How to plant seeds? A detailed guide to the whole planting process

Sowing: first sow the seeds in the soil and cover them with fine soil, just a thin layer, enough to cover the seeds. Sprouting: the seedlings soon grow out. Transplanting: transplant the seedlings into flower pots to grow as potted ornamentals. Pinching: to encourage branching, once the leaves have grown to 4-6 leaves, pinch off the growing tip. New branches grow: the seedlings begin to branch more and grow leaf after leaf. That means the planting has succeeded!

What internal conditions does seed germination require?

1. A complete embryo with vitality

Seeds whose embryo has been damaged by insects cannot germinate. After a seed leaves the parent plant, it will lose its vitality and be unable to germinate after a certain period, and the lifespan differs for different seeds. For example: willow seeds last only 12 hours, peanuts 1 year, wheat and rice generally live 3 years, and cabbage and broad bean seeds live 5-6 years.

2. Sufficient nutrient reserves

Normal seeds store enough nutrients in the cotyledons or endosperm for germination, while shriveled seeds often cannot germinate because they lack sufficient nutrients.

3. Not being in a dormant state

After most seeds form, they temporarily cannot germinate even under suitable conditions, and this phenomenon is called dormancy.