Guide to Seed Growing

General

• Surround the seeds with an evenly moist growing medium and keep it moist. The seeds germinate after a period specific to the type of seed.

Planting Depth

• Plant most seeds at three times their diameter. For a pea, this would be about 3/4 inches deep. Poppy seeds are so small they can be sprinkled on the surface and misted with water to press them into the soil.

Moisture

• Most seeds germinate when the soil around them is kept evenly moist. Some seeds do best if the soil dries and becomes moist again.

Time Frame

• Seeds germinate as quickly as a few hours or may take years depending on the plant. Seed packets usually have information on germination times.

Stratification

• The process of giving certain seeds a cold period before germination is called stratification. This is the natural process of waiting for winter to end to start growing in the spring.

Scarification

• Some plant seeds require damage to the seed coat before they will grow. Nicking or scuffing the seed coat allows moisture to penetrate. This is called scarification.