Louise's Utopia: Why Aren't My Seeds Germinating?

This year I started truly becoming a gardener by growing my own seeds! It's been a process and I am learning a lot! There is so much to learn when it comes to planting a tiny little seed in the ground. The timing of the season, outside air temperature, moisture levels, age of the seeds used, seed soil depth, and sometimes the extra needs of these seeds. Needs of seeds? Yeah, they have needs. Before you purchase your seeds look around at different companies that supply seeds. Find a reputable supplier of seeds. Make sure to take note of when the seeds were packed and ensure that they are not expired. Also, check the package for information on germination time, seed depth, and moisture levels. Look for information printed on the package that is helpful to the consumer. After all, you want that seed to grow! And, contrary to the zombie apocalypse preparedness website, your seeds will not last 100 years. Yea, sorry no. The first year they may sprout. I wrote might sprout. It is not a guarantee, even with new seeds! And as the years pass and the seeds age, so will the seed's chances of germinating. Tomatoes and squash seeds are about the only vegetables that might possibly outlast the zombie growers of the future. This ticks me off because I read the zombie website. I was positive my three-year-old seeds were still very young! I think the zombies ate their brains, if seeds have brains. You should consider before planting seeds, the season you are in at your present time. It is spring. It is still cool outside in zone 4b. This time of year in zone 4b, it is the time for growing cold-loving plants such as cabbage and Brussels sprouts. They thrive in colder soil temperatures. But not the tomato seeds. Tomato plants hate the cold, and will not thrive if the air temp, soil temp, and sun are lacking. There are many things to consider when it comes to seeds. Some prefer dry weather while other seeds like humidity. Be sure to check the seed bag for the age of the seeds. Use the seeds you purchase within that year for the best germination rate. Seeds that are over a year old lose their chances of germination, quickly. Also, keep in mind when you plant the seeds, the planting depth is usually pretty shallow, about a 1/8 inch deep. Seeds should not be buried at the depth your finger can push them down! It is dark down there and hard to find the light! Some seeds even sit on top of the soil and germinate in the sun, without being buried in the dirt. There is so much information to learn about growing plants. Certain plant seeds have extra needs beyond just plopping them in the ground. Some seeds require a process called scarification. This is where you gently rub sandpaper on the seed coat or use some sort of mechanical force to scale off the outer shell of the seeds. This opens the seeds up a bit to better receive moisture and start the growing process. Sweet peas are one example of a seed that prefers this process. It mimics how seeds in nature are battered around in the wind, rubbed against gravel and sand before they finally germinate, if they germinate. Also, there is a process called stratification. This process may be mimicked with your refrigerator for 3-4 weeks. Stratification helps break the seeds down for germination. The idea is to keep a paper towel moist but not soaking wet. Place the seeds on the towel in a plastic bag inside the refrigerator. The moisture and cool air break the seed down. This enables it to grow when you put it in the dirt in the warm spring. It's pretty ingenious the things gardeners have learned! Currently, I have the cool soil plants growing. Cabbage and Brussels sprouts and those seeds are doing well. I also planted some cucumbers and eggplants. Low and behold, I forgot to check the package dates and they were three years old. Not one single seed sprouted. I doubt they will. It was a big letdown. I did learn my lesson. I will replant those inside and hope for the best. Trial and error. I am not sure how many of my seeds will germinate. But, I have hope! I am learning a lot! It is always good to identify certain things before you plant. As I noted to conclude, some areas to check are the timing of the season, temperature of the soil, moisture, the age of the seed, and the seed depth. Keep in mind soil depth is not deep down in the dirt. Also, remember the extra needs of those seeds? Do they need scarification or stratification? Those two processes are really important to some really nice plants. Here at Coteau Valley Farm, a greenhouse is in the works. However, everything is time-consuming and takes longer than I would like to see. But it is coming! Let me know how much of this mumble, jumble seed jive, you already know. Also, I know there are some folks out there. They have bags of seeds from their grandma from 1920 that just so happen to be germinating. Go ahead and rub it in, scarify it. I am growing! More and more I love gardening. Maybe that is why gardening has stuck with me for so long. I love the peace of a beautiful garden and the joy of fresh fruits and vegetables that I sowed, sitting on my plate. I know where my food came from and I know what goes into it. Water and sunshine, God does the rest. Gardening also gives us an insight into the love God has for each one of us. How He gently tends to all our individual, extra needs. It also mirrors how we are all so different. Our extra needs are far more than stratification or scarification. Yet, we are all very much alike. We all need nurturing and time to grow in our special way. Because when the spring arrives and we are planted. We need to become the beautiful plant we were intended to mature into. A plant that has a purpose and value wherever it grows. Please share this post and leave a comment. There is a plant in the garden named You, and You are beautiful to behold. Enjoy gardening!