Why Vegetable Seedlings Won't Grow

It's disheartening to plan a garden and sow seeds, only to find they will not sprout. There are many reasons vegetable seeds might fail to germinate.

Seedlings.

Time Frame

Before you get too discouraged, check your seed packets. Some seeds will germinate in seven to 10 days. Others can take up to three weeks if conditions are unfavorable.

Considerations

Seeds that have been in storage too long, or that were improperly preserved and stored, might be the problem from the start. You can test questionable seeds ahead of planting by sprinkling them between layers of wet paper towels and waiting to see if any sprout.

Sowing

The depth the seeds are sown is important to achieve germination, notes the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Sown too deeply, sprouts might not be able to emerge above the soil line. Seeds sown too shallow outdoors can be washed away or left for birds and rodents to take.

Soil

Sowing seeds indoors requires a warm, lightweight growing medium with good drainage. The Master Gardener--Ohio State University Extension recommends using disinfected containers and a sterile growing medium.

Prevention--Solution

Start with healthy seeds and prepare your soil carefully. Sow at the recommended depth in warm soil with good drainage. Ed Hume Seeds recommends avoiding watering extremes because too little or too much can put stress on seeds.

References

• University of Florida: Seeding The Garden
• Master Gardener: Plant Propagation
• Why Are My Garden Seeds Not Growing?