Is the seed you have on hand still viable--will it germinate?
A seed contains an embryo--a partly developed root and stem, a supply of stored food, and a protective coating.
Seeds sprout through a process called germination. Germination--depending upon the type of seed--requires just the right conditions for growth--usually an abundant supply of water, an adequate supply of oxygen, and the proper temperature. Water causes the seed's tissue to swell and break through the seed coat. Oxygen supports respiration, the burning of food stored in the seed necessary to supply the energy to grow. The correct temperature provides the optimal environment for growth.
A seed is viable if it is able to germinate under the proper conditions for that seed. Seed viability can range from a few weeks to 50 years. Most vegetable seeds are viable for up to three years, but not all.
If you have seed leftover from last season or the season before or if you have been given seed and are unsure how old the seed might be, testing seed viability can save you time and effort in the garden. Seeds can require a few days to more than a week or two to germinate; if you sow seed today and it later fails to germinate in a week or two you have lost time and wasted effort.
Is the seed you have on hand still viable--will it germinate?
A seed contains an embryo--a partly developed root and stem, a supply of stored food, and a protective coating.
Seeds sprout through a process called germination. Germination--depending upon the type of seed--requires just the right conditions for growth--usually an abundant supply of water, an adequate supply of oxygen, and the proper temperature. Water causes the seed's tissue to swell and break through the seed coat. Oxygen supports respiration, the burning of food stored in the seed necessary to supply the energy to grow. The correct temperature provides the optimal environment for growth.
A seed is viable if it is able to germinate under the proper conditions for that seed. Seed viability can range from a few weeks to 50 years. Most vegetable seeds are viable for up to three years, but not all.
If you have seed leftover from last season or the season before or if you have been given seed and are unsure how old the seed might be, testing seed viability can save you time and effort in the garden. Seeds can require a few days to more than a week or two to germinate; if you sow seed today and it later fails to germinate in a week or two you have lost time and wasted effort.