Gardening is a pleasing activity. It boosts
the happiness level as the plants grow, and the greenery rejuvenates the mind.
However, the propagation of plants is a bit tricky, and a task to be “looked
after.” Seed Germination(propagation) is the first and foremost process, which,
if done accurately, will definitely give fruitful results.
Seeds
Germination: It
is the process of developing a seed into the mature plant.
So, while seeding a plant into the
soil, we need to get awareness about different things.
Below, fundamental
“plants sprouting” requirements are discussed:
Like a human being, plants are also
living things and need the same basic things to sprout(grow). Such as:
Soil Temperature Must Be According To The Requirement
Soil temperature is the undeniable
factor in the plant’s propagation process. Make sure the plants are getting the
adequate amount of warmth and light to grow. However, the amount of sunlight
and heat that is to be attained varies from plants to plants. For example,
spinach requires a low temperature than other plants.
Hence, seeds’ growth depends upon the soil temperature. Proper sunlight intake by plant seeds helps them to come out of the soil and glow with green leaves. Although, it depends upon the nature of the seeds like: which seed needs more sunlight and which requires less sunlight to sprout and flourish.
Seeds Need Air
Plant seeds need air to breathe in
the soil as their sprouting, and the formation of leaves depends upon the availability
of oxygen. Most land has plenty of air for the seeds. However, in the case of
over-watery surroundings, the seed becomes
unable to inhale enough oxygen to germinate. So, be careful while
sowing a seed in the soil and check the soil condition at first. The plants
bloom well when all the necessary steps are undertaken.
Note: We talked about the seeds needing air above, but when it comes to “take care” of the root, then we have to be a bit careful, as the air pollutants can drastically affect the root growth.
Seeds Need Moisture To Grow
Like air and sunlight, water intake is also imperative in the seed germination process. Keep seeds sufficiently moisturized and do not “over water” them as an excessive water supply can stop the development of the seedling. Also, the amount of water supply depends upon the characteristics of the herb seeds.
Basic needs are explained above, now
let’s dig-in to some Important tips and tricks that can help to improve
seeds germination process.
Here, we
will discuss some easy-to-go tips to make seeds germination process feasible.
1. Re-consider
the best place to sow seeds – Inside/outdoor
First of all, if your seeds are not
sprouting well, then you have to re-consider “the area” to plant the seed. It
can be an indoor or outdoor location. For instance, some people who have kitchen
gardens in the backyard of their home, sometimes forget to take care
of the seeds that were sown there because of plenty of reasons like:
- No
presence of nutrient in the soil - Ignorance
towards seeds’ water supply - Not
enough light intake by seeds
So, wherever you are going to plant
seeds, it’s essential to make sure whether the sown seeds are getting enough
amount of everything that is bulleted above or not.
Do
you Know?
The priming of seeds also depends upon Polyethylene Glycol treatments, especially the (PEG-6000) treatment that can increase seed germination rate by reducing the waiting period between sowing and sprouting plus improves the synchronization of germination.
2. Use Soil
Thermometer – The soil condition matters
Soil temperature helps you to decide when and which seeds should be sown. It is a mandatory factor for improving seed germination. Undeniably, the more suitable the temperature is, the more speedy the propagation would be. A good quality thermometer will tell the accurate temperature of the land and helps to plant seeds with respect to their heat requirement. For example,
- If
the temperature is 50°F or higher, you can sow onions,
leeks, and turnips. - If
the soil temperature is higher or equal to 40°F, you can easily plant lettuce,
spinach, kale, or peas. - If
the garden’s soil temperature is 60°F or higher, you can choose beans,
cabbage, broccoli, carrot, and many others. - If
your land temperature is 70°F or higher, you can plant squash,
peppers, melons, cucumbers, and corn.
To
check Soil Temperature:
Just
dig the specific part of the soil, and insert the thermometer into the land by
covering it with your hand (to shade it from sunlight). Take the thermostat to
the level of the earth where seeds would be sown (make sure it is 6cm at least
under the ground) and check the temperature to sow the seeds accordingly.
3. Use safely
stored Seeds
While propagating seeds, you often
forget to check the quality or usability date of the seeds that end up with the
“no-grow process.” To avoid such problems, one should check that the seeds that
were bought from the market are not expired and of suitable conditions. For
this, always opt for seal-packed seeds and use them within the days of expiry.
4. Pre-soak
the seeds
Sometimes, the seeds take time to
grow due to less moisture in the soil. In such a condition, the germination
gets slower, and seeds do not sprout well. To not let this happen, pre-soaking
the seeds in the water would come handy and will give a quick-start to them. The
plant seeds proliferate under the soil, and wouldn’t lie dormant.
To-Do Tip: Just soak the seeds into the water
before sowing them down the earth. It will help to penetrate the seed’s outer
surface, so the plant gets a sign that it’s ready to cultivate.
