Paper Towel Seed Germination Process: for Vegetables, Fruits, Flowers, and Herbs

For the most part, seeds germinate when they are ready if given the right conditions. However, you can speed up this process by germinating seeds on a paper towel, called pre- sprouting, or pre-germinating, seeds. Whether you grow vegetables, herbs or flowers, a good start is essential for the success of your plant growth.

Germination of seeds before planting helps in sorting viable seeds from non-viable seeds. To ensure a proper germinating process, one method is to plant your seeds indoors in a paper towel before planting them directly in your garden or a pot. Growing plants from seeds is a great way to save money and get a healthy, organic diet. Starting your plant with seeds may seem daunting at first, but growing in a paper towel makes the process much easier and faster.

Seeds bring magic to the garden, producing beautiful flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Seed-to-plant transformation begins with germination, followed by stems and leaves when a seed opens to germinate. Many gardeners plant seeds on paper towels and then transplant small seeds into the soil. Let’s check out more information about the paper towel seed germination process below.

Why should you consider seed germination before planting?

Seed germination allows you to test the effectiveness of your seeds. It allows you to germinate many seeds in a small space – a sandwich bag. It can speed up the seed germination process; in some cases, the roots appear within a few days. It mainly works for vegetables as well as flowers and fruits.

Factors for successful seed germination

Seeds need four factors for successful germination. Inside each seed are an embryo and ample food reserves that help germinate. A seed coat covers the outside of each seed. A gardener’s job is to get the seed out of dormancy. All seeds require the right combination of the following factors to germinate;

Temperature: Although most seeds will germinate at room temperature, getting the maximum temperature ensures that your seeds start well.
Moisture: The right moisture amount (not too much, not too little) is needed to activate and get the seeds out of the dormant state.
Air: All seeds need air to breathe. Lack of air can cause the seeds to suffocate or rot (if the moisture level is too high).
Light conditions: Most seeds germinate well in the dark. However, some seeds require light to germinate, as do species belonging to the Begonia, Primula, and Coles family.

Benefits of germinating seeds in paper towel

The biggest reason to grow your seeds on paper towels is to watch your seed germination rate. Soil is not a sterile environment, so other factors can affect whether you ever see a plant or not. If you start seeds on a paper towel, provided you take proper care of the seeds, you can calculate what percentage of seeds are “good”. Although pre-germinating seeds by germination with paper towels add an extra step to the seed germination process, there are several reasons to go ahead and do it.

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Check out the old seed – Over time, the seeds lose their viability. Unfortunately, you cannot tell by looking which one will go ahead and which one will not. They must be allowed to plant and grow. By pre-germinating the seeds, you can plant only those seeds that grow and throw away those that do not.

Saves money – When you sprout seeds in advance, there is no need to toss old seed packets that still contain seeds. In just a day or two, you will know if the seeds are viable or if you need to buy more for this year’s crop.

Saves space – Seed germination can take up a lot of space in the soil, especially since you will need to start over to produce seeds that do not germinate. By pre-germinating the seeds, you only need containers for the next seeds.

Saves time – When seeds germinate in the soil, they can take days to weeks to germinate. This way, most seeds can be sown in just a few days. It is especially important when your weather is short- and every day counts.

Rapid germination – Seeds can germinate overnight or in just a few days! (Some varieties take longer, but the overall process is faster)

Less mess – Starting seeds in plastic bags with wet paper towels means starting with potting soil for a while—no need to mess up. Enjoy your garden cleaning and quick start.

Seed Viability Testing – The paper towel method makes it easy to test your seeds’ germination rate and viability. It is useful when you have limited space for gardening.

Step by step guide for paper towel seed germination process

What you will need here;

Seed
Plastic towels 4-inch towels should be good enough
Plastic zipper bag
A permanent marker for marking seed types on zipper bags. It is unnecessary if you are not germinating more than one type of seed.

Step 1: Collect the seeds and clean them as much as possible. You can also buy tomato seeds and use them for this purpose.

Step 2: Take a paper towel and then fold it in half.

Step 3: After that, fill the spray bottle with water and use a folded paper towel to sprinkle water on both sides. Sprinkle the water so that the whole paper towel gets wet, but the water does not drip.

Step 4: Put the seeds in a damp paper towel. Place the seeds in the middle of a paper towel. Add more or fewer seeds, depending on the planting area size. Just place the seeds in the middle of the towel.

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Step 5: Place the seeds on one side of a paper towel, making sure no seeds overlap. If you have more seeds, repeat the germination process with more paper towels.

Step 6: Take the spray bottle again and spray lightly on each seed spread. One or two spirits should suffice for each seed.

Step 7: Starting on one side, roll up the paper towels loosely, making sure the seeded side is facing inwards. Be careful not to over-tighten or narrow the roll as it may be difficult to open later. Loosely wrap a paper towel with tomato seeds.

Step 8: Open the plastic zipper lock and spray lightly inside with water. Although not necessary, it is recommended if you are not using too much water. Place a wrapped, wet paper towel over it in a plastic zip bag with tomato seeds.

Step 9: Place the wrapped paper towel inside the zipper-lock bag and seal the bag.

Step 10: Keep this bag close to any heat source, such as the back of a refrigerator.

Step 11: Take off the paper towel once a day to see if any seeds have sprouted. Roll it up again and place it back inside the bag near the heat source. The germination period can be less than two days or two weeks. Checking daily will tell you how long it takes for this set of seeds to germinate.

