Some types of wildflower seeds will sprout more quickly if you do a little extra work before planting them, but most of them can be spread out on bare ground. Morning Glory, Lupine, Sweet Pea, and other seeds have very hard shells that you can see just by looking at them. If you want these seeds to sprout the fastest and most successfully, you can scarify and soak them before planting.
Seed Scarification: nicking, breaking, softening, or otherwise weakening of the seed coating meant to speed up germination.
You can see the hard, almost walnut-like seed coating on these Nasturtium seeds. For best germination, you can nick the outer coating and soak the seeds overnight before planting.
Nasturtiums are one of the most popular and easy-to-grow annual flowers for gardens. Their brightly colored funnel-shaped flowers and rounded leaves add a pop of color and texture to beds borders, containers and more. Nasturtiums also happen to be edible, making them a versatile and multi-purpose addition to any garden.
When it comes to planting nasturtium seeds, some gardeners like to pre-soak them before sowing while others simply direct sow them So should you soak nasturtium seeds before planting them? Here is what you need to know
The Purpose of Soaking Seeds
Soaking seeds before planting, also known as seed scarification serves a few purposes
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It softens the outer seed coating, allowing the embryo to emerge more easily.
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It initiates metabolic processes within the seed to kickstart germination.
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It shortens overall germination time by giving the seeds a head start.
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It can help improve overall germination rates.
By soaking seeds before sowing them, you ensure they have absorbed adequate moisture to germinate. This gives them the best chance at sprouting quickly and uniformly once planted.
How to Soak Nasturtium Seeds
Soaking nasturtium seeds is simple:
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Place seeds in a container and cover with warm water. Let them soak overnight or up to 8 hours.
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Drain the water and rinse the seeds. Pat them dry with a paper towel.
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Sow seeds immediately in the garden or containers. Don’t let them dry out.
Soaking for 8 hours or less helps initiate germination but prevents seeds from rotting. Any longer can lead to mold growth and seed death.
When to Soak Nasturtium Seeds
You can soak nasturtium seeds either before direct sowing them outside or before starting them indoors.
Soaking isn’t strictly necessary but can be helpful for a few reasons:
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If sowing seeds very early in cool soil, soaking helps warm them up for better germination.
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In dry conditions, pre-soaking ensures seeds have enough moisture to sprout.
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When starting indoors, soaking synchronizes germination for even growth.
So consider current conditions before deciding whether pre-soaking could benefit your nasturtium seeds.
How to Direct Sow Nasturtiums
If not pre-soaking, sow nasturtium seeds directly in the garden after all danger of frost:
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Choose a site with full sun to partial shade. Nasturtiums can tolerate drought but produce best with regular water.
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Prepare soil by mixing in compost to improve drainage. Rake smooth.
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Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep and 12 inches apart. Cover lightly with soil.
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Water gently and keep soil moist until seeds sprout in 1-2 weeks. Thin seedlings 6-12 inches apart.
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For trailing varieties, sow next to trellises or allow plants to creep along the ground.
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For compact types, space seeds 6 inches apart for full, mounded form.
Growing Conditions for Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums grow best in the following conditions:
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Full sun to part shade
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Average to poor, sandy or gravelly soil
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Consistent moisture – water when top inch of soil is dry
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Regular fertilizer can cause more foliage than flowers
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Cooler temperatures around 70°F
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Growing zones 2-11
Avoid over-feeding nasturtiums or planting them in very rich soil. This can mean more leaves than flowers. But do provide even moisture – erratic watering also reduces blooms.
Caring for Nasturtiums
To keep nasturtiums looking their best:
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Water when the top inch of soil becomes dry. Avoid soggy soil.
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Remove spent flowers to encourage more blooms.
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Cut back any leggy growth to keep plants full.
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Stake or trellis climbing varieties.
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Mulch soil to retain moisture and control weeds.
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In zones 9-11, provide afternoon shade if temps exceed 85°F.
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Protect from heavy frost or bring indoors in cold climates.
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Watch for aphids, cucumber beetles and whitefly. Control with insecticidal soap.
With the proper growing conditions and care, nasturtiums will thrive with little effort on your part. Pre-soaking seeds can further boost germination for a vibrant nasturtium display.
