table of contents
- Soaking seeds useful?
- Utensils for soaking
- Soaking seeds: instructions
- frequently asked Questions
In order to optimize the sowing of nasturtiums, many gardeners wonder whether the seeds should be soaked beforehand. You will find all the information about this in this article.
In a nutshell
- Soaking the seeds shortens the germination time
- more seeds germinate successfully
- Tap water can be used for soaking
Soaking seeds useful?
The nasturtium (Tropaeolum) is a genus that forms hard and large seeds. That makes germination harder if you do that Sow seeds dry. Soaking helps with this problem and speeds up the process noticeably. When soaking, the seed soaks up with water, which starts germination faster. The regular germination period of two to three weeks can be shortened by a few days if the seeds had the opportunity to soak up beforehand. In addition, the seeds germinate more reliably when they are soaked. Dry seeds sometimes have some problem starting the germination process.
Utensils for soaking
In order for nasturtium seed soaking to work, you need the right utensils. These make the process easier and ensure that the seeds are effectively soaked. The following list gives you an overview of the utensils you need:
- key
- water
- close-meshed sieve
You don't have to worry about chalky water as the nasturtium is lime tolerant. Tap water is therefore completely sufficient to soak the seeds.
Tip: Instead of water, however, you can also use chamomile tea for soaking. The ingredients in tea soften the seed coat more effectively and faster.
Soaking seeds: instructions
Once you have all the necessary supplies, you can start soaking the nasturtium seeds. Since the process does not take long, you can place this on the same day as the actual sowing. Follow these instructions to properly soak the seeds:
- Fill the bowl with water
- only use lukewarm water
- Put seeds in water
- Soaking time: 6 to 12 hours
- soaked seeds collect on the bottom
- then strain
- ideally sow immediately
Note: It does not matter whether you sow the seeds in the bed after soaking or prefer them in a tub. Both variants are possible.
frequently asked Questions
When to sow depends on whether you want to bring the plants forward. If you decide to prefer it indoors, you can sow the seeds in seed containers as early as the beginning of February. As soon as the ice saints have been overcome, the seedlings can plant out. If you are sowing direct outdoors, you should choose a day around mid-April. Ideally, the ground is no longer frozen.
If you sow the seeds of the tropaeolum after soaking, they must be deep enough in the soil. The sowing should be set two to three centimeters deep so that as little light as possible gets to the seeds.
No, you don't have to go to the job of weeding out potentially damaged seeds. All seeds that are still floating on the surface after the planned soaking time simply need a little more time. They haven't soaked themselves in fluid yet, making them not heavy enough and continuing to float. Nasturtium seeds are quite robust.