You are probably already planning the next gardening year during the winter months and are thinking about which of the many seed bags you have collected still contains germinable seeds. Unfortunately, how many of the seeds will actually sprout cannot be seen from the small grains. In order to avoid disappointment, it is recommended to check germination before sowing.
How can I check the germination of seeds?
To test the germination of seeds, place ten seeds of each variety on moistened kitchen roll, note the varieties, stretch cling film over the plate, place it in a bright, warm place and keep the seeds moist. Check germination after a few days.
Check the germination rate
If you sow seeds with poor germination, no seedlings will appear and the work will be in vain. You lose valuable time and at the end of the gardening year you may have to forgo re-cultivation.
You can easily check how well the seeds will sprout:
- On a flat plate, spread out a sheet of kitchen roll and moisten it well.
- Place ten seeds of each type of seed.
- Note where you placed which seeds. Alternatively, you can label waterproof stickers, for example cut from an empty tetra pack, and place them next to the corresponding seeds.
- Cover the plate with cling film into which you poke a few holes.
- Place in a bright, warm place and keep the seeds evenly moist.
- For cold germination plants, choose a cool place, for example in front of the cellar window.
- After a few days the first cotyledons should appear.
If only half of the seeds germinate, their germination capacity is low. In this case, it is advisable to sow significantly more. You should discard seed packets where less than half have sprouted.
How to store seeds correctly?
If the seeds lose their ability to germinate very quickly, incorrect storage is often to blame. You should always store seeds in a dry and cool place, for example in the basement. Do not expose the seeds to light under any circumstances. Opaque, lockable containers in which you place the bags are ideal.
Tip
With a few exceptions, the germination ability of seeds decreases sharply per year of storage. As a guide, the seed bags also contain a best-before date as well as the filling date, which, however, only applies to the sealed bag.
