How do you germinate seeds?

Neville Longbottom

Neville Longbottom

Active Member
With my current mthod of germination i usually get around 75% germ rate and i was wondering what are some other ways people germinate seeds? Im hoping to find a method that is closer to 100% germination.

My method:
Place seeds in paper towel, moisten, place paper towel in sandwich baggy and then put them in a dark place that stays around 70°f constant.
 
Neville Longbottom said:
My method:
Place seeds in paper towel, moisten, place paper towel in sandwich baggy and then put them in a dark place that stays around 70°f constant.
Click to expand...

Close, but no cigar.

Make sure you leave the Ziploc bag open, DO NOT SEAL IT. And do not put it in a dark place. Just put it on the window sill and in 3 days it'll be ready to go.

I have a 99.9% success rate with that method. (I've only ever had one not germinate.)
 
Neville Longbottom said:
Do not seal it huh? I will give it a try. Have you ever had the paper towel dry out?
Click to expand...

Nope. It's only three days, not a week and a half. I don't wring it out until it's barely moist though. Just squeeze it in one had and leave it moist enough to where you could wipe your counter top down with it. You don't have to prop the bag wide open, just don't seal it. leave it relaxed and open and it'll be fine.
 
Neville Longbottom said:
With my current mthod of germination i usually get around 75% germ rate and i was wondering what are some other ways people germinate seeds? Im hoping to find a method that is closer to 100% germination.

My method:
Place seeds in paper towel, moisten, place paper towel in sandwich baggy and then put them in a dark place that stays around 70°f constant.
Click to expand...
Stick them in dirt. What I do is use burpees 36 cell selfwatering trays with rapid rooters and heating mat. Usually all seeds pop with 48 hrs easy.
 
I've always done like you do, damp paper towel, in an open ziploc bag, and tap root has always been out within 24-36 hours! Only 1 seed out of dozens didn't germ. Only one thing i would correct, and this will delay matters for sure, when my temps were around 68-low 70's..germination would take longer for sure! With temps closer to 80, it works quickly..germ at noon, ready to plant the following evening/night.
 
I just poke a few holes in a yogurt cup and drop the seeds directly into recycled soil. Then I hydrate it well and drape a ziplock bag over the top loosely . Then place them on a seedling heat mat. They usually pop off in a matter of days.
 
There are a few vids on youtube about "washing" or disinfecting seeds. Some believe that germination inhibiting bacteria grow on the seed the longer it sits.
 
I personally use a tup-a-ware sandwich container. Place the seeds at the bottom, Place wet sponge (plain) on top. Place lid on tight. Then I Ieave it above the fridge for week or so. 9/10 germinate. About 75% are female.

I also pick from a 50-60 seeds from the same plant at a time and i only take the biggest most healthy looking.
 
What benefit is gained from germinating out of soil and then putting the germinated seed into soil? Why not just germinate in soil to begin with? What is the benefit from the extra steps?
 
xtsho said:
What benefit is gained from germinating out of soil and then putting the germinated seed into soil? Why not just germinate in soil to begin with? What is the benefit from the extra steps?
Click to expand...
Not everyone grows in soil. I grow hydro so putting them in soil would be more steps.
 
Seriously have no idea why paper towel method even exists here. Past soaking for 24 hous no extra benefit is gained in germination speed.

I germinate in rockwool, fleximix, soil, coco and whatever and all can be directly seeded with no pre soak and still achieve 100% success.

Any direct soaking merely allows water to soak into the seed faster, past that it does nothing.

Growing a taproot before planting is amatureish imo, somthing done because they struggle with direct planting or still think its some magic beans.

Personally i soak then plant for uniform germination and to make them all come up within a 24 hour window. Years of doing it led to the quickest easiest most reliable uniform germination for someone that pops seed every week on schedule.

A more real discussion is needed oneday :-)
 
Neville Longbottom said:
With my current mthod of germination i usually get around 75% germ rate and i was wondering what are some other ways people germinate seeds? Im hoping to find a method that is closer to 100% germination.

My method:
Place seeds in paper towel, moisten, place paper towel in sandwich baggy and then put them in a dark place that stays around 70°f constant.
Click to expand...

That's exactly what I do, Apart from put them in a zip lock bag with the paper towel in, I put 2 plates over the sandwich bag and spray inside it once to keep it a bit moist.
 
Blitz35 said:
I've always done like you do, damp paper towel, in an open ziploc bag, and tap root has always been out within 24-36 hours! Only 1 seed out of dozens didn't germ. Only one thing i would correct, and this will delay matters for sure, when my temps were around 68-low 70's..germination would take longer for sure! With temps closer to 80, it works quickly..germ at noon, ready to plant the following evening/night.
Click to expand...
I agree when it’s warm they pop sooner. I keep them in a Tupperware inside of my make-up case. I sit the case in the bathroom because it’s alwat warm there. 12 hours later they’re out . Had about 99% success rate.
 
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