Though we usually associate gardening with the (late Spring &) Summer months of the year- Winter and early Spring are a great time for garden preparation. Besides planning your garden layout, ordering seeds, fertilizer and soil, testing the germination of your existing seeds is just as important! I have for you today the best germination test that works on most all seeds! Keep reading to learn how to make sure your seeds are in working order for the garden this year!
Germination Test that works on most seed varieties!
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Checklist of Necessary Supplies:
Let’s Start with Seed Type…
Many people say you can’t germinate some seed varieties with the method I am about to share but so far not one variety has been impossible. I have done beans, melon seeds, lemon and apple seeds, squash, cucumber, and just recently started some tomato seeds. If you do this test and it doesn’t work I wouldn’t jump to the conclusion that your seeds have gone bad until you make sure this method works with the seed variety. Again- I have had no problems- but I know others are more literate than I am in gardening! So always seek advice from more than one person, especially for the success of your passions!
With this prologue and foreword in place, let’s get to germinating!
Step-by-Step Germination Seed Test:
1.) Gather supplies
The very first step is to, of course, gather supplies! You need the napkins, ziplock bags, sharpie, seeds, and water (which I simply used my faucet water, it doesn’t have to be fancy). Each item is equally as important for this, but thankful it’s a concise list!
2.) Wet the Napkins
The next step is to get your napkins (I use one and place each seed on one) and wet them under the faucet. I get mine fairly wet and then squeeze most of the water out. You don’t want to drown the seeds but a large part of the germination processes success lies within the moisture the seeds receive. Water the napkins and squeeze them slightly, that is the perfect combination for success!
3.) Place Seeds in the Napkin
Next you lay the napkins out flat and lay the seeds out on the napkin. I use one to two seeds from each variety to make sure the experiment is efficient. You can do different napkins for different species, but I generally do them all together. Just depends on how good you are at deciphering seed types, if you actually want to try to grow them, or if you are simply testing them and are going to just end up letting them die or throwing them out. Some people use them, some don’t! It’s absolutely by choice!
4.) Fold Napkin over the Seeds
Making sure that they are evenly distributed along the napkin you cover them up by folding the napkin over the seeds or by wetting another napkin and using it to cover the top. I generally use one napkin. One side holds the seeds and acts as the bottom of the napkin and one side remains bare to fold over the seeds- acting as the top of the napkin.
5.) Ziplock the Seeds
Next you put the napkin in a ziplock. Make sure no seeds fall out and that they are still covered well on all sides by a napkin. The next step is to zip the bag off of the way but not all the way. I either fold the top of the bag over without zipping at all or I zip half and leave half. This is to prevent too much oxygen/carbon dioxide and air (which dries the napkin too fast) but still provides a good amount of oxygen/carbon dioxide that helps cultivate and germinate seeds. If I close it all the way it doesn’t allow for new air or air flow which often caused moisture build up and mold.
6.) Put The Bag in a Dark Place
The last step for this half of the journey is to place the bag in a dark place- totally dark to leave it. This could be a drawer, cabinet, closet- I use my kitchen drawers. This will be the germination bag’s home, only small care is necessary after this point.
7.) Maintenance
All you do after this is check on the bag of seeds once a day. Make sure there is moisture but not too much (the napkin will majorly discolor and it will feel gooey). After the first few days I usually take the napkin out and open it to see the seed progress. Once roots begin to grow I leave the seed for a few more days and then plant it in soil! At this point you know that your seeds are still good! If they don’t germinate (and you have tried more than one seed from that bag as an mentioned) after a week or two (or if they get moldy, gooey, or gross, you can begin to assume they aren’t good. Though it is always best to get more opinions, as I mentioned before!
Again, you don’t have to keep these plants but I always do! I begin growing them indoors because I check my seeds early in the year, and use them for experiments, or to simply test their durability indoors during the cold months. The more we can learn to grow seeds during the colder months in seasons with smaller Summer seasons and harsher Winters the easier it is to begin implementing local and/or urban agriculture to areas that lack such amenities!
I hope you enjoyed the read on a simple and easy germination test, and have fun gardening! Subscribe for more and comment your tips and tricks!
