How to Fluid Sow Seeds

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By carolj1
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Fluid Sow Seeds

Some seeds, such as celery, parsley, carrots, and parsnips, are slow or difficult to germinate. Others, such as lettuce and basil, are small and delicate and easily damaged or washed away when you water. If you want to give these seeds a better chance of germinating and growing into viable crop plants, try a gardening technique know as fluid sowing.

To fluid sow you first pre-germinate the seeds. Then you suspend them in a gelatinous solution and sow the mixture into your garden. Because the seeds are already pre-germinated, the seeds establish themselves quicker and grow faster. Plus the gel holds them in place better and makes it easier to space them evenly. Try it to improve your seed sowing success and get an earlier start on the season.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Pre-germinate the seeds by placing them on a moist paper towel. Try not to have any of the seeds touching. Place the towel on a firm backing (I use a small cutting board) and place a moist paper towel over the top. Place this in a plastic bag and put the seeds somewhere dark and warm to germinate. About 70 degrees F is optimum. Check them every other day to ensure the towels remain moist. The seeds also benefit from some fresh air.
Step 2

As soon as they germinate it is time to sow them. You will be able to see the emerging roots, although you will need a magnifying glass for the smaller seeds so examine them carefully- if you let them grow too far on the towel they will die when you sow them in the soil.
Step 3

Make the gel. Dissolve 2 to 3 tablespoons of cornstarch in one pint of water. Heat this on the stove stirring constantly until the water boils and the mix thickens enough that the seeds will be suspended in it without sinking.
Step 4

Pour half the gel solution into a small bowl and let it thoroughly cool. Then add the pre-germinated seeds and pour the other half of the gel on top.
Step 5

Carrot seeds suspended in the gel.

Stir gently until the seeds are evenly dispersed. Then pour the gel into a plastic baggie and seal tightly.
Step 6

Cut a tiny hole in one corner of the bag. It should only be big enough to allow the seeds to fit through.
Step 7

Sow direct in the garden.

Take the bag to the garden and squeeze it gently (kind of like a frosting bag) to place the globs of gel and seed at the desired spacing. You can sow in furrows or directly on the soil surface. When finished, cover with soil or other covering medium as usual.