Seed saving is an easy way to grow your favorite plants from year to year. It saves money and you are certain to grow what you know will do well in your garden.
Use this simple method to find out how well your seeds will germinate, and know approximately how many seeds you should plant to get the total seedlings you need.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 5 minutes to create, 2 days to germinate
Here's How:
- Count out a number of seeds. I use 5 if I only have a few, 10 if I have plenty.
- Moisten a piece of paper towel and fold into fourths.
- Open the paper towel in half and place your seeds neatly on towel.
- Place moistened towel into a plastic bag. Seal the bag.
- Label the plastic bag with date and name of seed variety.
- Place sealed bag in a warm area. I use the top of my refrigerator for convenience.
- Check seeds after 24 and then 48 hours. Count how many seeds have germinated.
- Use this number as your percentage of viability. For instance, if 5 out of 10 seeds germinated, you have 50 percentage viability.
- For low viability seeds, be sure to over seed to make up for the seeds that probably will not germinate.
Tips:
- Test seeds for viability every year. Mold and mildew can prohibit growth.
- If your herb seeds are particularly scarce, carefully germinate them in the same way and use these sprouted seeds as starters. Handle the fragile sprouted seeds carefully and do not crush the new root.
What You Need
- Herb seeds
- Paper towel
- Water
- Plastic bag
- Warm location for germinating
