Reasons for soaking seeds before planting
As spring approaches and seed sowing is in full swing, you'll find plenty of advice on how to get it right. This advice will help beginner gardeners or those who can't get anything to germinate no matter how hard they try.
But, it can also be paradoxical.
1. Stimulation of germination
As we already know, seeds need moisture to germinate.
Different seeds are stimulated by different amounts of moisture, based on the rainfall in their native regions. Once rainfall increases the humidity around the seed sufficiently, the plant knows it is safe to begin germinating. By soaking the seeds before you start, you can induce this moisture level in any seed and encourage them to start germinating. You don't have to wait to get your seed starting mix to that stage, which can take a long time. Instead, they are ready to go as soon as you plant them.
2. Accelerate germination
By inducing germination before you place the seeds in the ground (or trays), you can greatly reduce the time it takes to prepare your seeds from sowing to planting. There is no moisture barrier to overcome, which means your seeds should germinate in no time.
Using warm water helps speed up this process.
Seeds also have temperature sensors, as they need to meet moisture levels before they germinate. These prevent seeds from germinating while they are still cold, damaging new and vulnerable growth. Warm water matches the temperature needed to initiate germination and provides an ideal environment for rapid germination. This, combined with a heating mat to keep the soil warm (especially when starting seeds early) will give you seedlings much faster than you might expect.
It's also great for late planting because it gives you a final boost when time is against you, allowing you to get your seedlings in the ground before it's too late.
3. Remove germination inhibitors
Although it may seem counterintuitive, some seeds are actually surrounded by germination inhibitors. It is designed to prevent them from sprouting inside the fruit and at the wrong time.
These inhibitors are usually removed naturally by wind or rain, but the natural process can take some time. Soaking your seeds will wash away any substances that inhibit germination and increase your chances of success.
4. Break down natural defenses
The seeds are usually beaten and bruised before settling in their final resting place. Whether it is carried by the wind, blown by rain, or survives the stomach acid of the various animals that consume them, they are put to some abuse before they germinate.
Many seeds have hard outer shells that allow them to withstand these elements. By soaking your seeds, Mother Nature can break down these defenses in hours, instead of days or weeks.
After soaking, anything will be ready for planting without interruption.
5. Increasing your odds
Plants produce trillions of seeds each year. But not all of them germinate due to the many obstacles we mentioned earlier. They release many seeds in the hope that only a few will take, which means they don't all have to germinate to reproduce successfully. If you have spent money on rare or expensive seeds or regular seeds, relying on luck to germinate them is not enough. Although seeds can germinate without soaking, it greatly increases the germination rate (depending on the plant). If you want more reliable results, this extra step is worth the effort.
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