Why Seeds Don’t Sprout
by Sabrina Dawkins
When seeds planted in starter pots have failed to germinated, it’s usually been due to one of three things: old or bad seeds, wrong temperature to plant, or heavy soil.
Seeds left over from last year’s growing season usually have a significantly decreased generation rate. The newer the seed, the quicker and more reliably it germinates. I don’t throw away old seeds, I just expect them to have a lower germination rate.
Some sellers have better seeds than others: Their seeds germinate at a higher rate and produce wonderful crops. I make a note of these sellers and buy from them again.
I used to plant all my seeds in March, but now I look online to find the ideal air temperature range for growing certain crops. A quick search of “ideal temperature” and the crop will give you the range. And when I know the temperature will roughly remain in that range for about three months, I plant the seeds. I’ve had better germination results from planting seeds in the temperature range in which they are most comfortable growing.
The composition of the growing media is another important part of creating the ideal environment for seeds to sprout. Seeds need to remain moist but not soaking wet lest they become rotting compost. Soil that is too heavy may trap water, keeping the soil too wet and without oxygen. And when it dries to be rock-hard, the seedling may be too weak to penetrate the surface.
I amend the garden soil with compost and decaying leaves, sticks, and nut husks to make the soil easier to penetrate. But I make sure not to add too much because I want the water and seeds to have something to cling to. A compost-only growing medium may not hold water as well as a garden soil and compost mix. The goal is to have a moist growing medium lightly fertilized by aged compost, a sponge continually inhabited by water and oxygen that never dries out. And a layer of broken-down leaves on the surface of the garden soil and compost pot mix also helps maintain a moist growing medium by slowing evaporation. Also, adding a little bit of urine/nitrogen to your water will help seeds sprout.