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.
A few years ago, I had some pepper seeds that were quite old. I hated to just throw the package away without checking to see if they were still good, so I did a seed germination test. About half of 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. They did grow into healthy transplants that were eventually planted into the garden.
After experiencing how easy it was to actually see which seeds germinated, I decided to pre-sprout most of my indoor seedlings. I have been doing so every since. Pre-sprouting seeds, is a method used to germinate seeds before they are planted into a growing medium.
I use recycled bakery trays and moistened paper towels but any container or zipper bag will work:
Each cell is layered with a piece of wet paper towel, labeled, and seeded. I check it daily for germination and to make sure the towel stays damp. Once the seeds sprout, they are carefully transferred into waiting soil blocks and placed under the lights. (See How to Build a Grow Light System)
Benefits of Pre-sprouting Seeds:
- Saves Time. Pre-sprouting accelerates germination because the seeds can be given ideal moisture, air and temperature conditions indoors.
- Eliminates Thinning Out Seedlings. 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.
- Conserve Space. No need to seed a whole tray of seeds hoping that at least half will germinate. You only plant the seeds that sprout.
I pre-sprout a lot of my seeds that I grow under lights including tomato, pepper, eggplant, cilantro, spinach, lettuce, and kale.
You May Also Like:
- How to Grow Onions from Seed
- 10 Steps to Starting Seedlings Indoors
- Using Soil Blocks to Grow Seedlings
- Vegetable Garden Planning: How to Develop a Seed Starting Schedule
What a good idea.
Thanks, Sue! It works for me especially with older pepper and tomato seeds.
This is a great post. I love the use of the cupcake container. I am going to go out and buy cupcakes just for the container lol.
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.
Wow, Rachel, that trick for carrot seeds is super-cool. Thank you for sharing it! I am definitely going to try it this year.
Will, I have great hopes for this method and can’t wait to try it too.
I love the bakery tray idea. Paper towels always work for me, but now I have the perfect container. Great post!
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.
This is a great ideal! I wish we had done it this year.
Robyn, I hope you give it a try.
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.
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.
Is there a trick to transferring? I did this with my green pepper seeds (sort of unintentionally) and I think I killed the sprouts when I transferred them They haven’t grown.
Tabitha, This happens sometimes. The root is very delicate and may have been damaged or maybe the seed wasn’t healthy.
Will you please describe how you transfer the sprouted seeds?
Merryann, I use tweezers or a toothpick to gently pick up the seed and place it in a soil block, cover with a little soil, and water. Be careful not to damage the root.
I like to start my seeds early but have never tried this method. Good to know. Thanks for sharing with us at Merry Monday.
Great idea! My kids love to watch the seeds sprout and this way they would be easy to see. Best wishes!
Good idea… and I like how orderly your system is. 🙂
You do this instead of the peat pots or trays?
Cassi, presprout the seeds before planting them in peat pots or trays. Actually, I use soil blocks to grow seedlings (https://growagoodlife.com/soil-blocks-for-growing-seedlings-2/). Once the seeds sprout, they are carefully transferred into trays and placed under the lights.
Gonna try this!
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
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?
Sandi, I use seed mats for planting tiny seeds and don’t presprout these: https://growagoodlife.com/homemade-seed-mats/
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?
Veronica, I suggest beginning with seeds packages that you find at your local garden centers, plant stores, or online. The packages have directions on the back on when to sow and when to plant outside. This post may be helpful: https://growagoodlife.com/starting-seedlings-indoors/
Do you have to use a warming mat?
LaAnna, Keep the containers in a warm place for quicker germination. But a heat mat is too warm without the insulation of the soil. It dries out the paper towels quickly.
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 🙂
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.
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
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.
Do you leave the lights on 24 hours a day, if not how long per day, thanks
Rhianna, Seedlings require at least 12-16 hours of light each day. I use a power strip timer and set it for 16 hours on, then 8 hours off. Be sure to check out this post for more tips on lighting for healthy seedlings: https://growagoodlife.com/build-a-grow-light-system-for-starting-seeds-indoors/
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?
Brianne, I try to plant it as quickly as the sprout is visible. That way the root can burrow quickly into the soil to establish itself.
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
Yes, you can. I pre-sprout many seeds before planting outside such as spinach, squash, and peas. If the soil is warm when you plant the sprout, it will pop out of the ground quickly.
I just got a couple of green bell peppers from the store. Can the seeds from those be sprouted?
You can’t save seeds from store bought green peppers. Peppers are not fully ripe until they have changed color. The green peppers you purchase in the grocery store are immature peppers. However, you CAN sprout seeds from the packages of dried peppers. These are fully mature before they are dried. Here is an article about saving seeds from Mother Earth News: http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/saving-seeds-zmaz87sozgoe.aspx
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!!