The seeds will swell with absorption of the water. Plant the seeds in the soil or seed mix immediately. This pre-soaking will hasten germination by a few days and up to a week.
This method could be the fastest way to germinate seeds. Place seeds in a shallow container in warm water and leave them for 16 to 24 hours (smaller for 16, bigger for 24). Remember not to expose seeds to temperatures higher than 80°F (26.6°C) and not to pre-soak seeds for more than 24 hours.
By adding a little hydrogen peroxide to your water when you soak seeds, you're doing two things – breaking down the seed coat (chemical scarification) and oxygenating the water. Remember, oxygen was the second thing we needed for germination. Adding more oxygen to the water speeds up the germination process.
One method to check for seed viability is the water test. Take the seeds and place them in a container of water. Let the seeds sit for 15 minutes. If the seeds sink, they are still viable; if they float, discard, because they probably will not sprout.
Seeds need to be moderately moist to sprout. Seed germination is highly dependent on watering. Too dry and they won't get the message to sprout, too wet and they will rot in the dirt.
All seeds need water, oxygen, and proper temperature in order to germinate. Some seeds require proper light also. Some germinate better in full light while others require darkness to germinate.
When seeds are completely immersed in water it does not germinate because only water is not necessary for germination. Proper light and well aeration is very much important for germination. When completely immersed in water, the proper oxygen exchange (aeration) does not take place which prevents the full germination.
Speed Up Germination
Using warm water also helps speed up this process. While they have moisture levels that need to be met before they can germinate, seeds also have temperature sensors. These prevent the seeds from germinating when it is still too cold, risking damage to the new and vulnerable growth.
Seeds in the germination phase are especially sensitive to temperature. The temperature at which a seed germinates varies from plant to plant, but, in general, vegetable seeds germinate between 65 and 90° F (18 to 32° C), and most thrive between 75-85°F (24 to 30° C).
You can actually soak any seed in water, including flowers and herbs, though I feel the smaller ones (like carrots, which are among the slowest to germinate) are too troublesome to work with when they're wet.
Place the seeds in water and let the pre-soaking process continue for 8-24 hours depending on the seed size. Try to use filtered water instead of tap water if it's available, and don't let them soak for more than 24 hours. Immediately after the seed soaking period is over, the seeds need to be planted out.
But did you know that seeds also can be germinated in liquid? It's true. In fact, many plants can be grown into maturity without any soil at all. Growing plants in water instead of soil is called hydroponics, and it's a fascinating type of horticulture.
As it turns out, you can! Hydrogen Peroxide 3% - Oxygen PlusTM, a food-grade solution made in pure distilled water, can effectively increase germination speed and support the growth of strong, healthy plants.
Salt stress reduces a seed's ability to absorb water (osmotic stress) and causes an ion imbalance within the seed (ionic stress), ultimately inhibiting germination and preventing crop production.
Germination is the process a seed goes through when it “wakes up” from its dormant state and starts to grow. Seeds are self-contained systems that contain most of what they need to get themselves started, but there are three important triggers that kick off germination: air, water, and warmth.
Not all seeds have the same light requirements. Most seeds germinate best under dark conditions and might even be inhibited by light (e.g., Phacelia and Allium spp.). However, some species (e.g., Begonia, Primula, Coleus) need light to germinate (Miles and Brown 2007).
Most of the seeds germinate best in dark environments. The presence of light tends to inhibit their growth. The light decomposes carbonic acid gas and expels oxygen which leads the seed to harden. These gases are key factors that promote germination.
Light is not necessary for a seed to germinate, no. The majority of seeds grow most effectively in the dark. Light, which is essential for seedling growth, may actually hinder the germination process. The three primary and necessary conditions for a seed to germinate are water, oxygen, and temperature.
Just long enough for the seeds to swell but not so long that they might begin to sour and rot. Overnight is usually good. Many sources recommend 8-12 hours and no more than 24 hours. Again, too much soaking and the seeds will start to decompose.
All you need to do is simply take a regular glass from your kitchen, fill it with room temperature water and let it sit in a warm (but dark) place until you see the tail of the seed start poking out. That's it.