For
Your Information: Pre-soaking
is best for bigger and hard-shelled seeds as it softens the outer layer and
allows the moisture to reach the inner baby seed – the plant embryo.
5. Check the
Planting Calendar
If you are new to planting seeds and have
no idea about planting and plant care, or even if you have been into gardening
for some time, several questions arise in your mind:
- When
should you sow a plant seed? - How
much time will it take to sprout? - Which
seeds plant should be sown in what climate condition?
Etc, etc.…
For this, you can check the What
To Plant Calendar, so your task would become easier, and you can get
results in days as these small tips would definitely help in the seeds
germination.
6. Look after
the plants/seeds that are rooted down into the earth
When you are done with sowing seeds,
you must take care of them and check whether the growth of plants is actually in
process or not. For this, just watering them on time is not enough; giving attention
to the following points would help in a better way, too.
- Damping-off:
It is a fungal disease that can result in contaminated soil and gets worst by
irregular watering practice. It can cause many tiny sprouting plants to die and
wither. - Nutrition:
check for proper nutrition intake by the plants. - Temperature and Light: As discussed above, check if the plant seeds are getting an appropriate
amount of light and whether the temperature is in accordance with the plant’s
nature or not.
Let’s
Make Gardening An Easy Task For You 😉
While sowing seeds, it is imperative to look for the best tools for planting seeds because they help you to perform gardening activities professionally and efficiently. Many people use ordinary kitchen tools, but those can’t help you that way. Right?
Above, we have elucidated some key
tips, now, check out some more interesting tips to improve seeds germination
downwards:
7. Use of
Epsom Salt
Mixing up the soil with Epsom Salt is
an ideal way to the perfect germination of seeds, as it has a neutral
PH and is easily dissolvable in water.
The Epsom Salt can easily stop
earth-worms like snails or voles from attacking the seeds. Also, it helps the
plants to grow larger and germinate seeds faster. So, applying Epsom Salt in
the garden can help the propagation rate to reach a high point as well as makes
the seedlings strong.
You can mix 1 tablespoon full of
Epsom Salt with a quart of water and apply it over the soil as a drench.
Furthermore, you can spray the same quantity on foliage (leaves).
Do
you know?
Epsom
Salt is enriched
in sulfur and magnesium, and that’s why also called magnesium sulfate. This
component helps in strengthening the seed walls during germination.
8. Seeds
Nicking (Scarification)
Seeds Germination rate can be improved by doing the scarification of the seeds. Nickking (or scarification) of seeds is the process of opening the seed jacket(coat) before planting them into the soil.
To nick, first, take a knife and cut
each seed. Make sure the opening is small because the deep cut can damage the plant’s
embryo(baby seed). Moreover, you can choose an alternative way to scarify the
seed’s coat, for example, sanding through the seed’s jacket with a bit of
sandpaper can come handy.
Nicking is mostly done in conjunction
with soaking seeds as it goes well for hard-shelled plant seeds. Moreover,
right after nicking, you can soak the seeds in the water (before planting). Nicking
makes water absorption by plant seeds easy and faster.
After nicking and soaking them in
water, sow them in the soil right away.
Precautionary
Advice:
Don’t store scarified (nicked) seeds (to use them later) as they lose the ability to germinate quickly.
9. Indoor
& Outdoor Practices To Improve Seeds’ Germination
· Germination Mats Are Perfect For Indoor Planting
Germination Mats are explicitly used
for indoor planting and help to raise the soil temperature in the seed trays
due to which the propagation of the seeds speeds up. These mats are often used
to germinating seeds or roots
cuttings but, try not to use them for seedlings growth (as seedling
growth starts with the germination of the seeds).
· Use of Plastic Mulch
You can use plastic mulch (a layer
applied to the surface of the soil) to improve the seed’s propagation process.
For
your Knowledge: Plastic
Mulch was first used in 1960 to grow vegetables.
A variety of vegetables are grown
with the help of plastic mulch. The plastic mulch use has improved the quality
of vegetable plants and increased the total yield. Additionally, it aids in
raising the soil temperature to speed up the germination process. For better
results, use black plastic, and don’t forget to remove the mulch before the
seeds sprouting.
10. Stratification (Freezing & Thawing)
The process of stratification is
considered as the most modern seeds’ germination improvement method.
Stratification means: placing in layers. (According to some people) It is
invented by modern pioneers to grow seeds faster.
Stratification involves placing seeds
in layers of sands and then putting them where they can easily be frozen. Furthermore, stratification
treatment helps to alleviate seed dormancy.
We have thoroughly discussed the ten
tips and tricks to improve the seeds germination process, and we hope that this
article would help you in the plants’ seeds germination process. The presence
of the garden in the home is the most relaxing and joyful feeling, ever. As Francis
Bacon said:
“God
Almighty first planted a garden. And indeed, it is the purest of human pleasures.”
So, having a green yard in the home
is a blessing. Take care of your garden, and enjoy healthy food and herbs.
Happy
Gardening 😊