Complete Seed Germination and Nursery Management: From Dormancy to Transplant
⟁ cover painted for this edition — the source module carried no illustrations
Complete Seed Germination and Nursery Management: From Dormancy to Transplant
Every garden, orchard, and forest begins with a seed. This campaign covers seed biology, germination techniques, seedling care, hardening off, and nursery management.
Chapter 1: Seed Biology
Factor
Detail
Significance
Viability
Percentage of seeds that will germinate
Decreases with age and poor storage
Dormancy
Mechanism preventing premature germination
Must be broken before germination
Stratification
Cold/moist treatment (simulates winter)
Required by many temperate species
Scarification
Physical/chemical seed coat treatment
Required by hard-coated seeds
Light requirement
Some seeds need light to germinate
Don't bury too deep
Temperature
Each species has optimal germination temp
Too cold or hot = failure
Moisture
Seeds must absorb water to germinate
Consistent moisture critical
Seed Storage Life
Examples
Storage Conditions
1-2 years
Onion, parsley, parsnip
Cool, dry, dark
3-4 years
Pepper, bean, pea, corn
Cool, dry, dark
5-6 years
Tomato, cucumber, melon, squash
Cool, dry, dark
7-10+ years
Lettuce (variable), some grains
Cool, dry, dark
Chapter 2: Germination Techniques
Method
Best For
Equipment
Difficulty
Speed
Direct sow (outdoor)
Large seeds, root crops
Garden bed
Very low
Variable
Indoor seed starting
Warm-season crops, small seeds
Trays, soil, light
Low
Fast (controlled)
Winter sowing
Hardy perennials, trees
Milk jugs, outdoor
Very low
Slow (natural)
Paper towel method
Testing viability, fast starters
Paper towel, bag
Very low
Fast
Soil blocks
Transplant-sensitive species
Block maker, mix
Moderate
Fast
Stratification (cold)
Temperate trees, perennials
Fridge, moist medium
Low
Slow (weeks-months)
Scarification
Hard-coated seeds (morning glory, lupine)
Sandpaper, hot water
Very low
Then normal
Indoor seed starting: 1) Fill trays/cells with seed starting mix (light, sterile, well-draining). 2) Moisten mix before filling (should be damp, not soggy). 3) Plant seeds at correct depth (general rule: 2x seed diameter). 4) Very fine seeds: press onto surface, don't cover. 5) Cover tray with plastic dome or wrap (maintains humidity). 6) Place in warm location (70-80°F for most vegetables). 7) Remove cover when seeds emerge. 8) Provide strong light immediately (south window or grow lights, 14-16 hours/day). 9) Keep soil consistently moist (not wet). 10) Thin to one seedling per cell when first true leaves appear. 11) Begin fertilizing at 1/4 strength when true leaves appear.
Chapter 3: Seedling Care
Problem
Cause
Solution
Prevention
Leggy seedlings
Insufficient light
Move closer to light, lower temperature
Provide strong light from day one
Damping off
Fungal disease (wet, poor air flow)
Remove affected, improve air flow
Sterile mix, don't overwater, air circulation
Yellow leaves
Nutrient deficiency, overwatering
Fertilize, check drainage
Proper mix, correct watering
Wilting
Underwatering, root damage, disease
Water, check roots
Consistent moisture
Slow growth
Cold temperature, poor light, poor nutrition
Warm, light, fertilize
Correct environment
Purple leaves
Phosphorus deficiency (often cold soil)
Warm soil, fertilize
Maintain soil temperature
Watering seedlings: 1) Bottom watering is best (set tray in water, let soil wick up). 2) This encourages deep root growth. 3) Top watering is fine if gentle (misting or small watering can). 4) Water when surface is dry to touch (not before). 5) Never let seedlings sit in standing water (root rot). 6) Morning watering is best (leaves dry during day). 7) Consistent moisture is key (not wet-dry cycles).
Chapter 4: Hardening Off
Day
Outdoor Exposure
Conditions
Protection
1-2
1-2 hours
Shade, sheltered from wind
Bring inside at night
3-4
3-4 hours
Partial sun, light breeze
Bring inside at night
5-6
5-6 hours
More sun, some wind
Bring inside if frost
7-8
8-10 hours
Full sun, normal wind
Can stay out overnight if mild
9-10
Full day and night
Full conditions
Ready to transplant
Hardening off procedure: 1) Begin 7-14 days before planned transplant date. 2) First day: place seedlings outdoors in shade, sheltered spot, for 1-2 hours. 3) Gradually increase time and sun exposure each day. 4) Reduce watering slightly (don't let wilt). 5) Stop fertilizing during hardening. 6) Bring inside if temperature drops below 45°F (for warm-season crops). 7) By day 10-14: seedlings should handle full sun and outdoor temperatures. 8) Transplant on a cloudy day or in evening (less transplant shock). 9) Water thoroughly after transplanting.
Chapter 5: Nursery Management
Task
Frequency
Purpose
Method
Watering
Daily (check)
Maintain moisture
Bottom water or gentle top water
Fertilizing
Weekly (after true leaves)
Nutrition
1/4 to 1/2 strength liquid fertilizer
Thinning
Once (at true leaf stage)
Reduce competition
Scissors (cut, don't pull)
Potting up
When rootbound
More root space
Move to larger container
Air circulation
Constant
Prevent disease
Fan on low, open vents
Light management
Daily
Prevent legginess
14-16 hours strong light
Record keeping
Each batch
Track varieties, dates
Label everything
Pest monitoring
Daily
Early detection
Inspect undersides of leaves
Reference Card
Light is the most common limiting factor (leggy, weak seedlings almost always need more light; provide 14-16 hours of strong light). 2. Bottom water for strong roots (setting trays in water encourages roots to grow down; top watering encourages shallow roots). 3. Don't skip hardening off (transplanting indoor seedlings directly outdoors causes shock, sunburn, and death; take 10-14 days). 4. Sterile mix prevents damping off (use commercial seed starting mix or sterilize your own; garden soil carries fungal diseases). 5. Thin ruthlessly (crowded seedlings compete and all suffer; cut extras with scissors, don't pull, which disturbs roots). 6. Label everything (you will not remember which tray is which variety; label at planting and maintain labels through transplant). 7. Cool nights strengthen seedlings (slightly cool night temperatures, 55-65°F, produce stockier, stronger plants). 8. The seed knows (seeds contain everything needed to become a plant; your job is to provide the right conditions and get out of the way).
