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How to Pre-Sprout Seeds for Faster Germination

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One of the most frustrating things about starting vegetables from seed is waiting for them to emerge from the soil. You can eliminate the wait time by pre-sprouting seeds. Presprouting seeds, is a method used to germinate seeds before they are planted into a growing medium.

One of the most frustrating things about starting seeds is waiting for them to emerge from the soil. Pre-sprouting seeds germinates seeds before planting.

I had pepper seeds that were several years old. I hated to throw the package away without checking to see if they were still good. I checked the viability of the seeds by doing a seed germination test.

About half the old seeds sprouted and the rest were duds. I planted the sprouted seeds and watched the seedlings carefully to see if they would grow. I didn’t expect much from them, but they did grow into healthy transplants that were eventually planted into the garden.

After experiencing how easy it was to see which seeds germinated, I decided to pre-sprout more of my indoor seedlings. I routinely pre-germinate tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, Swiss chard, melons, cucumber, squash, cilantro, spinach, and kale.

Benefits of Pre-Sprouting Seeds

A seed is triggered to sprout by warmth and moisture. Normally, you sow a seed into a growing medium, such as damp seed starting mix or peat pots. Then you cover the seed with soil, water, place in a warm spot, and wait for the seed to sprout and break through the soil surface.

Pre-sprouting lets you germinate the seeds first, and then you can place the sprouted seed with the root into a seedling container to grow. You can see the seed and don’t have to wonder if it is doing anything under the soil. Other advantages of pre-sprouting your seeds include:

  • Saves money: Instead of throwing away older seed packages, you can pre-sprout to see if some of the old seeds are still viable.
  • Conserves space: You don’t have to sow a whole tray of seeds hoping that at least half will germinate. Instead, you pre-sprout the seeds in a small container, and only plant the ones that germinate.
  • Saves time waiting for seeds to sprout: Pre-sprouting accelerates germination because the seeds can be given ideal moisture, air, and temperature conditions indoors.
  • Excludes the bad seeds: You only plant the seeds that geminate. Simply throw away the duds.
  • Eliminates the need to thin out seedlings: With pre-sprouting, there is no need to toss three or four seeds into a pot and hope at least one will germinate only to have all four seeds sprout forcing your to eliminate the extras.

How to Pre-Sprout Seeds

It may be helpful to review this article to get your seed starting area setup: 10 Steps to Starting Seedlings Indoors

Materials needed to pre-sprout seeds:

  • Containers or plastic bags: Any container or zipper bag will work. My favorites to use for pre-sprouting are the plastic see through mini muffin bakery containers or egg cartons. These are divided into small cells that are ideal for organizing and labeling individual seeds. The cover can be snapped closed to keep in moisture. Since the containers are clear, you can check on the seeds without opening the cover.
  • Paper towels: A damp paper towel will help deliver consistent moisture to your seeds without drowning them. Too much moisture will cause your seeds to mold or rot.
  • Water resistant labeling material: I cut strips of white duct tape.
  • Water resistant marker: Sharpies work well and will not wash away if splashed with water.
  • Spray bottle: A spray bottle filled with water is the easiest way to moisten the paper towels without soaking them.
  • Seeds of choice: Larger seeds seem to work best. Try pre-germinating tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, Swiss chard, melons, cucumber, squash, cilantro, spinach, and cole crops.
  • Warm and safe area: Moderate heat will help your seeds germinate quicker. Consider locating your containers in a warm area, such as near a heat source, or on top of the refrigerator. Around 70°F to 75°F is average for most seeds. Choose an area away from drafts and a place where the containers will not be knocked over or forgotten.
  • Seedling containers: Have your seedling pots ready to plant once the seeds germinate. I like using soil blocks to grow seedlings. I make up a tray of soil blocks ahead of time so I am ready to transfer seeds when they sprout.

Directions for Pre-Sprouting Seeds

Step 1: Line your container with paper towels. I like several layers of paper towels, so I fold them in half and cut to fit. If you are using plastic bags, fold and cut your paper towels to fit.

Step 2: Label your containers. Use a water-resistant marker to label your containers or bags.

Step 3: Dampen your paper towels. Spray the paper towels with your spray bottle. You are aiming for the paper towels to be damp, not dripping. If you notice the water pooled in your container, dump out the extra.

Step 4: Add your seeds. Spread your seeds out on top of the damp paper towel. If you are using containers, simply close the cover. If you are using plastic bags, fold the paper towel over the seeds and place in the bag.

You can eliminate the wait time by pre-sprouting seeds. Pre-sprouting seeds, is a method used to germinate seeds before they are planted into a growing medium.

