Tag: spring

How to Germinate Seeds in Paper Towels

By

On March 7, 2021

In Gardening

Germinating seeds in paper towels adds an extra step before planting but often leads to better outcomes. It is easy to do and takes just a few minutes!

Start Seeds in paper towels for better germination and a head start on the season.

Have you ever planted seeds just to wonder why they aren’t germinating? Maybe the seeds are old? Maybe the growing conditions aren’t right? Did I plant them too deep? If you have ever tried to start seeds indoors you know it can sometimes be a frustrating process.

Germinating seeds in paper towels before you plant them in containers adds an extra step but often leads to better outcomes. Seeds germinate more quickly and you can easily check on your seeds as they start to grow. Best of all, it is easy to do and just takes a few minutes.

Now we will go through this process step-by-step. Let’s get started!

Advantages to Germinating Seeds in Paper Towels Before Planting

You may be wondering, why germinate seeds in paper towels at all? Why not plant them directly in the soil and skip this step all together?

Excellent questions! Here are some reasons why I germinate many of my seeds in paper towels before planting:

  • I use a lot of seeds that I have saved from previous years. It is impossible to know if seeds are still good just by looking at them. Within a couple of days I will know if the seeds are still viable or if I need to purchase new ones.

  • Putting the seeds in a damp paper towel in a plastic bag makes greenhouse-like conditions which often leads to faster germination.

  • You can see exactly which seeds have germinated so you only plant seeds that are sure to develop.

  • It is fun to check you seeds each day and watch them grow!

What types of seeds to germinate in paper towels?

If you have seeds saved from previous years, this method can be used to test germination of pretty much any type of seed. Place a few seeds in the paper towel and see if they start to grow. If all are duds, it is time to purchase some new seed!

Most of the time though, I just start seeds that I am going to start as transplants rather than seeds I would sow directly in the garden. Good choices for transplants are vegetables with a longer growing season than would be damaged from cold and frosty conditions. This way you can start them earlier and get a head start on the season.

Here are some of the seeds I regularly start inside:

  • Tomatoes
  • Peppers
  • Pumpkins
  • Zucchini
  • Squash
  • Cucumbers
  • Melons
  • Some flowers

Materials

To germinate seeds in paper towels you will need:

  • Paper towels
  • Sandwich sized zip-top bags
  • A permanent marker
  • Seeds
Seed packets with paper towels, bags, and a marker

How to Germinate Seeds in Paper Towels

Start by wetting a paper towel. I usually use about 2 paper towels per type of seed. You want the paper towel to be fully moist but not dripping wet.

Holding a paper towel under running water.
Start by wetting a paper towel or two. You want them moist but not dripping wet.

Lay the paper towels flat and place the seeds on one side. You can put however many seeds you want as long as you leave some space between them. This way they will not crowd each other as they start to grow. It is a good idea to start a few more seeds than you think you need because you will rarely get a 100% germination rate.

Pumpkin seeds on a damp paper towel
Lay the seeds on one side of the towel. It is a good idea to start a few more seeds than you think you will need.

After you have placed your seeds fold the paper towel one or two more times so it will fit in your zip top bag. Place it inside the bag and seal it closed. Label the bag with the permanent marker.

folded paper towel in a zip-top bag
Label the bag so you know what is inside!

Place the plastic bags where they will not be disturbed. Since many seeds germinate well at room temperature, I usually just leave mine on the kitchen counter. This way I will not forget to check them often. Make sure you keep the seeds out of direct sunlight because they will easily become too hot.

Make sure you check your seeds every day for progress and signs of growth. If the paper towels seem like they have dried out, add a little more water to keep them moist.

starting seeds in paper towels
Leave seeds where you remember to check on them often. I usually put mine on the kitchen counter.

When to Plant Your Seeds

Most seeds take 3-5 days to germinate. I have had some that have taken up to a week. As soon as you see some root growth you can plant them in peat pots, egg cartons, or plastic containers.

Transplanting the seeds as soon as possible makes is less likely that the roots will become damaged, which may impede growth and proper development. If you wait too long, the roots will become long and tangled in the paper towel and root damage is more likely to occur. After you plant your seeds, it generally takes 2-5 more days for the seedlings to emerge.

Check the seeds often and plant them as soon as the root starts to show like the picture on the left. By waiting only two more days, the roots grow quickly and become tangled in the paper towel like in the picture on the right. It becomes difficult to plant the seeds without damaging the roots.
pumpkin seedlings in peat pots
After your seeds germinate plant them in pots. They will usually emerge in a few more days.

Hope you get better and faster germination this year by starting your seeds in paper towels before transplanting. Happy Gardening!

Not ready to plant right now? Be sure to pin for later!

Start Seeds in paper towels for better germination and a head start on the season.

You may also like:

Orange yellow red cherry tomatoes

Cherry Tomato Taste Test

Taking marigold seeds out of seed heads

How to Save Marigold Seeds

pink four o'clock flowers

How to Grow Four o’Clock Flowers

Strawberry plants with dead leaves over the winter

How to Clean Up Strawberry Beds

By

On December 12, 2020

In Gardening

Strawberries are a wonderful plant to include in your home garden! With proper care they can produce sweet juicy strawberries for many years. However, strawberry plants can take a beating over the winter. Leaves die and if you did not prune your runners the previous summer your berry patch can easily become a tangled mess like the picture below:

Strawberry plants with dead leaves over the winter
Strawberry plants can easily become a tangled mess over the winter. Cleaning them out before growth starts will help to keep the plants healthy and maximize yields the following spring.

