What’s the best month to plant seeds?
April is the best time to plant most of your vegetable seeds after your last frost. It’s still not too late to plant tomatoes and peppers from seeds as well. Be sure to check your gardening zone for last frost dates. Tomato seeds typically germinate in 5 to 10 days if given optimal conditions. You’ll know seeds have germinated as soon as you see green plant emerging from the growing medium.Tomatoes are a summer-season vegetable and are usually grown as summer annuals. Tomato seeds must be started indoors between March to June.Different seeds take different lengths of time to germinate, so it is always worth checking how long it typically takes. Some are quick to germinate, taking 1-2 weeks at most, such as chillies, beans, sunflowers and pumpkins. Some seeds take more like 2-4 weeks, such as mango and parsley.Wait for 8-12 Hours: Allow the seeds to sit in the water for 8 to 12 hours. You can leave them overnight for convenience. This duration softens the outer shell and primes the seeds for germination. Drain and Rinse the Seeds: After the soaking period, drain the seeds using a strainer or sieve.
What seeds not to soak before planting?
Only larger seeds with tough exterior coatings should be soaked. Tiny seeds with thin outer shells do not require soaking. Soaking tiny seeds can cause them to clump together, making them almost impossible to sow. Generally, experts advise soaking seeds before planting for between 12 and 36 hours. If you aren’t sure which is best for your seeds, you might soak some for 12 hours, others for 24, and still others for 36, and see which works better.In a bowl, cover your seeds with warm water and leave to soak for 6-24 hours. Smaller seeds and those with thinner coats need the shorter time, and larger seeds with thicker coats need the longer period. Some seeds will naturally float, and some will stay below the surface.Place your seeds in this solution and let them soak for about 30 minutes- 1 hour. After soaking, rinse the seeds with clean water before planting them in your seed starting mix. Just make sure not to keep your seeds in the hydrogen peroxide for too long, as it can potentially damage the seeds!Until seeds have sprouted, keep the seed bed moist, never allowing it to dry out. Water with a fine-spray hose nozzle or watering can which will provide a fine misty spray and not wash away the soil. Water often enough (usually about once a day) so that the soil surface never dries out, but remains constantly moist.
Should you soak sunflower seeds before planting?
Sunflower seeds don’t need to be soaked before planting—after all, the seeds split easily—but soaking them for 12 to 24 hours will hasten germination and increase the number of seeds that sprout. They should germinate. I’ve known them germinate in three days, but somewhere between a week and a fortnight. They’re quite easy to germinate sunflowers, but as soon as they do, germinate, take them out of the bag or take the propagator off and let them grow on for a few days.Put it on a warm, sunny windowsill. They should germinate. I’ve known them germinate in three days, but somewhere between a week and a fortnight. They’re quite easy to germinate sunflowers, but as soon as they do, germinate, take them out of the bag or take the propagator off and let them grow on for a few days.
Is it better to sow seeds at night or morning?
Sow seeds early in the morning so the water has enough time to permeate the soil and get warm throughout the day. You can do it in the evening but make sure the seed flats stay warm overnight. Keep sown seeds away from direct sunlight and keep at a temperature of 75F-90F degrees—double check for specific seeds. Soaking can accelerate germination and increase the proportion of seeds that successfully germinate. Seeds have evolved a protective coating around the embryo so the embryo can survive being dispersed by some means. The coating protects the seeds until they find themselves in a suitable place to grow into a new plant.Drying out—even briefly—can stop growth. If you’re direct sowing seeds (planting them outdoors), water at least once a day. In hot, dry, or windy climates, you may need to water 2–3 times daily to keep the soil from drying out.Only larger seeds with tough exterior coatings should be soaked. Tiny seeds with thin outer shells do not require soaking. Soaking tiny seeds can cause them to clump together, making them almost impossible to sow.The decision to treat seeds with hot water varies greatly. While many types of seeds do benefit from soaking in hot water, others may suffer from the process. For example, large seeds like corn and pumpkins should not be soaked, as the process will damage and drastically reduce germination of the seed.
Should I soak seeds before planting?
It is traditional to soak some seeds before planting them. Soaking can accelerate germination and increase the proportion of seeds that successfully germinate. Seeds have evolved a protective coating around the embryo so the embryo can survive being dispersed by some means. For seeds to germinate, you need to keep the growing soil damp but not too wet. Learning how to water seedlings is pivotal for success. Many seed starters cover the container to keep soil moist until seeds germinate. Once seeds sprout, do not miss a watering.Many native seeds need to have a winter period of cold moist temperatures to break dormancy and germinate. Not all native seeds require this cold period for germination, but every seed can be sown outdoors in the fall or winter.Seeds remain dormant or inactive until conditions are right for germination. All seeds need water, oxygen, and proper temperature in order to germinate. Some seeds require proper light also. Some germinate better in full light while others require darkness to germinate.Spring is an ideal time for direct sowing many seeds, but some can be sown during summer and autumn. Check seed packets for the recommended times of when to sow outdoors. Seeds can be sown directly in drills (rows) or broadcast (scattered over the soil surface).