why and what solutions?

Seedlings that do not germinate

Even if you have sown your seeds in the rules of the art, you can note with annoyance that they do not germinate, that is to say that after ten days you do not see any seedlings emerging. There can be several causes for this. But first of all, let’s remember that a seed is a living product that is made up of 3 elements:

1. The embryo, that is to say the future plant.
2. The cotyledon which contains the embryo and provides it with the nutritional reserves it needs.
3. The integument, that is to say the protective envelope.

Moreover, the fact that the seed is alive implies thatit must breathe to survive. With this little information, let’s now see why the seeds may not germinate.

Improper seed storage

We have seen that the seeds are alive, they must therefore be stored under suitable conditions to their survival. Here are the conditions required for their good conservation:

• You have to store them in a dark place away from moisture.
• You should choose a room or premises where the temperature does not vary too much and, ideally, remains between 0 and 10°.
• If your seeds are not perfectly dry, it is best to store them in a paper bag preferably, because it has the advantage of being aerated and preventing the seeds from rotting. On the other hand, if your seeds are perfectly dry, you can use a small glass jar or a plastic box.

Thus preserved, your seeds will have a better chance of germinating.

Seeds too old

We always come back to the fact that the seeds are alive! Thus, after a few years, the seeds lose their ability to germinate. Some have a shorter life expectancy than others. For example, onion seeds are only fertile for about a year, while pumpkin seeds can germinate even after 5 years.

To check if your seeds are still fertileyou can do this:

• Place about twenty seeds on a damp paper towel.
• Install everything in a heated room.
• Be sure to maintain constant humidity on the surface of the paper towel.
• After the germination period has passed, check the number of seeds that have germinated. If you have at least half of them, you can keep them.

Important : If you have purchased packets of seeds, before sowing, be sure to look at the expiry date on the packaging.

Unsuitable substrate or poor sowing technique

For a good emergence of your seeds, it is, again, necessary to sow them in accordance with certain conditions:

• For example, some seeds need to be placed in the fridge for a few days before being sown.
• Depending on the seeds, you have to sow them at greater or lesser depth. Generally speaking, the smaller the seeds, the shallower they should be buried. This means that the smaller seeds should be just covered with soil, while the slightly larger seeds should be planted a little deeper to prevent them from being feasted on by various animals, as well as to allow them to s root properly.
• The substrate is also important. Opt for sufficiently moist soil, without being soggy, and sufficiently drained. If you sow in open ground, be sure to loosen the soil well and improve it with humus beforehand.

Temperatures too low

In terms of temperature, the seeds do not all have the same requirements: some have need a higher temperature, while others do not. For example, if you notice that your tomatoes, peppers, or eggplants aren’t sprouting, try bringing them near a heat source.

Depending on where you are planting, it is possible that the temperature is not sufficient. If the seeds were sown in the ground, they may not germinate because the ground is still too cold.

So, if you sow seeds too early, weeds may take over before your seeds have time to germinate. The lack of water can also prevent your plants from sprouting. To counter these problems, after sowing your seeds in the ground, you can cover them with a veil until they germinate. This has several advantages:

• The ground can retain its heat.
• Soil water evaporates less on sunny days.
• Birds can no longer come and peck your seeds.

Seedlings that no longer grow

Your sowing started, but alas, you noticed a halt in their growth. This can happen if you used potting soil that is not fertile enough. The universal soil being richer in nitrogen, it will allow you to avoid this type of inconvenience. If your plant turns yellow, then this is a sign that the substrate no longer has enough nitrogen for the plant.

At this time, it would then be necessary to plant your seedling in the ground, which is unfortunately not always possible, for example if the season is not far enough along or if the plants are too small. One solution to remedy this problem of lack of nitrogen consists in repotting by adding new soil.

Seedlings leaning or collapsing

Have you noticed that your seedlings are leaning towards the window? It just means that they are looking for light. To avoid this, remember to turn the pot regularly to allow the plant to grow evenly. Generally, seedlings need a lot of light and if they don’t get enough, they tend to pale and sag.

In this case, it is preferable to install your plants in a brighter location. If you have a veranda, it will be enough to install your plantations there, if not, it may be necessary to install a grow light. However, it is necessary to protect your seedlings from direct sunlight to avoid any risk of burning.

What to do in case of failed sowing?

If you miss your seedlings, don’t despair! Try to understand where the problem comes from to fix it and start again immediately. Your plants can then be planted in the ground, a slight delay is not necessarily a problem.