Does the Way You Plant a Seed Affect Its Growth?

Ample Water

• Like a dry sponge, a seed will begin to soak up large quantities of water when it becomes available. Some seeds expand to double their size, taking up water between cell walls. This gives the embryo the water it needs to begin to develop and grow. It's important to make sure seeds stay sufficiently moist during the germination process. If you allow a seed to dry out before germination takes place, the seed will desiccate and the embryo inside will die.

Optimum Temperature

• Temperature plays an important role in regulating when a seed will germinate. Most seeds require a soil temperature between 77 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit before germination can begin. When planting seeds inside, provide bottom heat by placing pots on top of a radiator or refrigerator to warm the soil. Warming up the soil with black plastic prior to planting seeds outside also increases germination rates.

Depth

• A general rule of thumb is to plant the seed twice as deep as it is wide. A seed is equipped with everything it needs inside to survive until the first set of leaves, called cotyledons, can photosynthesize and produce food. The size of the seed is directly related to how much food it contains. If a seed is planted too deep, it will run out of reserve food.

Well-Aerated Soil

• Seeds need oxygen to germinate. Without air in the soil, a seed could not "respirate." Oxygen is used to change nutrients into smaller, more transportable units, such as sugars and amino acids. Many potting mixes have vermiculite and perlite mixed in to ensure proper air circulation and drainage. Adding organic material, such as compost, into garden soil will greatly increase air pockets that hold the precious oxygen.