Why seeds do not germinate

It needs to be loose, allowing the moisture to easily reach the seed and for the seed to move as it grows without spending lots of energy in moving the soil to reach the surface. Keep seed packets in a cool dry place. Do not store in your garage, potting shed or near a heat source such as a heater or appliance. Review the seed packets individual instructions and develop a planting schedule based on your local weather and growing season. Re-seal any seed packets that you are starting indoors, such as pepper, eggplant, and tomatoes.

This will allow you to start more seeds later if you want to stagger your plantings, etc. It may be better to over plant and then share plant starts with neighbor and friends, than to under plant and be caught short.

Download the Terroir Seeds Garden Journal to get a jump start on tracking your garden this year. And finally, a few questions to answer to help us help you in determining what went wrong and how to correct it:. Did you follow the germination instructions on the seed packet? Go back and read them again; we sometime spend hours in researching and experimenting to find the best methods, temperatures, etc.

What was the soil temperature? Not the air temperature, but the soil temperature? Were there fluctuations? If so, how much? Not knowing this is a critical error that is a major cause of seed germination failure. For seed starting, the soil needs to be damp to the touch. You should be able to see a small pad of moisture on your fingertip after you lightly touch the soil. What seed starting mix are you using — a complete soil, Miracle-Gro mix.

Are the seeds still physically in the ground? Once you have answered these questions, we can help you determine what has prevented your seeds from germinating. More often than not you will know what to change just from reading this. Just love your articles. Thank you for sharing your pertinent knowledge for growing healthy vegetables.

I work for a seed company mainly ornamentals and spend much time answering horticultural questions from customers on the phone. Your article gives me added confidence that I am asking the right questions of those folks whose seed starting experiences have failed. So frequently, I find that people fail to read the printed instructions on the seed packet, and just assume that whatever they do will work. They expect every seed to behave in the same way, expect tender heat lovers to pop up in a few days in cold soil and conversely, cool season types to germinate and grow well in warm summer conditions.

I also have spent much time testing seed varieties for optimum germination conditions. Sometimes more than one cold stratification protocol will work, but just one will produce the best results.

It is also important to keep them out of overheated areas so that they don't dry out. Store the seeds in an airtight container or packet, in a cool and dark place. Remember to read the seed packet for storage instructions. Most of the stores and nurseries sell hybrid and GMO seeds but you would like to start with heirloom and pure seeds that are GMO-free for a healthier crop as most plants are otherwise treated with pesticides and fertilizers.

Be sure to purchase seeds from a trusted seeds company or a seed bank for the best genetics. Also look out for expiry date as expired seeds may not germinate at all.

Seed dormancy is a condition in which seeds fail to germinate under optimal environmental conditions. For example, some of the seeds of plants that thrive best in spring are auto-tuned to germinate only after cold temperatures have passed. Seeds come out of their state of dormancy if their dormancy factors are broken in physical or chemical form. Seeds often might have a thick seed coat constituting physical dormancy. Many seeds have internal chemical dormancy that prevents germination.

For these seeds, keeping them in the refrigerator for a specified time period allows them to gain required oxygen levels and energy to germinate. There is special premade seed starting mixes for sowing seeds indoors available in the market.

Seed starting mixes are lightweight in nature and provide just what the seeds need in these special indoor conditions. They make it easy for the seed to receive moisture while garden soils and other potting mixes can be too heavy for the seeds at germination stage. You can start with organic potting soil or organic seed starter mix available at AllThatGrows. While some seeds require pre-soaking, or to be scratched off their coats to break dormancy, others can be directly sown.

It is extremely important to ensure that they are planted at just the right level of depth. Wide and big seeds need to be planted deeper while others need to be at the surface because so that they can germinate with the help of light.

Overcrowding can cause various nutritional problems. Make sure that too many plants are not competing for the same limited resources by putting them together in a tight space as many shall surely lose.

When it comes to seed starting, timing is key as it involves temperature levels. Be watchful that the soil temperature is not too cold for your seeds. Similarly, the soil temperature should not be too warm otherwise the seeds are going to cook and consequently not die.

Also, make sure you are not over fertilizing the soil. While it is normal to be concerned about soil health, it is also possible to add more than that is needed. You can plant the seeds in premixes containing vermicompost that contains naturally occurring minerals. It will hold moisture and disperse it as needed for seeds to sprout. Seeds need moist soil for optimal growing conditions. Drenching the soil by over watering will deplete the needed amount of oxygen in the soil and rot the seeds.

But you can also not cover the soil into sand by not watering enough for they need water to germinate. Seeds need to absorb enough water to start the germination process, but too much and it can rot out. Use a soil moisture meter if you are having difficulty with this task, or alter the soil mixture to provide the right balance. The Fix: While trying to germinate seeds, the key to success is to keep the soil moist, not too dry or wet.

Keep the growing medium evenly moist by monitoring it often. Related Best Garden Sprayers. Seeds need to be high enough that the sprout can quickly reach the surface and the light it needs to begin photosynthesis. The Fix: Plant seeds to the depth recommendation on the packet.

Planting seeds often means they are close to the surface, where birds and small critters like squirrels or mice can help themselves once they discover the stash. The Fix: If pests are a common nuisance during the germination stage, drape a mesh fabric over your seedbeds to prevent birds or animals digging them out until they sprout.

If you cover seeds tightly with dense soil, you cut off the oxygen that the seed requires to germinate. Even heavy rain can compact the soil over your seeds, and when it dries can form a crusty barrier. Both can be improved by adding plenty of organic matter such as well rotted manure or homemade compost. On wet soils this will improve drainage and air circulation, while on dry soils organic matter acts as a sponge, holding water in the soil for longer.

If no instructions are provided, the size of the seed gives a good indicator of how deep to sow it. Very small seeds such as begonia and lettuce only need a light covering of sieved compost or vermiculite. Larger seeds like sunflowers and beans need to be sown several centimetres beneath the surface. As a general rule of thumb, most seeds should be planted at a depth of 3 to 4 times their own width.

Did the seed packet mention pre-chilling, chipping, scarifying or soaking? You can find a full description of different techniques in our specialised sowing information article.

Mice and birds love to dig them up for an easy snack. Protect your seeds with cloches, chicken wire or netting to give them time to germinate safely. If you use netting, secure it carefully to avoid entangling birds.

For a quick recap on how to sow seeds correctly, read our seed sowing guide. Transferring delicate seedlings from seed trays to individual pots provides each seedling with the space, light and nutrients it needs to develop into a strong, healthy plant. As a rule of thumb, most seedlings can be pricked out when the first true adult leaves show i.

Simply lift one or two seedlings out of the tray with a dibber and take a look. If the roots are still very tiny then postpone pricking out for a few more days. Delays in pricking out, especially for fast growers like tomatoes, can lead to competition for light and nutrients. If left for too long, your seedlings will start to look sickly as the nutrients in the soil are depleted.

This can cause a significant check in their growth even after pricking them out. Your delicate seedlings can be easily bruised and damaged so you should never handle them by the root or stem.