Facilitate seed germination. How do seeds germinate?

Spring is exploring, finding dormant plant seeds and occasionally causing some wild grasses and shrubs to flower.

According to Akhbar Saz Keshavarzi, if they have the heart and brain, nature enthusiasts still like to do their own work, considering the availability of flower bushes, seedlings, and ready-made pots, and according to their taste, prepare a few seeds and have a few plants of spring flowers in the garden.
When we place a number of seeds in the soil inside or outside the house, we are actually imitating Mother Nature in a way and creating the same conditions that seeds respond to in order to germinate in nature; But we need to know what different conditions seeds have to prepare them for germination.

It is often seen that due to not following some principles, seed cultivation fails and time is lost. It is enough for an interested person to have sufficient information about the alphabet of seed germination conditions.

Copying from Mother Nature

By providing the right conditions, the growth time of plants can be slightly extended or changed. Most of us plant flowers and annuals in places other than their natural place. For many of us, the growth period of a plant is much shorter than the time it has to flower and set seed. Another reason is that we are interested in extending the harvest period of these plants, which is why we put them in a special condition earlier than the germination period and transfer them to the main ground or pot after they sprout.

Growing seeds in a greenhouse and ahead of time actually extends the growth period of such plants. This is where we replace Mother Nature by making the necessary changes in humidity, temperature, and light and cause seeds or cuttings to germinate.

Different seed needs

Different seeds have different needs that must be met in order to germinate, so their growth conditions must be created or changed, because such changes send signals for the sprouts to awaken inside the seeds. Usually, the germination requirements of seeds are written on their boxes or envelopes, but before planting, you should know, for example, the planting depth, temperature, amount of moisture, and lighting requirements of such seeds.

Germination principles in Nature

In general, there are four basic conditions for the germination of seeds by Mother Nature, which must be met in different ways. Here are those four conditions and the methods of providing them:

1- Darkness

We always think of light for a seed to germinate; while some seeds also need darkness. The experience of darkness is actually similar to the seeds being buried under soil or leaves piled on top of each other. There are several things you can do to provide darkness:

Sowing seeds at the appropriate depth
Covering seeds with layers of fertilizer or other materials
Placing materials on seed germination boxes such as: newspaper, cardboard, sheet metal or ...
Turning off the lights during germination.

2- Light

Not all seeds germinate in dark conditions, but some types of them actually need light. If the seeds are placed too deep in the soil or in dark conditions, they may not germinate at all. This is why many dormant weed seeds need to be brought to the surface of the soil to germinate, which often happens during plowing.

One of the advantages of no-till is that weed seeds are not awakened. This information is often written on the seed packet.

Normal light conditions are sufficient for them and they do not require a specific amount of light.

Such seeds can be sown on the surface of the soil and lightly pressed into the soil. The seedling boxes should not be completely covered. You must be careful about the moisture content of these seeds because the soil surface dries out.

There is no need to turn on electronic lamps to provide light. In some cases, this can be done to a limited extent so that the room or greenhouse is completely dark.

Seeds that require light to germinate; They are not unusual, but rather exceptional cases, but as mentioned, darkness or light should be provided based on the needs of the seed.

Day vs. Night

The most important real need of seeds and plants is to alternate periods of light and darkness and what results they get from light or darkness, so it is very simple to give the seeds enough time in the soil to feel the light of their living space, which is also true for the night.

For seed germination, about twelve hours of light are enough, but not as intense as sunlight. After germination, it is better for the new plants to be exposed to about 16 hours of light and eight hours of darkness. If the seedlings are indoors, periods of light (day) and darkness (night) can be created by turning one or more lamps on and off.

If you are growing seeds in a greenhouse, you need to create a day and night cycle.It is not artificial, but it must be done in closed spaces. To do this, you can install lamps in a row and turn them on and off with a button, or you can set 12 or 16-hour periods by installing a timer and taking into account the growth stage of the plants.

3- Cold

Some seeds need a period of cold to germinate. There are two methods for this, first stratification and second cold treatment. In both cases, the seeds go through a long period of cold to break their winter dormancy. Many perennials, wildflowers, and grasses cannot germinate without going through a long period of cold (several weeks to months). This delay in germination is a protective factor in the survival of these plants, which do not germinate until the weather warms up enough.

The next point is that a uniform and stable cold signals the seeds that it is time to germinate, and when most seeds need adequate heat to germinate, a number of seeds are still in cold conditions. This often happens with some agricultural crops and seeds of perennial and perennial plants.

Soil cooling (stratification)

This is not difficult to do; it is enough to place the seeds in a humid and cold environment similar to the soil in winter. You can place the seeds in a humid germination container and leave them in the refrigerator for several weeks. Another method is to sow seeds in transparent boxes in the winter. Placing the seeds in places exposed to cold air and away from hot environments will help them survive the cold period.

4- Heat

Indoor temperatures are suitable for most seeds to germinate. Many seeds need adequate heat to germinate, but heat does not mean excessive heat but normal heat.

For many seeds, the soil temperature should be between 20 and 23 degrees Celsius, which is the same as the usual temperature indoors. Some seeds, such as peppers and tomatoes, germinate at this temperature, but other seeds, such as pumpkins or okra, need more heat. The ideal temperature for most seeds is around 30 degrees.

Lettuce, beans, peas, and many other seeds have difficulty germinating in warm soil; therefore, the place where they germinate and grow should be slightly cooler.