Read about the most Common Seed Germination Mistakes You Should Avoid for healthy, quick growth of plants in your garden or pots.
Are you struggling with seed germination problems then read the most Common Seed Germination Mistakes You Should Avoid for good sprouting and healthy growth of the plants.
Common Seed Germination Mistakes and Solutions
1. Insufficient Warmth
For most vegetables, the required optimum soil temperature for seed germination is 70-80 F. The right temperature also helps in the quick germination of seeds and growth. In the absence of sufficient warmth, the growth becomes leggy, and the seed won’t germinate.
Note: Few vegetables favor cool soil around 50-60 F for germination, e.g., lettuce, peas, and onions.
Tips:
- Place the seed trays in a warm location; you can put them on top of the refrigerator or a sunny window.
- A seedling heat mat is also a good option for keeping the soil warm. Do not heat the seeds more than 95 F, as this can sterilize and kill them.
2. Planting Too Deep
Do not sow the seeds too deep in the soil, or it will be better to follow the labeled instructions. The fundamental rule to pursue is to sow seeds as deep as possible, equal to two or three times their seeds.
Tips:
- It will be best to sow the seeds too shallow than deep.
- Some seeds, like snapdragon or lettuce, need to be lightly covered.
3. Sowing Seeds at the Wrong Time
Every crop has different growing needs; some veggies, fruits, and herbs prefer the cool season, whereas some like the warm. If you sow seeds indoors too soon, you will receive crowded, large seedlings, and you must wait to plant them outside until the climate turns warm.
Here comes the question of when to start seeds.
Tips:
- The appropriate time for sowing seeds depends on your location and the type of plant.
- Read the seed package instructions or google the timing description on gardening websites.
4. Not Following the Instructions on the Package
The instructions on the seed package are quite beneficial and cannot be skipped as they include the necessary information, such as the correct time for starting seeds for a particular variety, spacing, how deep to sow the seeds, etc.
Tip:
Do not avoid reading the instructions, as many similar crop varieties have diverse needs.
5. Wrong Soil
This common mistake also hinders the seed germination process. Generally, gardeners use old soil from the garden to start seeds. This soil can affect the new seedlings from pests and diseases.
Some potting mixes lack drainage or are too dense, which can result in slow growth or seeds failing to germinate.
Tip:
- Use fresh, clean, packaged soil, which is made according to the crop you are growing.
- Packaged soil has a correct texture that encourages sprouting without the threat of pests and diseases.
6. Lack of Sufficient Light
If your seedlings are growing tall, don’t misinterpret that the growth is fine. Seedlings become tall due to poor light, and this happens when seedlings stretch for light. The result is leggy saplings that are top-heavy and weak.
Inadequate light is the most common seed-starting mistake gardeners make, as most crops require 12-16 hours of bright, direct sunlight.
Tips:
- During winter, a bright sunny window won’t work. In such a situation, give the plants supplement lighting.
- You can use grow lights or fluorescent lights.
- To fix leggy seedlings, give them long and strong light.
7. Too much or Little Watering
Excessive watering can rot seedlings, or they die as well. Seedlings don’t prefer to sit in water; they dislike soggy soil. The damp or wet conditions cause fungal disease or rot.
Too little water also makes the saplings unhealthier; they will wilt and die. Overwatering is the most common seed-starting mistake.
Also, inconsistent watering is another common mistake that leads to stressed seedlings that are not healthy and strong.
Tips:
- Keep in mind that wilted plants can recover if the soil is kept dry for a few days, but the situation is different in the case of overwatering, as plants cannot bounce back.
- Pre-moisten the seed starting mix before adding it to trays, so you don’t need to water after sowing the seeds.
- Cover the seed trays with a plastic or humidity dome; this will maintain the moisture and avoid dry soil.
- Misting is also a good option to maintain the moisture that plants need for germination.
- Bottom-watering is also a great option; this process includes water to the tray in which containers are sitting.
8. Improper Fertilization
After sprouting, seedlings do not require any fertilizer, as seeds comprise the required food and nutrients that seedlings will need for some weeks after germination. The mistake people make is fertilizing too early, which can harm or kill the saplings.
Conversely, if fertilizer is skipped after germination for one or two months, the seedlings will starve for food and nutrients and become weak. Also, applying the wrong or strong fertilizer can shock or burn the seedlings; it doesn’t matter if it is used at the correct time.
Tips:
- Avoid fertilization for the first few weeks; the perfect time to feed the seedlings is after the first sets of ‘true leaves appear.
- Use gentle fertilizer as per the recommended dose, mix it with water, add to trays below the container, and use in place of regular watering.
9. Skipping the Hardening Off Process
Another common Seed Germination Mistakes that people can make is acclimatization. Seedlings that are brought up in a sheltered area or indoors are not prepared for outdoor conditions; they are vulnerable to sunburn, breaking in the wind, or rain.
Tips:
- Gradually introduce the seedlings to the outdoor environment and move them outside in the early morning so they become strong and hardy.
- After germination, imitate the wind by using an oscillating fan.
- Slowly reduce the temperature of the heat mat.
- Before (one or two weeks) moving the seedling outside, start slowly exposing the saplings to direct sun, wind, and other conditions.
- Begin the exposure by placing the plants in a shaded area for a few hours each day, then increase the duration and sun exposure.