Four Seed Needs For the Best Germination

A high seed germination rate, due to proper seed needs being met, means you didn’t waste your time, effort, money, or space to start growing new plants.

Whether you are starting seeds in the spring, summer, fall, or winter, you need to know these four seed needs for a high germination rate.

Of course, you’ll need seed starting supplies if you’re sowing indoors like seed starting soil, trays, cell packs, a heating mat (or many), and a thermostat (see below for links). For outdoor seed sowing, you need fewer supplies but the soil and outside temperatures have to be just right. 

Also, you’ll need a seed planting tool to plant seeds correctly, including the right depth. Lots of people use either one chopstick or a butter knife, but there are gardeners getting to know a new seed sowing tool called The Little Dibby.

This tool has graduated seed depth markings built into it to take planting depth guessing out of the equation and raise your germination rates. Check it out at our Etsy Shop here for more info!

Now, on to the four seed needs for your best seed starting year yet!

The Four Seed Needs

You already know that plants, in general, need light, air, water, and optimal temperatures to grow and thrive in your garden.

And plants differ greatly between these needs, but what do seeds need to actually germinate and start growing to develop into their mature size for flowers or vegetables?

It’s not that different from what plants generally need. You need to just think about it in a different way.

First, though, what is seed germination?

Seed germination is when a seed receives all the requirements it needs to wake up and start the growing process. This means a seed needs four specific things; to be planted at the right depth (light or no light), the right moisture, warmth, and air.

So, let’s look at each one of these and discuss why they are important for seed germination.

1. Seed Planting Depth

   1. This pertains to seeds sown directly on the surface of the soil or sown below the soil surface.

   2. If they aren’t planted at the right depth to get the right amount of light, then they will have a harder time germinating or waking up. A general rule for seed sowing is that the smaller the seed size, the closer to the soil surface it will need to be sown or on top, like poppy, tomato, and petunia seeds.

   3. The larger the seed size, the deeper it will need to be placed below the soil surface, like sunflower, okra, and nasturtium seeds. It comes down to how plants evolved and to best survive in an evolving world with flooding, volcanoes, inland seas, snow, change of seasons, and climate change, to summarize quickly. So, make sure to read your seed packet sowing instructions so you plant your seeds at the right depth.

   4. Also, to consistently plant your seeds at the right depth, use a seed dibbler, like The Little Dibby, with its graduated seed depth markings.

2. Moisture

   1. Seeds have evolved over time to germinate and grow under the most optimal conditions to begin the waking-up process.

   2. Moisture needs to be in constant contact with the outside of the seed to soften the seed coat so the seed’s emerging root can grow out and start taking in water for the seed to keep growing and then emerge out of the surface of the soil.

   3. If the surrounding soil is too dry and not consistently kept wet, the seed won’t be triggered to start waking up. Also, if the soil around the seed is kept too wet and it is sitting in water more than soil, then the seed will rot. So, it’s important to have that moisture level just right to keep water around the seed and soil moist, but not too wet all the time.

   4. Pro-Tip: Using a spritzing water bottle can be very helpful to keep the soil around newly sown seeds the right moisture level. If you use a watering can or basic hose to water your seeds, there is a very high risk you will not only overwater your seeds, but will also move the soil around and dislodge seeds from their correct planting depth. The spritzing water bottle is very useful to help keep seeds moist.

3. Warmth

   1. Temperature plays a huge role in when a seed starts to germinate and grow.

   2. Most seeds will start to germinate anywhere from 60-75 degrees (F), whereas cold season plants, like lettuce, radishes, snapdragons, and others will germinate at lower temperatures.

   3. So, with the right light levels and moisture around the seed, the temperature is another piece of the seed-germination puzzle to trigger a seed to start growing.

   4. Using a heating mat with a thermostat, you can help your seeds stay at the best germination temperature. They come in different configurations and sizes, so be sure to pick the right ones for your specific needs and growing space.

4. Air 

   1. You wouldn’t know it, but seeds actually do breathe, just really slowly. Especially once they have been sown at the correct planting depth, given the proper amount of moisture, and placed at the right temperature, they start to grow and develop where they need air.

   2. This is the final piece to having the best germination rates. You need to make sure you have sown your seeds in media or soil that not only holds onto moisture but also drains well to have open-air in its pore spaces so each seed isn’t sitting in muddy or mucky soil and rots.

   3. That’s why you need to pick great seed starting soil to sow your seeds in.

And there are the four seed needs to have the best germination rates: seed planting depth, proper moisture, proper warmth, and air. 

Make sure to check out our Amazon shop page and click on the Plant Propagation Picture to see the different seed starting supplies we recommend you get started with.

Want to Know More About The Little Dibby?

Seed Sowing Hack in Under 60 Seconds

Conclusion

There is always more to learn and seed sowing is only one way to propagate plants. Knowing these basics of seed needs to have the best germination possible will help you level up your seed sowing and plant growing skills.

It’s also one of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to grow new plants. Plus, it’s the natural way plants have evolved over millions of years on our planet. To be a part of that is very exciting and very fun!

We hope you gained some good gardening information from our article and don’t hesitate to email us at seanandallison@spokengarden.com with any questions you might have.

Thank you for reading and we’ll see ya in the garden!