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Tips for speeding up germination indoors and outdoors

11 February, 2020
Tips for Speeding Up Germination Indoors and Outdoors - All-America Selections
Tips for Speeding Up Germination Indoors and Outdoors - All-America Selections

Be a Savvy Seed Sower

Seeds are not all the same. They don’t look the same and they don’t germinate in the same ways or even in the same timeframe. To break dormancy and germinate a seed needs moisture combined with temperatures in the correct range for them to grow.

Written by Niki Jabbour
Savvy Gardening

Yet, growing from seed is both easy and fun, and savvy gardeners know that one of the best ways to ensure productive vegetables and herbs, and beautiful flowers is to grow All-America Selections winners. They’ve been rigorously tested across North America and are well known for their superior garden performance.

“And between you and me, there are a few sneaky ways you can boost germination speeds and rates when starting seeds indoors under grow lights or in a sunny window, or direct seeding them outdoors in garden beds or containers.”
Niki Jabbour
Savvy Gardening

Warm up the soil!

Every type of seed has an ideal temperature for germination. Basil seeds, like Dolce Fresca, for example have an ideal soil temperature of 70F, while tomatoes like Mountain Rouge F1 like it a bit warmer, in the 75 to 90F range. Peas, on the other hand, like Patio Pride, can be planted outdoors when the soil temperature is just 50F. Being mindful of ideal soil temperatures can help you provide the right growing conditions to coax seeds out of dormancy. Not sure of the recommended soil temperature? Check the seed packet as most offer details on specific growing conditions.

Dolce Fresca Basil - An AAS Winner

Basil seeds, like Dolce Fresca, have an ideal soil temperature of 70F for best germination.

Tomato Mountain Rouge - 2019 AAS Edible/Vegetable Winner

Tomato seeds, like Mountain Rouge, like soil temperature warmer like 75 – 90F for best germination.

AAS Winner Pea Patio Pride

Peas, like Patio Pride, can be planted outdoors when the soil temperature is just 50F.

Starting Your Seeds…

• Outdoors – Most heat-loving vegetables, like squash, melons, cucumbers, peppers, and tomatoes benefit from being seeded or transplanted into soil that is at least 65 F. Living in a short-season climate where spring weather is often cold, I like to pre-warm the soil before planting these crops into my raised beds. To pre-warm, I simply cover the beds with a sheet of clear or black plastic at least two weeks before I intend to seed or transplant. Remove the plastic before planting.

• Indoors – While many types of seeds sprout fine in average room temperature, germination rates can be increased and sprouting time decreased by providing bottom heat. This is especially true of heat-loving pepper, eggplant, basil, melon, and gourd seeds. Seeds of hot peppers, like Cayenne Red Ember, Habanero Roulette, and Fresno Flaming Flare, respond especially well to warm soil temperatures. As do seedless watermelons, like Harvest Moon which need a soil temperature over 85F to germinate. Happily, there are several easy ways to provide this extra warmth. For years, I’ve placed seed trays on top of my refrigerator or on a heating pad. The goal is to warm the soil from the bottom in a safe manner. You can also pick up an inexpensive seed heating mat from your favorite garden supply store to maintain a stable temperature while seeds germinate.

Pepper Red Ember - an AAS Winner

Pepper cayenne Red Ember F1

Pepper habanero Roulette - 2018 AAS Edible - Vegetable Winner

Pepper habenero Roulette F1

Pepper Flaming Flare - The fruit is ideal for making chili sauces and the heat of that sauce will increase depending on how late in the season the peppers are harvested.

Pepper Flaming Flare F1

Watermelon Harvest Moon F1 2013 AAS Vegetable Award Winner The first ever hybrid, triploid seedless watermelon to win a coveted AAS Award!

Watermelon Harvest Moon F1

Give them a bath!

AAS Winner Nasturtiums Baby Rose germinates better with soaking the seeds before planting.

For some seeds, particularly those with hard seed coats, germination can be sped up or increased by soaking the seeds before planting.

• Soaking – Soaking is an easy way to soften a hard seed coat to spark germination. I often pre-soak my peas, beans, corn, gourds, squash, and nasturtiums, like Baby Rose. To soak, fill small dishes with warm water and add the seeds. Be sure to cover the seeds with at least an inch or two of water as they absorb water as they soak and you don’t want them to dry out. Place the seed packet in front of the dish or add a labeled marker so you don’t mix up your varieties. Trust me, I’ve been there! I soak most types of seeds for four to six hours, although I have been known to soak my sweet pea seeds overnight, or for eight to ten hours to soften their hard seed coats. Plant immediately after soaking.

Lots of light!

Once your indoor sown seeds have germinated, they’ll need plenty of light to grow into strong, sturdy plants. A lack of adequate light is the biggest challenge when growing plants indoors. Most plants need sixteen hours of light per day, which can be impossible to provide if you’re using a windowsill in late winter or early spring.

• Lighting – To boost success, many gardeners opt to install grow-lights. My set-up is simple. I use four-foot-long shop lights hung on a wooden stand. Each fixture is fitted with a warm and cool fluorescent tube. The fixtures are hung on chains so I can easily move them up as the plants grow. It’s inexpensive and effective, but there are many lighting options available to gardeners from garden supply companies.

What do you do to speed up or increase germination rates when sowing seeds?

 

“This post is provided as an education/inspirational service of All-America Selections. Please credit and link to All-America Selections when using all or parts of this article.”

Be a Savvy Seed Sower: Tips for speeding up germination indoors and outdoors - All-America Selections

1 comment

  • BJBR Reply 02/12/2020 at 7:17 AM

    I like to add a thin sprinkled layer of vermiculite on top of the seeds when planting to help the seeds stay moist…and I have occasionally sprinkled cinnamon on top as well to control fungus. I have also read where hydrogen peroxide 3% diluted to 1 teaspoonful mixed in 1 cup of water can encourage better growth in seeds that need soaked and the mixture can also be used to mist soil to control fungus. I also put run a fan on the seedlings to increase their strength and to help prevent fungus development-damping off problems.

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