Do I have to soak my seeds before planting?
As a general rule of thumb, your seeds will sprout even if you don’t soak your seeds before planting, but with soaking the germination time decreases, and the germination rate increases. Seeds that have a continual flow of moisture to uptake have much higher chances of success. Always water your seeds or starts immediately after planting. Seeds need to be kept moist to germinate (not soggy though because that will cause them to rot).The first step is to cover the seeds up with a few inches of water in your glass bowl. While doing this, make sure the bowl isn’t near direct sunlight and is at a reasonable room temperature. You’ll want to let the seeds soak for a certain number of hours, often anywhere from six to 24, depending on the seed variety.Pre-Soak Your Seeds Before Planting That is why many seeds take a long time to germinate. You can trick the seed into opening faster by pre-soaking them in water. The goal is to penetrate the outer surface of the shell so that the plant gets the signal that it’s ready to grow.
What seeds should I not start indoors?
Plants that generally should not be started indoors include root vegetables like carrots , beets, potato, garlic, onion, radishes etc as well as larger-seeded crops like peas, beans, corn, squashes sometimes. I do start bitter gourds inside as they take some time to germinate). Plants from the Solanaceae Family. Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplants, & Tomatillos Are Easy Fruiting Plants to Start Indoors. Plants from the Cucurbit Family. Watermelons Are Good Candidates for Seeds to Start Indoors.
How often should I water indoor seeds?
Seeds need constantly moist soil to sprout—drying out can stop germination. Seedlings need daily watering (sometimes more) until they grow deeper roots. Use the 2-Inch Rule to know when to water as your plants mature. Watering Seedlings: Support Their Shallow Roots If that layer dries out, it can stress or kill young plants before they’re established. Water daily until seedlings are at least a few inches tall or wide. In hot or windy conditions, check the soil often and water more frequently, as these conditions dry soil faster.