Step 12: When the original roots emerge, remove the seeds, along with the roots, with a paper towel and plant. Paper towels with tomato seeds that have undergone germination. The longer the root grows, the more likely it is to break in a paper towel, which can cause it to separate from the seeds when removed.

Therefore, pick the growing seeds at the right time and plant them in the soil immediately. Remember, do not push the seed into the soil. Instead, make a hole in the soil for the entire root, place it in place and gently push the soil over it. If the seed shows true leaves, make sure it stays on top of the soil.

Seeds suitable for paper towel germination

You can grow tomato seeds in paper towels or coffee filters and Cucumber, Squash, Muskmelons, and Watermelon seeds. Important seeds are – Peas, Snow Peas, Green Beans, Wax Beans, Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant, Broccoli, Turnip, Beans, Cucumbers, Zucchini, Squash, Kiwi, Pineapple, Zinnias, Lemons, and Clementine.

Vegetables that easily germinate with the paper towel method

Tomatoes, Pepper, Eggplant, Peas, Beans, Broccoli, Kale, Chard, Turnips, Radishes, Beetroot, Cucumbers, Squash, Gourds, Lemons, Wheatgrass, and more. If you are growing Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplants, and Cucumbers, they will all grow simultaneously. Below is the step-by-step process to germinate vegetable seeds using a paper towel;

Choose good quality seeds, preferably heirloom seeds, because of their exceptional resistance to pests, viability, and excellent taste.
Next, cut an 8 x 8-inch-long paper towel and spread it on the dish.
Cover it with another eight × 8-inch paper towel that is damp.
Now carefully slide the paper towel into a ten × 10-inch Ziplock bag and seal it so that no air enters. It will keep the vegetable seeds moist. You can now place the bag on a tray or plate and place it by the sunny window. Open it after a week and peek.
If the seeds have sprouted, use tweezers to lift them and put them in the potting mixture. You can leave those that haven’t been in the bag yet and check back in a week. Those that do not germinate after two weeks are unlikely to grow.
All vegetables need a full, well-drained pot mix. In addition, seeds should grow in the type of soil they like best.

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Flowers that are suitable for paper towel germination

Sunflower and Seasonal Flowers

Herbs that are suitable for paper towel germination

Herbs like Basil, Parsley, Oregano, and Thyme are successfully germinated using a paper towel.

Fruits that are suitable for paper towel germination

Fruits like Dates, Watermelon, Melon, Papaya, and many more seeds are successfully germinated using a paper towel.

Problems and their solutions in paper towel seed germination

Although paper towel sprouting is a good practice, it sometimes doesn’t work. Below are some reasons why this might not work for you and some solutions you can try.

Soggy Paper Towel – If there is too much water in the bag, the seeds will rot and die before they germinate. Please make sure you spray it lightly.

Dry paper towel – The seeds need moisture throughout the germination process.

The seeds are in the shade – Some seeds will need sunlight to germinate. However, it can be indirect light, so we recommend covering it with a towel and placing it near a window. If the bag is kept in the shade, the seed may not grow.

Expired seeds – Old seed packs may have expired seeds. Some seeds have a long lifespan but may lose their viability in other months. Note that old badges cannot be germinated. You can find the expected age chart for seeds online.

The best seeds for paper towel germination

You can grow all kinds of seeds that are very fine and otherwise difficult to germinate by soil sowing methods. These can be succulents, herbs, vegetables, flowers, grasses, or seeds of other ornamental plants. Trees with small seeds can also be grown this way, but you can’t sprout hard and large seeds like Avocados.

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Frequently asked questions about the paper towel seed germination process

Can you germinate all the seeds in a paper towel?

Paper towels provide an excellent tool for growing paper towels, filter paper, or even seeds for seed germination. They are disease-free and make it easy to control the moisture content for proper germination. In addition, this method lets you know if your seeds are ahead because you can easily observe them.

Why don’t my seeds germinate?

Several things can cause your seeds to germinate.

Too little / too much water
Too cold / too hot
Not enough oxygen
The seeds are too old
Seeds were stored incorrectly (growing them too fast)

What are the benefits of germinating seeds in paper towels?

Growing seeds in paper towels save space, time, and cost compared to germination in soil.

Can you test the germination rate of seeds using paper towels?

Yes, anyone can check the germination rate of seeds with a paper towel to see how many seeds have come out of a batch. Here’s an easy and quick way to test your seed germination rate and viability:

Take ten seeds from a seed pack and follow the instructions above to grow them with a paper towel.
Read the back of the package to see the number of days expected for it to grow.
Once you reach that day, for example, 14 days or eight days, count how many seeds have sprouted. If ten seeds germinate out of 5 seeds, the germination rate is about 50%, etc.
For this method to work, you must also provide the correct temperature for the germination of a particular seed.

When to transplant seeds with paper towels?

You want to transplant the seed into the soil with a paper towel when the seed germinates. Some seeds take longer to germinate than other seeds, so the timing may vary.

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Is germinating tomato seeds in paper towels?

Yes, you can also germinate tomato seeds in paper towels. This technique can also be used to estimate your conversion rate.

What other vegetable plants work for seeds starting with paper towels?

Most vegetable seeds can go this way as long as you keep paper towels moist.