightly to allow the mixture to settle. Placing the container on a counter or table also works to uniformly fill the container, without compressing it to excessively.


Make use of the sharp edge of a clean knife or trowel to scrape the surface of the container to create an even, level surface. Don't tamp down or overfill and compress the mix before placing the seed. Keep in mind that the seed requires air spaces to breathe.


If you are planting seeds that have not been spotted or early sprouts, create small indentation 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 over the seeds.


Most seed needs to be planted to the depth of 2 or three times the size of its own diameter. For instance, a pea one that is 1/4 inch across, should be planted between 1/2 and 1/8 of an inch within the soil. The smaller seeds may be sprinkled on the soil the surface. The smaller seeds should be covered with a the mix in a thin layer and gently press them down with the flat of the hand.


Make sure the soil is moist (not damp) and cover the container with a loose fitting plastic that will help retain moisture. The most effective way to ensure consistent moisture in seed beds is by watering from the bottom. Place the containers in a shallow tray of water filled approximately 1/4-1/2 inch deep with clean water. It will attract the water up into the container and you will not have to worry about washing out the seed by top watering.


Vegetable produce bags available from the supermarket work great as they are thin and open on one side. Place the container inside the bag and then flip it upside down.


When the sprouts have popped up on the surface, take off the plastic cover. Be on the lookout for the initial two leaves to appear, as this is your signal that it's time to give your new sprout a little compost tea or water-based plant foods.


Be careful not to overfeed or burn it: remember, it is still a baby. Like you wouldn't give a newborn steak, you shouldn't feed your baby plant a full adult size plant meal , or it'll likely die due to shock.


7. Give Seedlings Stimulation and adequate light for strong stems and healthy plants


If you are sprouting seeds in your home as well as in the greenhouse, they will need some kind of stimulation to build robust stems. It is possible to achieve this through either setting up a small , sluggish fan to circulate air over them or by gently brushing over them using your hands every day for a couple of minutes. This will ensure that the seedlings don't become fragile and leggy.


Now that they have sprouted, they also need good light. A sunny window on the south side of your home, or an outdoor space with a sun-filled view in the daylight will be well. It is important to bring seeds inside at night, if it is still before your last frost date or the nights are still cool. When you gradually introduce the seedlings to cooler temperatures over a number of days, they will be prepared for going in to the garden.


The vegetables with bigger seeds, such as beans, peas, corn, squash, melons, peppersand tomatoes, and eggplants are all easy to germinate with this method, and can be planted directly in the garden after they have sprouted. For this, mix an 2 to 3 inch ball of good pot soil or seed starter mix and put the newly sprouted seed inside the middle of the ball. Make sure you have a suitable spot in the garden. Then, place the soil ball with the seed spouted into the garden and gently cover it with soil.


Tips: If you're planting corn, squash, beans, peas or other large seeds in this manner, you might prefer to put a covering of plastic, shade cloth or nets over the area of seeding to avoid having birds steal the newly planted seeds.


Birds are very clever and will happily spend a day watching as you grow new seeds and then spend their afternoon eating seeds right from the garden! This is especially true for blue jays.


smaller seeded vegetables like celery, carrots and other herbs are a bit more difficult to work with and are harder to observe and work with however the rewards are just as impressive and, in some cases, even more. Many of these seeds take longer to sprout and this technique can cut down the time to germinate by two to three weeks.


Remember that the new seedlings require the same consistency to grow the same way they did during the germination process. Protect seedlings from extreme winds and temperature fluctuations. Make sure that they have enough light and don't let them become too hot or dry.


Once your seedlings have developed their first true leaves, that is, the leaves that are recognizable as those of the plant and not as seedling starter leaves, they can begin to prepare to be planted in the garden. Give young seedlings several days outdoors exposure and bring them back indoors at night prior to planting them out in the garden. This gives them the opportunity to adjust to the new environment before they are transplanted.


After the plants are hardened off, plant them into the garden during cool mornings on a cloudy day for best results. The hot, sunny weather could make transplants difficult in the first day; so if the weather is hot and sunny , think about planting in the evening in order so that the new plants have time to adjust to the transplant before being exposed to hot sun.


There's never been a better time to plant your own vegetables. Modern gardening techniques have made it easier than ever before to cultivate organic and healthy vegetables at your own home. In an age where there is no regulation of GMOs It is beneficial to know what exactly is in the food we eat and cultivating your own vegetables in your garden can give you real food freedom.