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10 Best Tips to Speed Seed Germination in Your Garden

eco friendly seed starting

Tips to Speed Seed Germination for Your Garden

If you’ve ever had seeds take forever to sprout you know just how frustrating it can be! The anticipation of reaping a harvest from our newly planted garden can make us so impatient. I’ve been gardening for a long time and I’ve found several tips to increase the speed and reliability of seed germination for your vegetable and flower garden.

One of the first things to consider is how long the seeds normally take to germinate and what temperature produces the quickest results. Different species of plant germinate best at different temperatures. Some species need light to germinate, or cold treatment while others can take several weeks, even under optimal conditions.

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So let’s take a look at some of the reasons that seeds might not germinate AT ALL:

  • Seeds are too old to germinate
  • Poor storage conditions caused seeds to deteriorate
  • Seeds need a pre-treatment before they can germinate
  • Temperatures are too cold or too warm
  • Seeds are too wet or too dry
  • There isn’t enough light or there is too much light
  • Seeds are planted too deep
Mary's Heirloom Seeds
Start with good quality seeds for the best germination rates.

10 Best Tips for Speeding Seed Germination

Here are some of the best ways to increase and speed up the germination of seeds for your garden. Keep in mind that you will need to know the best conditions for the germination of each type of seed you plant. For example, some seeds need light to germinate, while others need dark conditions. Different seeds need different temperatures and some germinate best under controlled conditions indoors. Check the seed packet for instructions to sow seeds and how long to expect seeds to take to germinate.

So let’s take a look at 10 of the best tips for getting quick, reliable germination of your vegetable, herb, and flower seeds…

  1. Store seeds under optimal conditions
  2. Use fresh packages of seeds
  3. Soak seeds overnight
  4. Start seeds indoors
  5. Place planted seeds on a seedling heat mat to germinate
  6. Scarify seeds that need this pre-treatment (nick or file the surface of the seed coat)
  7. Stratify seeds that need this pre-treatment (cold treat the seeds)
  8. Keep seed starting medium moist but not wet
  9. Plant in a cold frame to keep them warm
  10. Warm the soil with black plastic
easy seed starting station
My seed starting station includes several seedling heat mats for gentle heat to speed germination.

Best Seed Storage for Increased Germination Rates

Most seeds will store for 1 or 2 years before their germination rates begin to decline however, they need proper storage conditions to keep them viable. A closed jar with a couple of silica gel packets is a good storage container because it will prevent your seeds from getting too much humidity, which can cause the seeds to begin to germinate but then die. Place the jar in your refrigerator to keep the seeds at a constant, cool temperature to increase storage length.

For more information on proper seed storage, check out my post on How to Make a Survival Seed Bank. You’ll also find information on which seeds keep for a few years and which ones should be used quickly for the best germination.

Use Fresh Packages of Seeds

Most of us gardeners are guilty of hoarding old packets of seeds. (Yes, I’m feeling a little sheepish, here!) Whether there were more seeds in the packet than you could use in one year or you ordered more seeds than you have room to plant… it’s hard to throw them away, even if you’re not sure they’re any good.

However, if you want the quickest, most reliable germination, it’s best to start with fresh seeds packed for the current season. To reduce waste and expense, only order as many seeds as you can use in one year. If you only need a partial package, try sharing with friends. If you wish to save leftover seeds for the following year, store them properly and use them as quickly as possible. Try testing the germination rate (instructions included in the Survival Seed Bank post) and order a new packet if they don’t germinate well.

My favorite source for heritage varieties of vegetables, herbs, and flowers is Mary’s Heirloom Seeds.

Soak Seeds Overnight Before Planting

Some seeds do best if you soak them for a few hours or overnight before planting them. Beans, peas, and corn seeds like a warm soak to rehydrate and get them off to a good start. Just make sure you don’t leave them in water too long or they may begin to germinate and then rot in overly wet conditions.

Other seeds are so fine that it is difficult to handle them when they’re wet. Carrot seeds are very small and difficult to plant after soaking. So it’s best to plant these seeds in their bed or pot, then water them in well and keep them from drying out while they germinate.

Start Seeds Indoors

Some crops do better when started indoors under lights for quick germination and early growth. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and Brussels sprouts are a few vegetables that like the consistent warmth, light, and moisture of an indoor seed starting setup. By planting these seeds indoors, we have much more control over the temperature and other conditions needed for the best germination.

On the other hand, some plants should be sown directly into the bed where they will grow. Root vegetables and sweet corn, as well as a few herbs, grow best when direct seeded into the garden. These plants don’t like to have their roots disturbed by transplanting them. So keep this in mind when starting seeds indoors.

I use seedling heat mats for other purposes too… including my Redneck Brooder Box 🙂

Speed Seedling Germination with a Seed Starting Heat Mat

Seedling heat mats are a great way to speed up germination, especially for heat-loving plants. A seedling heat mat, or germination mat, has 2 layers of plastic covering an electrical heating element. These mats plug into an outlet and raise the temperature of the soil in small seed starting pots to about 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the surrounding air temperature.

In early spring or late winter, when many people are starting their spring seedlings, the temperatures in our homes tend to be a bit cooler than the optimal temperature for germination. I have 5 or 6 seedling heat mats for starting my seeds and they can slash a week or more off of the time to germinate.

