Improving germination

[Jack Meatcher]

I've just read Ian's most recent Bulb Log entry and was interested to see that he soaks his seeds in water overnight. Attached is an extract from an RHS book where the author states that this practice may actually damage the seeds. I know that Sweet Pea growers soak their seeds before sowing but the bit in the book seems to have a degree of botanical authenticity.
Ian - this is not a dig at you. I am one of your disciples regarding depth of sowing for narcissus and tulips, for example. I too tended to slosh the water on to the soil of freshly sown seeds although, since Christmas, I've left them in the damp soil for a day or so and then drenched them.

I'd appreciate any comments. Thanks.

Jack Meatcher

[Diane Whitehead]

Years ago I read about the detrimental effects of soaking seeds - something about
the seedcoat becoming permeable and leaking out good stuff??

So I started sowing peas and beans dry instead.  Worked OK most of the time, but
then there was the year when I waited a month for the peas to come up, and
finally realized they weren't going to, so re-sowed, a month late.

Back to soaking.  Well, actually even better than that.  Pre-sprouting.

[Ian Y]

Jack, I only write from my own experiences and I have found that soaking stored seed that has completely dried out gives me better germination.
My reasoning is that the outer coat of stored seed becomes very resistant to water and when I sowed them without soaking they often took over 12 months  before I got germination. By soaking overnight this outer skin becomes better conditioned to uptake moisture from the compost resulting in a quicker and better germination.

I have experimented with Erythronium seed and the soaked ones gave almost 100 %germination the following spring when sown in September - those that I did not soak gave me around 50% sporadically over two or three years.

[Darren]

Prof Deno also says that soaking seeds is detrimental but I also don't really believe it and I've plenty of experiences that echo Ian's.

My suspicion is that the research was done on a relatively small number of species of 'economic importance' - i.e. food crop seeds and not bulbs. For example - the books on seed storage and longevity I have read over the winter (thanks to my wife borrowing them from the college library) were mostly based on research on grain crops.

Also - it is worth remembering that often bulb seeds are adapted to extremes - drying and then sudden inundation in the wild, whereas some other seeds may not be as robust.