Cool Beans SF

First we have to get the seed to germinate. Germinate, a 10 cent horticultural word that appears to mean ’start growing’ but which actually reveals some of the hurdles.Bonsai seed germination is the official term for the fine art of multiplying your bonsai plant. It is where, like most plants, seeds sprout after a short period of being dormant or stagnant. A lot of factors influence the dynamics of germinating bonsai seeds.Optimal germination temperatures can range as low as seventy or seventy-five degrees F for plants such as lettuce, celery, spinach and asparagus. Once you are ready to seed germination your seeds, you have two (2) germination methods: natural germination or forced germination.In the case of pansies, sow the pansy seed on top of the soil and then cover with a thin layer of soil right over top of the seed. The right depth is one that just barely covers the seed. If you plant too deeply, the seed will not germinate. Pansy seed does require darkness to germinate properly so you do have to cover it.What does “germinate” mean?
To germinate, a seed takes in water and begins to swell, and continues until the tiny plants emerge from the soil and begin to make their own food by photosynthesis.Seeds planted outside are usually planted in the soil in which they will grow during the entire season. The soil must be properly prepared in advance, by adding manure, compost, bone meal, or whatever that particular vegetable or flower needs to grow though not so much of it that the seedlings will grow too fast and be leggy.
You can plant the seeds straight into individual pots however a seed tray will allow you to plant more in a confined space. Fill the tray 3/4 full of fine compost (sieved if possible). Then add the seeds in straight lines leaving about 5cm between seeds. Next sieve over another 3-5mm of compost. Be sure to label the seeds if more than one variety is being grown. Place a cover over the tray and place somewhere warm.