Scarification of Seeds to Speed Germination

Some seeds have a tough seed coat that prevents the absorption of water, which is necessary for germination. Morning glory seeds and a few other species need to go through the process of ‘scarification,’ or having a small cut or abrasion created in the seed coat, which allows the seed to absorb water and germinate.

Most of our vegetable seeds do not need this type of germination pre-treatment but it’s a good idea to know about this for seeds with hard seed coats, such as some perennial, tree, and shrub seeds.

Cold Stratification of Seeds to Speed Germination

In some cases, seeds need to undergo a period of cold temperatures before they will germinate. Other seeds just germinate better in somewhat cool soil. Lettuce, arugula, and broccoli are some common vegetable plants that grow best in cooler temperatures. When the soil warms up too much, these crops may take longer to germinate and bolt much sooner if the temperatures are too high.

Many perennials, trees, and shrubs need to be planted in the fall and allowed to sit in cold soil over the winter before they germinate properly. Asparagus seed is one example of a vegetable that germinates best after cold stratification.

Some native plant species need heat stratification because their natural habitat is susceptible to wildfires.

Keep Soil Moist But Not Wet

Once you’ve planted your seeds in the garden bed or in little pots indoors, you must keep the soil or potting mix from drying out. If seeds dry out during the process of germination, they will die. They aren’t able to soak up enough water from deep within the soil to keep them alive because their tiny roots are just beginning to develop. So keep the soil moist, but not soaking wet, throughout the germination period. Cool wet soil provides ideal conditions for damping off fungus.

Some good ways to keep the soil damp include covering the potting mix or soil with a clear plastic cover, such as the dome or lid that comes with a seed starting tray. You can also use some clear plastic wrap or a piece of cardboard to hold in the moisture. As soon as most of the seeds have germinated, remove the plastic wrap to reduce the chance of damping off disease (a fungus that kills seedlings).

Once the plastic cover has been removed, you’ll need to check your seedlings every day and maybe even more often than this, to keep them from drying out too much.

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Plant Seeds in a Cold Frame to Keep Them Warm

To speed up the early germination of seeds planted directly into the garden, try sowing them in a cold frame. A cold frame is basically a box with a clear lid that can be lifted when the temperatures are warm and lowered to protect seedlings when the temperatures are cold. This device allows you to plant seeds outdoors earlier than you can without this protection.

You’ll need to check the temperature in your cold frame during the day, especially when the sun is out because the air can heat up to dangerously warm levels for tender little seedlings. Don’t forget to lower the lid in the evening to protect plants from cold night temperatures.

If you don’t have a cold frame, you can create one fairly easily with several bales of straw and some old windows. Check out my post about my Redneck Cold Frame for my instructions for this easy and inexpensive cold frame.

Busy gardeners should consider a cold frame that opens and closes automatically to prevent overheating or freezing seedlings.

Warm the Soil With Black Plastic to Speed Germination

You can also prepare your garden beds for earlier planting by warming the soil up in early spring with a sheet of black plastic. Prepare the soil in your bed as soon as you can work it in the spring. Remove any weeds or debris, rake the seed bed, then lay a sheet of black plastic over the top and hold it in place with some rocks or boards. After a week or two of sunny days, the soil in that bed will be nice and warm… perfect for early plantings of peas, kale, or spinach.

Sow your seeds in the warm soil, water well, and cover the bed with a row cover or low tunnel to protect the germinating seeds from cool temperatures. Keep in mind that this method will give you a jump start on germination but don’t plant heat-loving crops too early or you’ll probably lose them to cold and have to start all over.

Redneck cold frame
My Redneck Straw Bale Cold Frame… gets seedlings off to a good start in my garden!

Get Your Garden Off to a Great Start This Year!

With just a few simple tips like these, you can get your garden off to an earlier start this year. Keep in mind that many cool-season crops, such as lettuce, kale, collards, and cilantro will germinate as early as the soil temperatures warm up in the spring. You can also prepare their beds in the fall, plant the seeds just shortly before the snow flies, and get off to an early start first thing in spring.

When sowing heat-loving vegetables, be sure to give the newly planted seeds some gentle heat from a seedling heat mat to get off to a quick start indoors. Don’t transplant these tender seedlings outside until the night-time temperatures stay above 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Cold temperatures will set them back and delay the production of flowers and fruit… so it’s better to be safe than sorry!

What are your best tips for speeding up the germination of your seeds? Leave a comment!

15 Comments on “10 Best Tips to Speed Seed Germination in Your Garden

  1. Your articles are always so helpful! Thanks for sharing with us at Simple Homestead Blog Hop. Stop by to see your article as one of the features at this week’s hop!

    Melissa | Little Frugal Homestead

  2. I’m so excited to get my garden started this year. Reading your gardening posts makes me even more anxious! 🙂

    Happy Week!
    Niky @ The House on Silverado

    1. Hi Niky! Best wishes with your garden… I’m so glad my posts are getting you geared up for gardening season!

  3. Serving This Week 3-8 to 3-12-2021 On Tuesday was BBQ Pulled Pork Nachos. Wednesday was Beef Brisket Hungarian Goulash. Thursday was Beer Marinated Italian Sausage. Friday was Broiled Orange Roughy. Enjoy!

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