Soak tomato seeds in water for faster germination (2024)

FAQs

How long to soak tomato seeds in water before planting? ›

Place the seeds in small container in lukewarm water, they don't need to go in the fridge at all, you can just leave the seeds on the windowsill or the counter at room temperature for 24 hours. If you want to sow the tomato seeds sooner and you do not want to wait that long, even 2 – 4 hours of soaking helps.

Some seeds take a long time to germinate, and seed soaking can help to speed up the process. By soaking seeds in lukewarm water for 8-12 hours (some can go up to 24 hours, but never more than that), you help the seed to break dormancy and germinate faster.

Tomatoes Need Warmth and Light

Tomato seeds kept at warm room temperature and sprayed with water twice daily should sprout within a week. As soon as the seedlings break the surface, move them to bright light.

If the seeds sink, they are still viable; if they float, discard, because they probably will not sprout. Question: Can the seeds that sink still be planted? Answer: Yes. Sow the seeds directly in the soil if it is the proper planting time or thoroughly dry seeds and plant when it is the appropriate time.

Warm temperatures (70-75 degrees F) help speed up seed germination; place your seed starting containers on a heat mat and cover with a humidity dome to get seeds started. Once seeds have germinated, shut off the heat mat and remove the humidity dome. seedlings grow best in cool room temperature, about 65 degrees F.

The viable seeds will sink to the bottom while the pulp and unviable seeds will float. Carefully pour off the unviable seed and floating pulp. Then, add more water and repeat this step until only heavy, viable seeds remain. This process is known as water winnowing.

By soaking the seed, it enables the new growth from the inside to push through the hard shell and grow. The seeds that could benefit from a good soaking include: corn, pumpkin, beans, chard, beets, and peas. The seeds you shouldn't soak include: carrots, lettuce, radish, celery, turnips, and spinach.

In a bowl, cover your seeds with warm water and leave to soak for 6-24 hours. Smaller seeds and those with thinner coats need the shorter time, and larger seeds with thicker coats need the longer period. Some seeds will naturally float, and some will stay below the surface.

Warm up the soil

Tomatoes are warm-weather plants, so they need warm soil to grow properly. If your soil is too cold, your plants will not grow as quickly. You can warm up your soil by adding compost or other organic matter or by covering it with black plastic mulch.

Why do tomato seeds fail to germinate? ›

If you have issues with germinating your tomato seed, temperature may be the problem. Ideal temperatures for germination are 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures much lower than 70 degrees will cause slower germination, and if temperatures dip far below, germination may not occur at all.

If the seeds are viable, they should sprout within a week. Give your seeds a head-start. Simply soak seeds in warm water for 2-4 hours to soften. Read the instructions on the seed packet to ensure the optimal conditions for your seeds.

When seeds are soaked in water, they begin to warm up and produce carbon dioxide. Seeds are dormant, or at least close to dormancy. When we provide them with warmth and moisture they start to grow.

Pre-soaking seeds has a number of potential advantages: it triggers germination, speeds it up, provides a quick start where a short growing season for a vegetable is critical, and breaks down any inhibitors on the seed more quickly than in nature.

As a general rule of thumb, your seeds will sprout even if you don't soak your seeds before planting, but with soaking, the germination time decreases, and the germination rate increases. Seeds that have a continual flow of moisture to uptake have much higher chances of success.

For example, the optimum temperature range for tomatoes is 65° to 85°F (see previous chart). Within that range, it takes approximately 6 to 8 days before seeds germinate. Tomato seeds may still germinate at 50°F, but it will take over 40 days, and there will probably be no germination if the soil temperature is 104°F.