Tricks how to speed up seed germination

Germinating seeds in advance is beneficial and now it is the time to start growing certain plants right at home. If you only rely on seedlings bought in store, you limit your options what you can grow. Seeds germination may sometimes be hard. There are many things that can help or slow the process down. These tricks usually include herbal infusions, soaking seeds in water before sowing, etc. We shall take a look at these tips in more detail.

Seed soaking

The reason why you should soak seeds is simple. Water washes away growth inhibitors that seeds contain. These substances are created by nature to protect seeds from early germination. You do not want seeds sprout after the first light rain. Think how long it takes for seeds to get in the ground and germinate naturally. Soaking tells seeds that there is a constant supply of water and that they can start germinate. Soaking accelerates the process. Soaking seeds in an herbal infusion is better than water.

Photo: Pixabay

Which herbs are best?

Well, there are many suitable herbs and you can even mix them together to “tailor” the infusion to your needs. Let us start with chamomile. It can eliminate various bacteria and fungi that tend to form on seeds. Chamomile works very well with peas, lentils, beans and other legumes. Thyme, hyssop and oregano are other excellent herbs for infusions, but you should not forget the following:

• nettle dioecious,
• orange peel,
• dandelion,
• valerian and others.

An excellent choice is (Equisetum) known as “horse hair”, which gives seeds silicon. Silicic acid provides excellent protection for potatoes.

Photo: Pixabay

Making infusion

The infusion must be strong and you will need a plenty of herbs. More than if you do infusion for your own use. For example, you need 1 tablespoon of chamomile flowers and 1 dcl of boiling water to make it strong. Let the mixture infuse and cool. When done, soak seeds for about an hour. The bigger the seeds, the longer the soaking time. For example, you should soak peas and beans for up to 4 hours. The same goes for cucumbers and for plants belonging to the Brassicaceae family. Some of these you can soak for up to a day. Pepper, tomato, onions, celery or carrot seeds should soak for two days.

Source: living.iprima.cz, zahradkarskaporadna.cz

Preview photo: Pixabay