If you love gardening, you know that nothing is more thrilling than seeing the first little green shoots that appear after you've planted seeds. In order for the seeds to germinate or germinate, you need to provide the right type of soil and make sure the seeds get enough sun or shade, also adjust the temperature so that it is not too hot or cold. Read on to learn how to give seeds the right environment for them to germinate and grow.
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Method 1 of 3: Preparing to Plant the Seeds
Step 1. Start with good seeds
Seeds must be less than two years old, come from a reputable source, and be suitable for planting in the area where you live. Your chances are better with seeds that come from plants native to your area – the seeds will like the environment, soil, and other conditions you can provide. Purchase seeds at a nursery, local farmer's market, or online sellers who sell seeds for a variety of planting areas.
Step 2. Plan to start at the right time
Some seeds need to germinate indoors a few weeks before the weather starts to warm, others just a few days. The time it takes you to start planting seeds also differs by the planting area. Proper timing is important if you want to give your seeds the best chance to grow into strong, healthy plants.
- Check the back of your seed pack for instructions on when to start planting. The seed wrap contains a lot of important information.
- You can also search online for information on when to start planting your seeds.
- If you're not sure when to start planting your seeds, plan to plant a few weeks before the last frost of the season. You can start planting the seeds indoors and let them sprout a few inches before transplanting them outside. This is a safe step for many types of plants.
Step 3. Get the right planting medium
Seeds need to germinate in a planting medium which is usually different from ordinary potting soil. Seeds require a certain chemical composition to germinate, and the needs of each seed are different. Do some research on the needs of the seeds you are going to plant and get suitable planting media from a nursery or online store.
- You can buy planting media without mixed soil, and it is suitable for many types of plant seeds.
- Making your own growing media from vermiculite, perlite, and milled sphagnum moss (milled sphagnum moss) is inexpensive, all of which are available at garden supply stores. A 1:1:1 ratio is usually effective.
- Do not try to plant seeds in ordinary soil. The seeds themselves already contain all the nutrients needed to germinate. Additional nutrients in potting soil are usually detrimental during the germination period.
Step 4. Select the seed container
You will need a container about 5 or 7.5 cm deep with drainage holes in the bottom. The shape of the container can be an open tray or divided with space for each seed. The width of the container depends on the number of seeds you plant; make sure you provide enough space for the seeds to germinate.
- You can buy pallets or seed trays, but making your own from egg cartons, newspapers, old wooden boxes or other household items is also easy.
- When the seeds germinate and sprout, these tiny plants need to be moved to a larger container or planted in the ground. For this reason the beauty of the germinating seed container is not as important as its function itself.
Method 2 of 3: Planting Seeds
Step 1. Prepare the container
Fill the seed container with your seed planting medium. Fill the container up to 1.25 cm from the lip of the container, do not fill it up. Sprinkle water on the growing medium to moisten it. Don't douse it in water; the medium must be only slightly moist to provide a favorable environment for the seeds.
Step 2. Determine the need for soaking the seeds
Some seeds need to be soaked a few hours before planting, while others can be planted directly in the growing medium without the need for soaking. Determine if your seeds require any processing before planting. View seed packs or check online.
- To soak the seeds, put them in a clean container and soak them in room temperature water. Leave it for 3 to 24 hours. Drain and pat dry with a thick paper towel.
- If you soak the seeds, plant them immediately after soaking. Do not allow the seeds to dry out again before planting.
Step 3. Sow the seeds
Spread the seeds evenly over the planting medium and use your fingers to press them in. Cover the seeds with a layer of planting medium about three times the thickness of the seed. Moisten the planting medium again after the seeds are planted.
- Don't place too many close together; make sure the seeds are not overcrowded.
- Some seeds need to be planted deeper in the planting medium, and there are seeds that do not need to be covered with the planting medium at all. Most seeds are usually covered with a thin layer of planting medium as described above, but you should check first to make sure the seeds you have do not require special handling.
Step 4. Place the seed container in the right environment
Most seeds don't need sunlight to germinate, but some do, so you'll want to check to make sure your seeds are in the right conditions. Placing seeds in a room with temperatures between 15.5 and 26.7 degrees Celsius is a safe option, but again, some seeds require special handling and require very cold or hot temperatures to grow well.
- You can use a hot mat under the seed tray to regulate the temperature and keep it warm during the germination period.
- After the seeds germinate, place them in an area where the temperature is above 21 degrees Celsius until they are ready to be moved outside.
Step 5. Keep the planting medium moist
Just cover the tray loosely with plastic wrap to retain moisture and regulate temperature. Remove the plastic wrap daily to water the seeds. Make sure the seeds don't dry out, otherwise the seeds won't germinate properly.
- Do not overwater the seeds. When submerged in water, the seeds will not grow.
- You can use newspaper in addition to plastic wrap. Use a spray bottle to keep the newspaper moist while the seeds germinate.
Method 3 of 3: Nurturing Seeds after Germination
Step 1. Move the sprouts to a place that receives a lot of sunlight
When you see the first green sprouts or shoots breaking out of the seed, move the sprouts to a spot that receives lots of sunlight. Make sure the room temperature is above 21 C, but provide a bright place where it can grow strong and healthy.
Step 2. Keep the sprouts moist
If you cover the sprouts with a piece of plastic wrap or newspaper, remove the lid and keep the sprouts moist by watering twice a day. Water in the morning and early evening, but avoid watering too late. If water stagnates in the planting medium throughout the night, it may encourage the growth of fungi.
Step 3. Give sprouts nutrition after a few weeks
Since the growing medium does not contain nutrients, you will need to fertilize the sprouts with plant food once they have grown a few centimeters in height. Make sure which type of plant food is suitable for the sprouts you are growing. Use only organic fertilizers whenever possible.
Step 4. Keep the distance between the sprouts
If a lot of seeds germinate, it's important to keep some of the weak ones away so that the strong ones can get stronger. Sort until you only have 2 or 3 sprouts in each container, or 2 or 3 sprouts for each acre the size of a one-egg box. Choose sprouts that sprout close to the base, pull out the roots and discard.
Step 5. Transfer the seeds in time
When the growing season begins, it's time to transplant the sprouts into a larger container or into your outdoor garden. Make sure you use the right type of soil for your plant, and plant it in an area that receives enough sunlight and has good drainage.
Tips
- Label the seed so you'll know what type of plant it is.
- Some seeds last longer in storage than others. To check that your seeds are still growing, sprinkle at least ten seeds on a thick damp paper towel and cover with plastic wrap. Look at the seeds over the next few days and see how many germinate. When it germinates, you can plant it. If they don't or those that germinate too little, look for fresher seeds.
- Read the seed pack. The seed pack is full of useful information about when to start planting, light and water needed, and so on. If you have seeds you saved, see instructions for that type of plant online. In addition to water, some seeds need warmth and sunlight.
