Copyright Ozarkhomesteader 2009.
Certain seeds like beets and chard come with their own protective coating that’s designed to slow germination. As a matter of fact, both of these “seed” in fact are pods that contain several seeds inside. Other seeds, like corn, beans, pumpkins, melons, and nasturtium, are large enough that it can take a while for moisture to soak in and germinate them. I try to give all of these seeds a head start by soaking them for at least several hours or as much as 24 hours before I plant. That way, I need less water to get them started in the garden. With beet, chard, nasturtium, and other particularly tough seeds, I take it one step further. I soak for 24 hours. Then I drain the seed well and put them in a container that I can seal. I watch them carefully until I see the first signs of sprouting and then plant. This technique also works well for starting beet and chard seed when it’s too cold in the garden to get them to germinate, but they’ll grow just fine once they get started. Happy planting!
