Well, What is The Best Way to Germinate Herb Seedlings?
It is true that you don’t have to germinate your seedlings prior to planting them in your soil; However, the best and most effective method to speed up the germination process is to simply soak your seeds of choice in warm water. Soak your seeds for 12 to 24 hours before planting them in the soil. This allows the outer shell of each seed to become soft before you plant them. Causing them to sprout a little easier which then increases the seeds germination rates. Although some herbs can endure longer soaking periods, it’s best to not soak them longer than 48 hours. The seedlings could become too saturated in water causing them to become no good. The herbs that would benefit from this method the most would be Parsley and Coriander.
How to Germinate Seeds in A Paper Towel
When starting my indoor bunching onion garden, I germinated my seeds in a damp paper towel. To do this, just wet two different pieces of paper towel separately. Place the seeds on one individual damp paper towel and spread them out evenly. Then lay the second damp paper towel on top of the paper towel with the seeds. Once that is done, begin to gently fold the paper towels together and place them in a zip-lock bag and close the bag. And that’s it!
Using this method allows the bag to act like a greenhouse because it retains its own heat and moisture. Within 5-7 days you should start to see some sprouts!
What Herb Seeds Germinate the Fastest?
In terms of germination speed, basil is one of the fastest herbs. Since basil is sensitive to cold weather, make sure the temperature remains above 50F (10C) when you plant basil seeds. It takes about 10-14 days for basil seeds to sprout at 75-85°F in the soil. Mid- to late May is a good time to transplant after the frost has passed. Transplants take approximately 4-6 weeks to fully grow to size.
When to Plant Your Herb Seeds After Germination
Growing herbs takes patience! Germination takes two to four weeks for seeds on average, but some herbs can germinate more rapidly. In most cases, 70°F is the ideal temperature for germination. Start your seeds with a heat mat if you keep your thermostat lower.
When you germinate herb seedlings they will sprout radicles which is the little white tail shown here. When you they start to appear that’s when you know it’s time to start planting your seedlings. It’s best to place the seeds with the radical facing downwards towards the soil. This saves your seeds the extra effort and time needed to redirect themselves to start sprouting out of the soil.
Can Herb Seeds Expire?
What is the chance of expired seeds growing?
Well, the outcome is pretty high. Plants grown from expired seed packets will grow to produce healthy and fruitful harvests, just as their younger counterparts. You can use seeds that have expired for six years. However, if you are unsure if your expired seeds are no good. You can try a germination test.
One of these germination tests you can try is a float test. This test work best for large seeds such as corn, peas, tomatoes, and peppers. This test won’t work well for seeds such as lettuce, basil, green onions, and other similar sized seedlings.
So, what is a Float test?
A float test is a common way to determine if your seeds in question are still good or not.
How is this test done?
Well, it’s fairly simple and easy. All you need is an empty container, your seeds and some water. Fill your container with plenty of water. Then place your seeds in the water and wait 15 minutes. After 15 minutes go by, check to see which seeds have sunk to the bottom of your container and which are continuing to float. The ones that float are considered to be bad seeds. The seeds that sink are your healthy seeds ready to be planted.
Since the float test isn’t reliable if you’re looking to germinate small herb seedlings, the paper towel method is one of the best ways to see if your herb seeds a viable or not.
And That’s Everything!
The 3 top germination methods are the paper towel method, the float test, and soaking your seeds before you plant them. Trying these three methods can help you grow your very own successful herb garden!
Want to Learn How to Grow Spinach indoors?
This leafy green is a chilling-tolerant crop, making it a good choice for indoor growing during the winter months. Plus, it’s one of the fastest-growing leafy greens, which means you can enjoy a continuous harvest of spinach all year long!
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