Soaking seeds in water before sowing

[Alison_Kristina]

Has anyone tried soaking seeds in water overnight before sowing them? I've read that it helps start them off as they can absorb as much water as they need before going in the soil, and they'll germinate quicker. It does seem to make sense, but I've not tried it as yet.

Ali.

[johnmichael]

Peas,beans and beetroot are supposed to benefit,but never bother myself.

[April1988]

I found it helped alot with aubergine seeds, they didnt germinate the first time i sowed them but nearly all of them did after soaking them in water.

[GMB27]

Hi, i posted on this somewhere before. My gran always used to insist on this, and to be honest her harvests were always really successful. I always follow suit nowadays!

[HomeWork]

Originally Posted by Alison_Kristina

Has anyone tried soaking seeds in water overnight before sowing them? I've read that it helps start them off as they can absorb as much water as they need before going in the soil, and they'll germinate quicker. It does seem to make sense, but I've not tried it as yet.

Ali.

Hi Alison,
It can be a good way of testing if older seeds are viable too. Soak and then leave on some damp kitchen towel or similar somewhere warm for a day or two - if they start to sprout then they are ok - if not, they are probably past their best.
The bigger seeds can need to absorb quite a lot of moisture before they germinate - but they can rot if sat in wet compsot for too long. Soaking them first means they have a head start and the compost does not need ot be so wet (preventing damping off).

[GMB27]

Originally Posted by HomeWork

Hi Alison,
It can be a good way of testing if older seeds are viable too. Soak and then leave on some damp kitchen towel or similar somewhere warm for a day or two - if they start to sprout then they are ok - if not, they are probably past their best.
The bigger seeds can need to absorb quite a lot of moisture before they germinate - but they can rot if sat in wet compsot for too long. Soaking them first means they have a head start and the compost does not need ot be so wet (preventing damping off).

That explains why it seems to work. that for ellaborating on this