From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Lodi, California

Hi,

I have always been worried about soaking seeds for several hours. I have had seeds with cavities that simply have filled up with water and not germinate. I just germinated a batch of 5 test seeds and have had 100% germination using soil as the germinating medium, and I did not soak the seeds. When you have a really important seed, is it absolutely nessisary to soak them in peroxcide? thanks!

3/11/2014 8:09:36 PM

Bethlehem CT

I have never soaked my AG seeds. They go right into the soil as you describe.

3/11/2014 8:40:12 PM

Colorado

I always soak.A 5 hour soak insures the seed is hydrated. . Then I use potting soil that is well wrung out-I've had great success with that combination for many years.

3/13/2014 1:06:03 PM

East Jordan, MI

practice until you find something that works for you, and practice until you are successful most of the time. If you are unsuccessful, cut the seed open and see if you can find out why it didn't sprout.

We always soak our seeds in 30 mins in peroxide and 6 hours in 1 tsp of kelp per cup of water and then plant in soilless starting media kept at 89 degrees with no issues. As cojoe said, it hydrates the seed (speeding up germinating process)

In my opinion, if the seed cavity "filled up with water and not germinate" it was not a viable seed or there is something else wrong with your germination process.
How deep are you filing them?
What are you soaking them in?
How are you regulating the heat?
What is the temp?
Is the heat from the bottom only (heat mat)?
Are you trapping humidity in the seeds environment?
How wet is the media?

3/13/2014 7:42:41 PM

Stanwood, Washington

It seems to me that you would need to have the soil awfully wet in order to get the seed to hydrate if you didn't soak it first. Wet soil has always been a problem for me when germinating because the seeds can rot. I get pretty much 100% germination with my incubation chamber and soaking for 4 hours. and then planting in moist (not wet) planting mix.

4/1/2014 1:03:30 PM

Portland, OR

peroxide & Kelp. What else have you soaked your seeds in?
I heard Azos too. Anyone try this?

2/14/2016 11:19:59 PM