How to Soak Tomato Seeds
Tomato seeds, like other types of seeds, must sprout and go through a germination phase to begin growing into a plant. Soaking tomato seeds before planting them is one way to speed up the germination process.
Soaking tomato seeds to reduce the amount of time that it takes to sprout the seeds is useful for seeds that have been preserved or frozen. Seeds that were recently cleaned are already soaked and can be planted without additional soaking.
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Things You'll Need
- Tomato seeds
- Large cup or bowl
- Water
- Plastic wrap
- Knife
- Spoon
- Paper towels
Instructions
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Remove seeds from their storage location; seeds that are preserved are generally kept in plastic bags in a freezer. Allow the seeds to thaw. Do not microwave or heat them; let them sit out for a few hours.
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2
Fill the cup or bowl with a small amount of water. Use the spoon to carefully place the seeds into the cup. Wait a few minutes for the seeds to settle to the bottom of the cup; some seeds may float.
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3
Slowly add more water to the cup until all of the seeds are fully submerged. Place a layer of plastic wrap over the top of the cup or bowl and poke at least two small airholes in the plastic wrap with the knife.
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4
After placing the seeds in the water, check on the seeds every few hours. Remove a few seeds with the spoon and gently hold a seed between your fingers. If the seeds are swollen and very soft to the touch you can remove the seeds.This indicates that water has reached the inside of the seed. Do not soak the seeds for more than 24 hours.
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Remove the seeds from the water with the spoon and gently spread them out on the paper towels. Place another layer of paper towels over the seeds and gently pat them dry. You do not need to fully dry them; just dry them enough to get excess water off of the outside of the seeds so they don't stick to the towels or your hands when planting.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not soak the seeds so long that they sprout in the water. If the seeds sprout in water and are then removed, they can quickly die. Once a seed sprouts, it needs consistent light and nutrients. If a seed sprouts in the soaking process this indicates that the seed has been left to soak for too long.