Today I will show you how to clean up your strawberry beds so they are ready for growth in the spring. Let’s get started!

Why to Clean Up Your Strawberry Beds

There are several reasons to clean up your strawberry beds before growth starts in the spring:

  • Old leaves and plant materials left behind can propagate diseases.
  • Snails and slugs can become a problem when there are a lot of dead leaves and places for them to hide.
  • Dense plantings compete for light and nutrients, which will decrease productivity and lead to smaller berries.
  • Pruning increases air circulation which will reduce the chance of diseases to spread.

When to Clean Up Strawberry Beds

One of the best times to prune strawberries is in the summer, right after the final harvest of the year. However, since leaves may die over the winter months, strawberries should be cleaned up and pruned a second time in late winter. This is past when any damage will occur due to cold weather but before they put on lush spring growth. Late January through early March is generally a good time.

How to Clean Up Strawberry Beds

Step 1: Pull up old plants

Strawberry plants die for a number of reasons and they need to be removed from your strawberry bed. You can recognize these plants because the leaves are dead and there is no green growth at the crown. Since strawberry plants naturally decline in productivity after about three years, also pull up any plants that are hard and woody and show little new growth.

a dead strawberry plant
This plant has brown, dead leaves and no green growth at the crown. Pull it up and remove it from your strawberry bed.

Step 2: Prune away dead leaves, runners, and flower stalks

Dead leaves are of no benefit to the plant and can spread diseases. They also give a place for snails, slugs, and other pests to hide. Prune these off at their base, being careful not to damage the crown of the plant. Also remove older leaves that are very long and dull, or leaves that are red or yellowed. Leave the healthy green leaves growing close to the crown of the plant.

Cut away dead leaves at the base of the strawberry plant.
Prune away dead leaves at their base. Leave healthy green leaves and be careful not to damage the crown of the plant.

Sometimes old flower stalks are still attached to the plant. They serve no purpose at this point so make sure to remove them as well.

Also remove runners, or the stems that go between plants, as these can become rather tangled. If the daughter plants are rooted and healthy, I usually leave these in the ground but take them out if they look unhealthy or if they have not rooted properly.

a dead flower stalk on a strawberry plant
Remove old flower stalks as well as the runners that go between plants.

Step 3: Pull up plants that are overcrowded or not where you want them

In the summer months strawberries send out a multitude of runners in every direction. If not pruned off these take root and form a new plant. Sometimes these runners end up in a good location, and sometimes they are not where you want them. Do not be afraid to dig these up and transplant them elsewhere in your planting bed. For example, the strawberry plant below ended up too close to my walkway so I carefully dug it up and moved it to a different location.

a strawberry plant
Although this strawberry looks very healthy, it is too close to my walkway. In this location, it will not be able to develop a full root system. I carefully dug it up and replanted it elsewhere in my bed.

Also remove strawberry plants that are too close to each other. Strawberries that are too close together they will compete for light and nutrients which will decrease productivity and lead to smaller berries. Dense plantings also reduce air circulation, trap moisture, and spread diseases.

How should your strawberry plants be? Plants should be spaced at least 6 inches apart so they have plenty of room to grow.

If you find plants too close together carefully remove one of them. If the plant looks healthy you can move it to another location in your strawberry bed. Or, you can plant it in a pot or share it with a friend.

two strawberry plants growing close together
These two plants are too close together. I kept one and moved the second plant to a new location.

Eventually this is what we want to end up with: healthy strawberry plants, spaced at least 6 inches apart, with dead leaves and runners removed. This is such a big difference from where we started out!

strawberry bed after pruning
After pruning strawberries are spaced appropriately with unhealthy plants, dead leaves, and runners removed.

Growing Tips

Now that your strawberry beds are cleaned up, here are a few more growing tips:

Add Mulch

When you are finished cleaning up your strawberry bed you can add some mulch around the base of your strawberry plants. This will help to keep the soil moist, prevent disease from spreading as easily, regulate the soil temperature, and keep the berries off of the dirt. Clean straw works well for this.

Water Regularly

Spring rains usually provide enough water for your strawberries but make sure to water them if you have a dry spell. The soil should be kept moist but not overly soggy. Strawberries need about an inch of water per week.

Wait to Fertilize Until After Harvest

As tempting as it is, now is not the best time to give strawberry plants a big dose of fertilizer. This can lead to too much leafy growth and poor berry production in the spring. The best time to fertilize your berry patch is after they are done producing berries for the year in June or July.

Final Thoughts

There you have it! Now that you know how to clean up your strawberry beds you will be rewarded with beautiful sweet strawberries in the spring. They are perfect for eating fresh, strawberry shortcake, or homemade strawberry jam! As always, Happy Gardening!

a healthy strawberry patch
Strawberry plants put on lush new growth in the spring.
fresh strawberries
Enjoy your sweet strawberries!

Be sure to pin for later!

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén