Pre-germinating seed

Pre-germinating the seed increases rate and percentage of seedlings established. Pre- germinating, or soaking of seeds, reduces the time required for seeds to uptake sufficient moisture to initiate the germination process. Seeds are normally pre-germinated when directly sown into wet puddled seedbeds or standing water.

 

Procedure:

1. Submerge the bag of seed in water for 24 hours or until small shoots appear at end of seed. In some cases this may take 36 hours.

 

Germinating seeds

 

2. Dry the seed in bag for 24 hours.

 

3. When drying seed make sure it is kept in the shade and air is allowed to circulate around bags. If bag temperatures exceed 42 degrees Celsius, then some seed will be damaged or sterilized.

 

4. Broadcast the seed before roots exceed 5 mm in length.

 

5. When calculating the planting rate, make allowance for expansion in seed volume. Depending on variety, the seed may increase by 10 to 30 percent of its original weight.