Step 5: Place in a warm area. Locate your seed containers in a warm area away from drafts. Also consider choosing an area where the container will not be knocked over or forgotten.

Step 6: Check seeds daily. Examine your seeds each day for germination and to make sure the towel stays damp. Spray the towel if needed.

Step 7: Transfer sprouted seeds to growing medium. Some seeds will sprout quicker than others. As soon as a seed shows tiny roots it is ready to plant. Carefully transfer your sprouted seed to your prepared seedling containers or soil blocks. Be very careful not to damage the root. If you do, the sprout will die. If the root has grown into the paper towel, snip around it and plant paper towel and all.

Place the sprouted seed on top of your growing medium and cover with dry seedling mix. Mist with your spray bottle and place under your growing lights.

You can eliminate the wait time by pre-sprouting seeds. Pre-sprouting seeds, is a method used to germinate seeds before they are planted into a growing medium.

Step 8: Keep your seedlings warm and moist. Use your spray bottle to keep the soil surface moist and continue caring for your seedlings as described from step 5 on in this article: 10 Steps to Starting Seedlings Indoors.

This article was originally published on March 5, 2014. It has been updated with additional information, photos, and video.

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Pre-sprouting seeds germinates seeds before planting. This saves time, eliminates thinning, and conserves space under the lights.

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Comments

  2. I used this idea using my regular cupcake tims (I have like 4 and never use them). It worked just as good! Thanks so much for the lesson!!

    Reply

  4. Could you use this method and plant directly outdoors? This year I don’t have space to start indoors but I have flowers and vegetables I’m hoping to start from seed directly outside. I’m in North central WI

    Reply

  5. Once a sprout is obvious, how quickly do you plant it? As soon as the case is cracked or once a tiny sprout is sticking out or wait until the sprout is a bit bigger?

    Reply

  7. ok. . . perhaps a silly question but once the seed sprouts, is it planted sprout side down or sprout side up and is it completely covered with dirt? also why do you put then directly under the grow lights if once planted, they have not emerged from the soil?
    thank you. . .love the site

    Reply

    • There are no silly questions 😉 I wouldn’t worry too much about whether the sprout is up or down, the seed knows which direction it needs to grow. Plus it can be difficult to see sometimes. Just cover the sprouted seed lightly with soil to help keep the seed damp. I suggest placing it under the lights right away because once the seed initially sprouts, it doesn’t take long for it to begin growing. Sometimes, the seedling pops up within a day. You want to be sure there is light available. Let me know how it works out.

      Reply

  8. I love this idea, I garden organically, so I would use organic kitchen towels, as there are chemicals in the non organic ones, though I was looking at my organic cotton pads used for removing make up, they are small, round, quilted cotton wool pads, which may stay damp longer so they might be ideal, to keep the kitchen towel damp do you use a spray rather than pour on water? I can’t wait to try this, thanks for sharing 🙂

    Reply

    • Linda, Organic cotton towels or pads seem like a good idea. You can use glass containers rather than plastic too. I spray the towel with water or use a turkey baster to add drops of water without disturbing the seeds.

      Reply

  10. What type of seeds can you use? I’m very new to gardening and would like to start growing some fruits or veggies. I live in DE so right now it’s kind of cold out. I’m not sure if the plants have to be transferred right onside after sprouting. also are the seeds from veggies or are they actual seeds that you buy at a plant store?

    Reply

  11. I am a relatively new gardener. I presprout my larger seeds then plant, but with tiny seeds it’s almost impossible. I’m thinking combining the presprouting idea with seed tape idea. I typically use coffee filters to presprout, and I don’t know if those would disintegrate. But if I presprout in a paper napkin, then lay that napkin on their destination, seems like it would work. Anyone’s thoughts on this?

    Reply

  12. I like this idea! I usually just use a small dish of water, but this looks less like something the cat would drink from!

    Thanks for linking up with Green Thumb Thursday. I’d love if you’d link up with us again this week!

    ~L

    Reply

  20. I will have to try this with my lettuce seeds. Those seem to be the ones that never seem to want to start or take forever! Question, how would you treat taped seeds? I bought lettuce in a tape to make it easier to plant.

    Reply

    • Beth, presprouting lettuce works great! Especially when using older seeds as you can see which ones sprout. I don’t really know how to advise you on taped seeds because I’ve never used them.

      Reply

    • Michelle, I love how organized it is and you view the progress of the whole container at once instead of having to check numerous zipper bags.

      Reply

  23. Wow, Rachel, that trick for carrot seeds is super-cool. Thank you for sharing it! I am definitely going to try it this year.

    Reply

    • Tricia, So funny! Yes, we have our share of bakery containers that are reused in this household. “Someone” can’t resist sweets when he does groceries.

      Reply

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