What is a Seed? How to Germinate and Plant

The Seed: The Birth of New Life in Plants

The seed means the beginning of a new life for plants. Just like a baby in the womb!

If you throw away the seeds of the fruits and vegetables we eat, we can guarantee that you will no longer see them as waste after this article. Because those seeds that you throw away without thinking are actually a symbol of rebirth for plants! If you have a garden, balcony, or terrace, you can use those seeds to grow new plants.

In this article, we have explained seed germination and seed sowing in all detail for you. If you are ready, let’s get started without wasting time!

What is a Seed?

• Do you know the life cycle of the plants around us and the food we eat? Those who know this cycle already know the answer to the question “what is a seed”.
• So let’s explain what a seed is for those who don’t know!
• According to the Turkish Language Association (TDK), a seed is a grain formed from an ovule as a result of fertilization in plants.
• This grain enables the plant to reproduce, in other words, to reproduce.
• The seeds are usually very small, often only a few millimeters in size.
• Their weight is less than 1 gram.
• It is usually hard-shelled and surrounded by a membrane.
• Seed; It consists of the outermost seed coat, the inner nutrient tissue and embryo parts.
• The shell of the seed is called testa.
• When the egg cell in the embryo sac is fertilized, a zygote is formed. The zygote develops over time and becomes an embryo.
• The embryo is the living part of the seed.
• Seed plants are divided into gymnosperms and angiosperms.
• Gymnosperms, as the name suggests, are seeds whose seeds develop in the open air. That is, the seeds do not develop inside the ovary. The fertilization period is very long. The seed pods develop before the fertilization stage.
• In angiosperms, the seed is formed after fertilization and pollination.

How is the seed germinated?

• It is thanks to germination that the embryo emerges from the seed and turns into a free plant.
• This process is also known as a seed sprouting among the people.
• It is essential to create suitable conditions for germination.

So what are these favorable conditions?

• For seed germination, water, humidity, and temperature must be at the ideal level.
• Otherwise, the seed will remain dormant, meaning it will not germinate.
• When the seed germinates, the outer hard shell cracks.
• From this cracked part, first, the radicle and then the remaining part of the embryo come out.
• The embryo feeds on the nutrients in the seed.
• When the plant rises towards the light, it feeds by creating its own food with its green leaves.
• Thanks to germination, a small plant emerges from the seed.

So how is germination done?

• Separate the seeds of the fruits and vegetables you eat and soak them in water for a day.
• The next day, remove the beans from the water and put them in a towel and fold the towel paper.
• Then, wet this towel paper with seeds in it and put it in a transparent bag that can be closed with water.
• A ziplock bag may be a good choice.
• Store the bag in a cool place for about 2 weeks.
• At the end of the second week, some of the seeds will have burst, that is, they will have germinated.
• The more seeds you germinate, the more likely you are to be successful.
• You can sow the germinated seeds into the soil when the root parts reach 1 cm in length.

How to Plant a Seed?

• If you are going to plant seeds, we recommend that you first do a little research on the care and living conditions of the plant you want to grow. This will make your job much easier.
• Decide what kind of container you would prefer for the seed in the light of the research. The choice of the container in which the seed will be planted and where this container will be placed is very important.
• The pot or container should be located in a place where suitable conditions are provided for the plant.
• For your plant, you can choose seed germinating vials, plastic cups, germination bags or balcony pots with different features, which you can find ready in the market.
• After choosing the germination container, you must decide where to position the plant in the house.
• The research we mentioned above will make your job easier at this point. You can make a suitable positioning by considering the needs of the plant you will plant.
• After choosing the container and location, it’s time to prepare the soil mix!
• The plant feeds on the elements in the soil. Therefore, you need to prepare nutrient-rich and well-drained soil.
• During the germination phase, permeable and high water holding capacity soil should be used. Peat is the most ideal soil type at this stage. You can blend peat with fertilizer if you wish.
• We made the selection of positioning, pot, and soil. So how should you plant the seed? Let’s take a look at the answer to this question.
• First, fill approximately 1/3 of the container you have chosen with soil.
• Before placing the seed, water the soil abundantly and wait for the soil to absorb this water.
• Then place your seed in this soil with the root part down and cover it with soil.
• In fact, planting depth and spacing differ for each seed. However, if we need to generalize; seeds should be placed at 2-3 times their own size spaced apart.
• Seeds planted too deeply cannot get the air and heat they need, so they cannot germinate.
• Seeds that are not planted deep enough cannot reach moisture. In this case, it prevents their germination and development.
• If you soak the seeds overnight in warm water before planting, you will get them to germinate much sooner.
• As soon as the seed planting process is completed, the first irrigation should be done. Among the people, the first irrigation is also called life irrigation. Irrigation is a life-giving process and it is very important to do it right.
• In the first stage, you can do the irrigation process with fishes. At this point, the aim is to keep the soil of the plant moist until germination occurs.