When to Harvest Nasturtium Seeds
An added benefit of nasturtiums is that they self-sow readily. Let some spent flowers go to seed at the end of the season:
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Identify flowers you want to collect seeds from. Look for your largest or most prolific plants.
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Allow seed pods to dry out completely on the plants after flowering finishes.
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Collect pods once they turn brown and papery. Break them open to remove seeds.
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Spread seeds on a screen or newspaper to finish drying. Store in an envelope or jar.
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In spring, sow dried seeds directly in the garden. They should germinate readily if evenly watered.
Saving your own nasturtium seeds ensures you’ll have a continuous supply of these easy annuals for future growing seasons.
Reasons to Grow Nasturtiums
Here are some top reasons to include nasturtiums in your garden:
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Bright, vibrant flowers in shades of red, orange, yellow, white and pink
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Attract hummingbirds, bees and beneficial insects
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Fragrant, peppery leaves and flowers are edible
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Grow easily from seed in any sunny spot
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Tolerate drought, poor soil and cool weather
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Repel certain garden pests like whiteflies and cucumber beetles
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Trailing or mounding growth habits provide versatility
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Self-sow readily for years of color
With their fast growth, low maintenance needs and continual flowers, nasturtiums are one of the easiest and most rewarding annuals you can grow. For a quick start, go ahead and soak those seeds before planting. Then sit back and enjoy waves of garden color all season long.
Common Seed Varieties That Need Scarification
Many native plants and wildflowers need to be scarified because they probably have systems in place that control when their seeds sprout. This is a trait that has helped them adapt well to our climates. When in doubt, assume that your natives need to be soaked before planting at the least!.
Note: Most vegetable seeds are soft and do not require any scarification.
This isn’t a complete list, but these are some common garden seed types that grow faster and germinate better after being scarified and soaked:
Morning Glories, Nasturtium, and Sweet Peas
Lupine, Milkweed, and Joe Pye Weed
Poppy Mallow, Columbine, and Moonflower
Spinach, Winter Squash, and Beans
Morning Glories are one of the seeds that benefit from scarification and soaking to speed up germination.
How To Scarify Seeds: Get Your Ingredients Together
We scarified and soaked five different seed varieties in less than one hour.
You should be able to find all the tools you need for this job by looking around your kitchen and workshop. You have several options for tools to nick the seed coats. We used sandpaper, a file, and a nail, in our experiment. The file works best on bigger seeds, while the sandpaper is a great choice for smaller seeds.
All the ingredients youll need to scarify and soak your seeds.
You will need a file or rasp, sandpaper, a nail, several bowls, water that is room temperature, peat moss, and plastic bags or peat moss if you want to store the seeds overnight.
How to prepare nasturtium seeds for planting with nicking & soaking!
FAQ
How long should I soak my nasturtium seeds?
How do you prepare nasturtium seeds for planting?
Should you nick nasturtium seeds before planting?
Which seeds need soaking before planting?
Do you need to soak Nasturtium seeds before planting?
No, you do not need to soak nasturtium seeds before planting. However, soaking the seeds can help to speed up germination. To soak nasturtium seeds, place them in a bowl of water and let them soak for 24 hours. After soaking, drain the seeds and plant them in moist soil. Nasturtium seeds will typically germinate within 7-10 days.
How do you plant nasturtiums?
The easiest way to plant nasturtiums is to direct sow the seeds in your garden or in a container. Nasturtium seeds are large, about the size of a dried pea, and need to planted fairly deep in the soil. To get your nasturtiums started, plant the seeds about 1/2 inch in the soil after the last frost date in your area.
When should nasturtiums be planted?
For a second planting, sow seeds directly in the garden around mid-summer for a fall crop of nasturtiums. The plants will flower until frost. You can also grow nasturtiums as a winter annual in warmer climates by planting in late summer or early fall. When it comes to positioning nasturtium plants in the landscape, you have a lot of flexibility.
How long should Nasturtium seeds stay in water?
Keep the boil in a quiet, safe space, away from crowds and animals. Let the seeds remain soaked in the water for anywhere between 8 to 48 hours. However, it is ideal for keeping the seeds in the water between 12 to 24 hours. When Should You Plant Nasturtiums