How and Why to Soak Seeds Before Planting

You can give vegetable seeds a head start in the garden by soaking seeds before planting them. The extra moisture can jump-start the germination process and increase the germination rate.

pea seeds in water in a glass jar

Soaking Seeds Before Planting: How to Do It & Why You Should

Depending on where you live, getting ahead can mean all of the difference come that first spring thaw. Getting your garden ready the previous fall, bringing in compost for the new growing season, and of course, picking out all of the heirloom vegetable varieties are great first steps.

Once the soil is ready, the garden gloves on, and the seeds in hand, it is time to get planting. But what if there were a way to speed up the germination time? A way to conserve water in those early days when daily – sometimes twice daily, in dry climates – watering is necessary for germination? A means of ensuring that, despite your possibly drier climate, seeds still germinate in the hottest of temperatures?

Soaking seeds could be the solution for you.


 

pretty garden with tomatoes and flowers - cover of book "edible front yard garden"The 5-Gallon Garden

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Soaking vs. chitting

The concept of soaking seeds is age-old, no doubt, and is not the same as “chitting” seeds. Chitting seeds is the process of pre-sprouting seeds before planting. This is commonly done in planting Irish potatoes where you see the eyes begin to form sprouts and then carefully plant in order to speed the germination. This is also done with seeds and is called chitting. Soaking, on the other hand, only involves a quick hydration of the seed to kickstart the sprouting process that happens in-ground.

various seeds soaking in jars with vegetable seed packets

Which seeds benefit from soaking?

All seeds can be soaked, depending on how you choose to plant them. However, smaller seeds become especially difficult to plant en-masse because they clump together and are more difficult to individually plant. But if you are working on a small scale, and especially if you are planting in flats to get started as opposed to direct-sowing, even carrot and lettuce seeds can be soaked.

For direct-sowing, it is my preference to forego soaking small seeds and only work with the bigger guys. The list of seeds that greatly benefit from soaking include, but are not limited to:

  • Beets & Swiss chard
  • Peas
  • Beans of all sorts
  • Okra
  • The cucurbits like cucumbers, melons, and summer and winter squashes
  • Corn
  • Sunflowers and any other flowers with large seeds
  • Dill, cilantro, and other large-seeded herbs

The practice of soaking is something I find particularly helpful in the hottest months when things like okra or black-eyed peas are going into the ground. This extra moisture really helps when the soil tends to dry out quickly.

pea seeds in water in a glass jar from above

How to soak seeds

The process of soaking seeds before planting is very much akin to sprouting seeds in your kitchen. It is as simple as pouring the seeds into a small bowl or jar and covering it with plenty of water. You can then leave these for 8-12 hours before planting. You may be able to leave them longer, in a pinch, but it is a good idea to plant them within 12-24 hours.

The seeds will expand as they absorb water. The skins will soften slightly and the soaking water will take on the color of the seeds. Once the soaking period is up and you are ready to plant, simply drain the water from the seeds and take the seeds out to the garden.

How to plant seeds after soaking

Soaked seeds like to clump up together, as stated above, so particular care should be taken to separate seeds while planting. Plant the seeds at the depth you normally would and water as usual. These can be planted in seed trays, if desired, or direct-sown. In either case, soaking should hasten the sprouting process, especially in warm weather.

A final word on seed soaking

There are a few conditions that you may want to avoid soaking seeds for. If you are having a particularly wet season and the soil is already quite moist and the temperatures cool, there is no need to soak since more moisture is the last thing you want.

As with all gardening techniques, your mileage may vary. Depending on the age of the seeds, the variety, etc. you will see different rates of germination and a different improvement in germination speeds with soaking. But, generally speaking, those larger hard-shelled seeds are great candidates for soaking.

seeds soaking in glass jars

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About the author: Shannon Stonger is the founder of the blog Nourishing Days, where she shares her family’s journey towards sustainability. She is the author of The Doable Off-Grid Homestead, Traditionally Fermented Foods, and the sourdough baking book 100% Rye. She holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and lives with her husband, five children, and various farm animals on their five-acre homestead in Texas.

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