How to Prime a Vegetable Seed

Priming simply means soaking your vegetable seeds---usually overnight---before sowing. Priming hydrates vegetable seeds, but not enough for germination. When a primed seed gets into the ground, germination occurs more quickly because the seed is already filled with the water.

Things You'll Need

• Vegetable seed
• Bowl
• Water
• Pie pans

Instructions

1. Fully immerse your seeds in a bowl of water the day before sowing.

2. Soak the seeds for the recommended number of hours for the type of vegetable seed. For example, prime corn seed 12 to 18 hours. Prime other types of vegetable seeds for less time. You do not want to prime your seeds for longer than the recommended number of hours or they will start to germinate.

3. Spread the seeds in pie pans to dry.

4. Sow the seeds the next day.

References

• Seed Priming
• Seed Priming Explained
• Pre-Treating Your Seeds