How to Use a Food Dehydrator to Germinate Seeds

An important step in seed germination is the drying process, as too much moisture can potentially cause the seed to rot when planted. You must be careful when drying seeds, however, as too much heat can potentially sterilize the seeds and eliminate the chance of germination. A food dehydrator can be used to efficiently dry seeds of all types and prepare them for the germination process. The average temperature of a food dehydrator is too high for seeds, though, so you must stray from the regular dehydrator instructions to get good results.

Aluminum foil
Thermometer

Instructions

- 1
  Extract the seeds from the plants and rinse them clean. All traces of flesh from the fruit or seed pod should be removed from the seed for best results.
- 2
  Line the tray of the food dehydrator with aluminum foil to ensure the seeds don't fall through the slots. If the seeds are much larger than the slots, you do not need to use the aluminum foil.
- 3
  Place the seeds on the food dehydrator tray. Spread the seeds out so they aren't piled on top of each other. If the dehydrator has multiple trays, use the tray closest to the heating element.
- 4
  Turn on the food dehydrator and keep the lid or door open. Check the temperature every two hours while you're awake to ensure it stays around 100 degrees F. Close the lid for 30 minutes if you need to increase the heat or unplug the food dehydrator for 30 minutes if you need to decrease the heat.
- 5
  Remove the seeds after they feel completely dry, usually after one or two days. The seeds should not feel soft or have any noticeable trace of moisture when you squeeze them.
- 6
  Place the seeds between two sheets of moist paper towel. Seal the paper towel in a sealable sandwich bag and put it in the refrigerator until the seeds germinate. Depending on the seeds, this can take anywhere from a couple days to over six months.

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