Seed Soaking Method

popepaul · March 7, 2006

I have a few old Brandywine, Mutate seeds that Craig sent me that I plan to soak for 24hr before planting. I was planning on using tap water with a pinch of MG.

Since this is the first time I have needed to soak seeds, what is the best method? Should I put them in a container of water to soak or should I wet paper towels and put the seeds in the paper towel layers inside a baggie?

Thanks,
Paul

**carolyn137** · March 7, 2006

Paul,

There are as many ways to do it as there are folks who do it, I imagine.

I just posted today in the thread Bully started about Teacher Mike seeds what I do and I'll repeat it here if you didn't see that.

Craig and I have tried many ways to wake up old seeds and after trying many of them here's what I do.

Soak the seeds o/n in water, not towels, to which you've added a few drops of fish or seaweed prep or a pinch of blue stuff such as MG, Peters, etc.

BE sure to poke the seeds down so they sink and don't float and that may take some time.

What the added stuff does is to up the nitrate concentration since that ion is known to be involved in seed germination.

Then just sow your seeds. I also water the seeds with water to which I've added those additives.

Depending on seed age and the degree of dehydration it can take anywheres from a few weeks out to a couple of months, if indeed there are any viable seeds there.

SelfSufficient1 · March 7, 2006

I was going to come on and ask how long to soak them. 24 hours is good?

Suze · March 7, 2006

I was going to come on and ask how long to soak them. 24 hours is good?

Anywhere from overnight to 24 to even 48 hours is a good window of time to soak. However, once you get past a few days or so with either the 'baggie' method or soaking, bacteria can build up. Not good (see also: major stankfest). At the least, one would need to change out the water or paper towel/ziplock at some point. Plus, I haven't found that it's of any additional benefit to soak longer.

I generally only consider soaking seeds if I think they might be four + years old.

SelfSufficient1 · March 8, 2006

Ok thanks!

March 7, 2006	#1
popepaul Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Boise, ID - Zone 6b Posts: 41	Seed Soaking Method I have a few old Brandywine, Mutate seeds that Craig sent me that I plan to soak for 24hr before planting. I was planning on using tap water with a pinch of MG. Since this is the first time I have needed to soak seeds, what is the best method? Should I put them in a container of water to soak or should I wet paper towels and put the seeds in the paper towel layers inside a baggie? Thanks, Paul

March 7, 2006	#2
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	Paul, There are as many ways to do it as there are folks who do it, I imagine. I just posted today in the thread Bully started about Teacher Mike seeds what I do and I'll repeat it here if you didn't see that. Craig and I have tried many ways to wake up old seeds and after trying many of them here's what I do. Soak the seeds o/n in water, not towels, to which you've added a few drops of fish or seaweed prep or a pinch of blue stuff such as MG, Peters, etc. BE sure to poke the seeds down so they sink and don't float and that may take some time. What the added stuff does is to up the nitrate concentration since that ion is known to be involved in seed germination. Then just sow your seeds. I also water the seeds with water to which I've added those additives. Depending on seed age and the degree of dehydration it can take anywheres from a few weeks out to a couple of months, if indeed there are any viable seeds there. __________________ Carolyn

March 8, 2006	#5
SelfSufficient1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 188	Ok thanks! __________________ I could spend all day here!

March 7, 2006	#4
Suze Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 3,027	I was going to come on and ask how long to soak them. 24 hours is good? Anywhere from overnight to 24 to even 48 hours is a good window of time to soak. However, once you get past a few days or so with either the 'baggie' method or soaking, bacteria can build up. Not good (see also: major stankfest). At the least, one would need to change out the water or paper towel/ziplock at some point. Plus, I haven't found that it's of any additional benefit to soak longer. I generally only consider soaking seeds if I think they might be four + years old.