Common Germination Problems

1. Seeds should be started in flats or jiffy pots using a fine seed starting or potting mix.  You don’t want to use a growing medium that has too much wood or mulch materials as they interfere with germination.

2. Pre-moistening the soil before planting the seeds will help keep the seeds at the right depth for germination.  If you water after the seeds are planted, the water will pull the seeds down too deep.  If this is the case a slight “tilling” of the soil with a fork or even a comb with often bring the seeds back up closer to the surface, where they need to be.

3. Proper sunlight and water is critical.  You need to keep the seeds moist using a find misting spray, again to keep them from going too deep into the soil. If the seeds dry out after they’ve been started they will die.  Be sure they receive the proper sunlight during the day.

4. They need to be kept warm.  They need to maintain a steady temperature of 65-70 degrees at night and warmer during the day.  One suggestion is to use a heating pad under your seed container set on low if the room  is cool at night.

5. If the soil gets hard packed or crusty you may need to gently till the top layer of soil.  This crust will slow or even prevent germination.

6. Planting the seeds too deep will hamper germination as well.  Most seeds need only to be 1/8” to 1/4” unless otherwise stated in the instructions.