Soaking vegetable seeds in water before planting
I am about to plant some vegetable seeds (okra) and someone suggested to soak the seeds overnight or for couple of days before planting, to get it to grow quicker. I was just wondering if anybody has any good or bad experience of this.
- rainbowgardener
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Yes, I do that. Especially the big guys like okra and beans, just because tiny carrot seeds are too had to handle wet! I think its beneficial. One time I did a small experiment and soaked some, and planted some dry. The soaked ones had a full day or two ahead of the others!
I would think a few days though would definitely ferment, or start sprouting.
I would think a few days though would definitely ferment, or start sprouting.
As mentioned above soaking does help with some of the harder seeds to germinate. Scarifying also helps to let the water in. Not all seeds are hard to germinate. It helps to make sure that the soil or media you are using are well dampened first and that once the seeds are planted they are not allowed to dry out or get over watered.
Coriander, morning glory, some tree seeds benefit from soaking or scarifying before planting. Other seeds need to be conditioned by chilling (many bulbs need chilling), and some will not germinate unless they have been exposed to fire like many forest trees.
Trees like sandalwood are parasitic and the seeds won't germinate and survive without a host plant.
Coriander, morning glory, some tree seeds benefit from soaking or scarifying before planting. Other seeds need to be conditioned by chilling (many bulbs need chilling), and some will not germinate unless they have been exposed to fire like many forest trees.
Trees like sandalwood are parasitic and the seeds won't germinate and survive without a host plant.
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