Germination Problems?

Are you having problems in getting a particular type of seed to germinate, or to give consistent good germination rates?

Here is a little suggestion or experiment that might work with your problem seed.

Put some seed in a pot or seedling tray and cover it lightly with more mix. This is partly because most seed needs to be covered in soil to germinate, but also to prevent seed from being washed away when being watered. This soil layer is enough to insulate the seed from being burnt/boiled by the hot water.

Only try this with a few seed, no more than you can comfortably afford to loose if it fails.

Then gently, like from a squirt bottle (Plastic sauce bottle, plastic syringe etc.) pour some freshly boiled water (hot), over it.

From then on water normally.

The single dose of hot water might break the seed coating enough to allow the seed itself to break through the seed coat, and solve your germination problems. And should not do any harm to the seed.

This does help with some particular seed, like parsley.

Seed Newsvine