While you can germinate certain seeds without soaking, your chances of success and the speed of germination can be greatly increased if you do. It can mean the difference between one or two seeds germinating or almost the whole batch when done correctly.
By soaking the seed, it enables the new growth from the inside to push through the hard shell and grow. The seeds that could benefit from a good soaking include: corn, pumpkin, beans, chard, beets, and peas. The seeds you shouldn't soak include: carrots, lettuce, radish, celery, turnips, and spinach.
The seeds you shouldn't soak include: carrots, lettuce, radish, celery, turnips, and spinach. Listen to Cathy Isom's This Land of Ours program here.
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.
Seeds absorb water when soaked. This makes them soft and big. Soaked seeds germinate faster. It is also easy to cook them.
Grass seeds that are newly planted and yet to germinate will go barely two to three days without water; after this, they will begin to desiccate and start drying. On the other hand, grass seeds that have germinated and developed into blades will go on living without water for several weeks.
Speed sprouting by presoaking seeds
I pour hot tap water into a shallow container, empty a packet of seeds into the water, spread them out, and let them stand for up to 24 hours. Soak the seeds for any longer and they might rot. The seeds swell as water penetrates the seed coat and the embryo inside begins to plump up.
Although seeds can germinate without soaking, it does greatly increase germination rates (depending on the plant). If you want more reliable results, this extra step is well worth the effort.
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.
Vinegar is an aqueous solution of acetic acid, which inhibits the process of seed germination. Higher concentration of acetic acid may destroy the seed vigor and inhibit the germination of seeds. Overall, vinegar can kill the seeds, the leaf, and possibly the entire plant.
Soaking seeds can certainly speed up germination, and encourage a batch of seeds to germinate at a more uniform pace. However, there's little evidence that soaking improves overall germination rates for most high-quality seeds.
Too much soaking in water and a seed will drown. It is recommended that you only soak most seeds for 12 to 24 hours and no more than 48 hours. The seeds of some species of plants can survive longer soakings, but you should only do this if the specific instructions for this species recommend so.
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.
Boiling usually promotes germination to a critical point beyond which there is a decline in the final germination percentage. Soaking in water within the range 60–90°C is often as effective as soaking at 100°C but there is less chance of damage at the lower temperatures.
Take your seeds and put them in a container of water. Let them sit for about 15 minutes. If the seeds sink, they are most likely still viable. If they float, they probably will not sprout.
Why does soaking help? The phytates and enzyme inhibitors that make nuts and seeds so tricky to digest can be easily neutralized by soaking in salt water and low temperature dehydrating. The combination of minerals and heat works to break down irritating compounds, while preserving the beneficial fats and proteins.
A seed might fail to germinate due to multiple reasons. Water is a key factor in promoting seed germination. Very less or too much water content can affect germination. Lack of oxygen also inhibits seed germination and oxygen availability is directly linked to water availability.
Dry seeds are known as dormant seeds. They remain alive without germinating for months or years. When the seed is soaked in water, enzymes get activated by absorbing water, and thus, it helps in germination and development of embryo.
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.
Moisten a paper towel and place seeds on half of the towel. Cover the seeds with the other half of the paper towel. Place the paper towels inside a plastic bag and keep them in a dark room at room temperature until you see sprouting seeds. Transfer each individual seedling to a single cell in a seedling tray.
Seeds that have been stored in a cool, dry place are generally viable for at least a year past the season for which they were packaged and may be good for up to five years. The following article lists the average seed life for common vegetables and flowers: Give seeds a test for A+ performance , OSU Extension.
Water is one of the vital elements when starting plants from seed. Too much water and your seeds will drown or rot. Too little and they will either fail to germinate or die once they do.
Dew may also play an important role in seed germination. High levels of dew in grasslands could provide the moisture needed for different types of seeds to germinate, perhaps even creating conditions that support the transition from grasslands to forests.