Are you just starting to grow from seed? That’s ok! It’s a great time to start! Growing from seed is a wonderful option for people who love gardening. All those seedlings can add up in price, and oftentimes there is a whole world of variety available to people who grow from seed. If you’re just getting started, and even if you’ve been growing from seeds for a while, it’s a good idea to soak seeds before planting. This can have a dramatic effect on your germination rate and overall success with gardening!
Soaking seeds supplies your plants a jump start right at the beginning of their lives. The water both softens the seed shell and supplies water to the seed interior. Once soaked, seeds and the plants inside them use that moisture to grow and push out new growth.
By soaking seeds before planting, especially in a well-lit place, you’re mimicking the rainy weather and light conditions that seeds in nature would be exposed to. The difference is that you’re doing it in a bowl on your counter instead of outside in the elements. If possible, expose your soaking seeds to some warmth as well, warm enough for a cozy room, but not too much that it would be too hot to touch.
