How to Germinate Seeds Quickly: 4 Tricks You Need to Try

Are you wondering how to germinate seeds fast? Here’s how!

Waiting for seeds to germinate feels like it takes forever. Some seeds take up to three or four weeks to germinate. Is it possible to learn how to germinate seeds quickly?

Experienced gardeners will tell you that there are several tricks to germinating seeds quickly. These tricks work for all seeds, regardless of the type. I used these tips for vegetable, herb, and flower seeds.

How Long Does It Take for Seeds to Germinate?

Vegetable seed germination rates vary widely depending on the soil temperature and air temperature. Keeping seeds at optimum temperature quickens germination; cold temperatures slow germination rates.

For most seeds, germination is fastest when the temperatures are around 70 degrees F.

Here is a seed germination rate chart. Remember, the days listed are based on optimal temperatures.

Vegetable	Days for Germination
Asparagus	14-18 days
Beans	4-10 Days
Beets	4-10 Days
Broccoli	7-10 Days
Brussels Sprouts	3-10 Days
Cabbage	5-10 Days
Carrots	6 Days
Cauliflower	4-10 Days
Celery	10 Days
Chinese Cabbage	4-10 Days
Collard Greens	5-10 Days
Corn	4-10 Days
Cucumber	5-7 Days
Eggplant	10-15 Days
Garlic	7-14 Days
Kale	5-7 Days
Kohlrabi	5-10 Days
Lettuce	2-10 Days
Mustard Greens	4-6 Days
Okra	7-12 Days
Parsley	5-6 Weeks
Parsnips	5-28 Days
Peas	5-7 Days
Pepper	7-10 Days
Pumpkins	4-10 Days
Radishes	4-10 Days
Spinach	6-14 Days
Squash	7-10 Days
Swiss Chard	7 Days
Tomatoes	5-7 Days
Watermelons	4-10 Days

How to Speed Up Seed Germination: 4 Tricks to Try

1. Germinate Seeds on Paper Towels

The first trick that many gardeners swear by is learning how to germinate seeds on paper towels. It might seem like an unnecessary step, but germinating on paper towels can cause the seeds to sprout three times faster!

Here’s what you need to do.

Put a folded paper towel at the bottom of a glass or plastic container.
Gradually added more water until the paper towel is thoroughly moist; make sure there are no puddles of water.
Place the seeds on the paper towel and close the lid of the container.
Note on the lid or a separate sheet of paper what type of seeds you are germinating. This is especially helpful when sprouting seeds that look the same.

Now, keep the containers out of direct sunlight because any trapped heat might fry – literally – the seeds.

Start checking the seeds daily. Depending on the type of seeds you’re germinating, some only take one or two days to sprout. The fastest germinating seeds are:

Lettuce
Radishes
Kale
Cauliflower
Broccoli
Cabbage
Bok Choy

The most important thing is to have containers ready to plant your sprouted seeds.

When tiny roots appear on the seeds, plant them immediately into soil. Long roots will make it hard to separate from the paper towel.

Always plant seeds at a depth of 1-2 seed sizes. So, the bigger the seed, the deeper you need to plant them.

How Long Does It Take to Germinate Seeds in a Paper Towel?

Planting seeds in a paper towel and a plastic bag creates a mini greenhouse effect that leads to moisture and heat retention. Moisture and humidity combined creates the ideal environment for germinating seeds.

2. Pre-soak Your Seeds for Faster Germination

One of the best kept gardening secrets – soaking your seeds encourages faster germination.

Why does soaking seeds help seeds germinate faster?

Soaking seeds expose the embryo to moisture, helping it break through the shell and emerge faster. Exposure to water allows the seeds to swell as water penetrates the seed coating, and the embryo starts to plump up.

Never soak seeds for longer than 24 hours or it might cause them to rot.

After 24 hours of soaking, plant them immediately into soil, whether that’s in a pot or in the ground. This method works with all seeds, but I find it works best with larger seeds, such as bean or squash seeds.

3. Use Cold Treatment for Some Seeds

The next trick to germinate seeds quickly is to use stratification, which is when you expose seeds to a period of moist cold. It makes the seeds think they’re going through a period of winter. Stratification mimics nature; birds drop seeds that go through a cold period throughout winter and sprout in the spring.

When sowing seeds in the spring, soak the seeds for 24 hours and put them in a sandwich bag that is half filled with moist, seed starting soil. Keep the bag in the refrigerator.

When the seeds sprout and form roots, transfer them to pots, exposing them to light and warmth.

Some seeds that need cold treatment also can be planted outdoors in the fall or stored in the refrigerator throughout the fall and winter. Then, in the spring, you plant the seeds in pots.

For outdoor planting, put the seeds in a pot, but put a thin layer of gravel over the top of the pot to prevent the soil from being washed away.

4. Try Nicking Your Seeds

The last tip on how to germinate seeds quickly is to use scarification, a process of nicking a seed’s coat with a knife or sandpaper. Doing so allows moisture to reach the seed’s embryo, causing it to germinate faster.

Scarify the seeds right before you plant them. You don’t want to leave the scarred seeds out where bacteria might enter.

Frequently Asked Questions about Germinating Seeds Quickly

What Do Seeds Need to Germinate?

Seeds need three things to germinate:

Water
Oxygen
The Right Temperature

Seeds are in a state of dormancy, or suspended animation, until exposed to these three elements.

Do Seeds Need Sunlight to Germinate?

Most seeds, including your average vegetable and herb seeds, germinate best in dark conditions. It’s an easy mistake to miss because seedlings NEED light to grow, but seeds germinate best in light. As soon as the seeds sprout and a seedling appears, place it under a grow light.

Some species of plants, such as begonias and coleus, need light to germinate, but if you’re germinating vegetable seeds, don’t worry about providing lights.

What’s the Best Germination Temperature?

Most seeds germinate the best when the soil temperature is between 68 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Sticking close to the 75-80 degree mark will ensure your seeds have the best chance at germination.

After germination takes place, the best temperature for growing seedlings is about 10 degrees cooler than the temperature in which they germinated.

How Hot is Too Hot for Seed Germination?

Make sure you don’t expose to your seeds to temperatures higher than 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Those temperatures will kill the embryo inside of the seed, rendering it useless.

Germinating Seeds Quickly is Easy

Figuring out how to germinate seeds quickly helps you get your plants started faster. It’s hard to be patient and wait, but these four tricks help most seeds germinate as quickly as possible.