Extension | Germinating Seeds (2024)

FAQs

What to do when seeds get leggy? ›

You can lower the temperature, increase the light, water appropriately, and thin them out. If you're just getting started, use these tips to prevent leggy seedlings and get your plants off to a healthy start. Then, they'll be strong for their transition into the outdoor garden.

Before planting outside, wait until your seeds have sprouted their second set of leaves (known as true leaves), and the temperature is above 55°F. Check the seed packet for the exact ideal planting temperature for the fruit, vegetable, or flower you are working with.

It's time to transplant your seedlings! Try to transplant when it's cloudy so plants don't face a full day of direct sun right away. For each plant, use a hand trowel to dig a hole just deep enough for the root ball to fit. Or, dig slightly deeper if you're planning to partially bury any leggy stems.

Consequences of Leggy Seedlings

A leggy growth habit doesn't mean your plants are dying, but it does suggest a few future problems. "For vegetables, legginess can result in delayed fruiting and reduced yield," says Carrie Spoonemore, co-creator of Park Seed's From Seed to Spoon app.

Soaking them before you plant accelerates germination, which young seedlings will appreciate. Bottom heat and proper moisture levels create strong growth.

Sesame or Til seeds are not used as sprouts, while Chana (chick pea), Masoor (red lentil) and Moong are used as sprouts.

Soil sprouts, as you already know by now, is my own descriptive term for sprouts grown in soil. They are grown in soil versus in jars. They are grown for the stem and seed leaf, like sprouts, but not the root. The trick to getting a productive crop is forcing the seeds in the dark for 4 days.

Planting seeds this way is called direct sowing, and it is an easy process that yields great results. Unlike indoor seed starting, direct sowing involves unpredictable elements: weather, wildlife and insects. Even so, many vegetables, annuals, herbs and perennials sprout easily from seed sown directly into garden soil.

The seeds you shouldn't soak include: carrots, lettuce, radish, celery, turnips, and spinach. Listen to Cathy Isom's This Land of Ours program here.

Germinate seeds on a paper towel to hasten the process. Yellow squash seeds germinate easily on a damp paper towel.

How do you plant seeds that have already sprouted? ›

Gently cover the sprout and seed with potting mix to a depth of the width of the seed. Very little mix needs to be over the sprout. Use a spray bottle to lightly wet down the surface of the seed cell. Continue to spray and keep the potting mix moist but not wet.

It's really easy to stop a plant becoming leggy, or to help it stop creating more leggy growth: put it somewhere with the right level of light. If a plant has become leggy, move it a little bit closer to a window. Don't take it right from deep shade to bright sun – this will cause shock – but move it gradually.

If you covered the seed with a hefty layer of soil they just might be planted too deep and can't find their way to the surface. I suggest resowing, but try this. Wet the soil in the pot. Next, rough it up using a small hand rake, or even your fingers, making fairly shallow furrows in the soil.

If you pinch out the terminal bud, and thus the auxin, side shoots will grow. This results in bushy, many-branched plants and eventually more flowers and fruit.

Use a scissors to snip out any weak or crowded seedlings. Remaining plants will have room to develop properly, without having their roots disturbed.