Are you new to growing from seeds? That’s great! Now is a great time to start! People who love gardening will love growing from seeds. The cost of all those seedlings can add up, and people who grow from seeds often have access to a huge range of plants. Even if you’ve been growing from seeds for a while, it’s still a good idea to soak them before transplanting them. This can have a dramatic effect on your germination rate and overall success with gardening!.
Soaking seeds supplies your plants a jump start right at the beginning of their lives. The water both softens the seed shell and supplies water to the seed interior. Once soaked, seeds and the plants inside them use that moisture to grow and push out new growth.
When you soak seeds before planting them, especially in a bright area, you make them feel like they would in the wild, where they would be exposed to rain and light. If you do it in a bowl on your counter instead of outside in the weather, that’s the only difference. Your soaked seeds should also be near some warmth, but not so much that they are too hot to touch. Warm enough for a cozy room.
Not all seeds do well if soaked. Some seeds such as violas need moisture and darkness. Some are too tiny to soak, and will just disintegrate. Others are biologically set to sprout after going through a fire—because that’s when there is no more competition for light and water! Some seeds have a very thick shell because they are used to going through an animal’s digestive system. Before soaking, these seeds can benefit from a process called scarification. Every seed is different. With a little research, you can discover what the optimal conditions for your seeds are.
Before you get your seeds soaking, assess the size of your seed. Are the seeds big enough to handle once they’re wet? Is the papery or hard? Do some research to make sure that you know what to do with your seeds before you plant them. Each plant has its own needs in terms of heat, light, and water.
Green beans are a popular vegetable to grow in home gardens. Their vining habit makes them great for trellises and fences. With care, green beans produce prolifically throughout the summer. But starting beans from seed can be tricky. Soaking the seeds first helps aid germination. Let’s explore the ins and outs of soaking green bean seeds before planting.
Green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) are warm season vegetables that thrive in full sun There are two main types
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Bush beans – Grow as compact bushes. Good for small spaces.
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Pole beans – Produce vining plants that can grow 10+ feet tall. Require trellising.
Popular green bean varieties include Blue Lake, Kentucky Wonder, Roma II, Contender, and Provider. Beans come in green, yellow, purple, speckled, and striped pods.
When preparing to plant green beans, gardeners have to decide whether soaking the seeds first is beneficial or not.
The Purpose of Soaking Seeds
Soaking vegetable seeds serves a few key purposes:
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Initiates germination – Absorbing water begins the germination process. This gives the sprouts a head start.
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Softens the seed coat – Dry beans have a tough outer coating Soaking makes this coat more permeable so the radical and shoots can emerge more easily
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Prevents disease – Soaking can rinse away bacteria and fungal spores that cause seed decay and damping off disease.
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Synchronizes germination – Beans soaked together tend to sprout at the same time This results in a more uniform crop.
So for crops like beans, a good soak before planting makes sense. But how exactly should you go about it?
Step-By-Step Guide to Soaking Beans
Follow these simple steps to properly soak green bean seeds:
1. Fill a Bowl with Room Temperature Water
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Use distilled water or rainwater rather than mineral-rich tap water.
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Make sure the water is around 70°F, not too cold.
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Use enough water to generously cover the seeds.
2. Add the Green Bean Seeds
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Place seeds in the water. Stir gently to dispel air bubbles.
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Floaters may be old seeds, so discard any that float.
3. Allow Seeds to Soak Overnight
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Soak seeds for 18-24 hours. Less can be insufficient.
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Keep bowl on the counter away from direct sunlight.
4. Drain and Rinse Seeds in the Morning
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Pour off soak water which may harbor bacteria.
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Rinse seeds gently to wash away yeasts and molds.
5. Spread Seeds Out to Dry
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Pat seeds with a towel to dry. Don’t plant soaking wet.
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Lay seeds individually on a plate or paper towel.
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Allow 1-2 hours for seeds to dry slightly before planting.
And you’re all set to plant your pre-sprouted beans!
Tips for Effective Soaking
Follow these tips for the best bean seed soaking results:
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Avoid soaking too long (beyond 24 hours) which can exhaust seeds.
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Don’t soak old seeds more than 12 hours which may over-sprout them.
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Handle seeds gently to avoid damaging embryonic sprouts.
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Use clean containers to prevent introducing diseases.
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Water temperatures of 70°-90°F work best.
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Soak seeds from 8-24 hours depending on variety.
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Change water if it becomes foamy which indicates fermentation.
With attention to details, soaking green bean seeds properly will lead to better germination when planted.
Soaking Beans in Coffee or Aspirin Water
Some gardeners soak bean seeds in coffee or aspirin water. Why?
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Coffee – The caffeine may stimulate germination while acids may weaken the seed coating. But this is controversial.
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Aspirin – Salicylic acid may trigger plant defenses against disease. Effects seem minimal.
There’s no definitive proof these home remedies improve germination. Plain water soaking is likely sufficient for most gardeners.
To Soak or Not to Soak?
Given the benefits, should all green bean seeds be soaked before planting? Soaking is highly recommended for these reasons:
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Older seeds germinate better when soaked.
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Soaking safeguards against seed-borne diseases.
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Beans sprout more uniformly after soaking together.
However, soaking is optional for:
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New seeds from a recent season’s harvest.
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If planting into warm soil (65°F+).
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When planting into moisture retaining medium like compost.
In most cases, soaking green bean seeds makes sense to boost success. But gardeners can experiment to see what works best for their conditions.
Storing Soaked Seeds
What if you soak more seeds than you can plant? Can you save the extras?
It’s best to plant soaked seeds right away. But leftovers can be stored for a few days by:
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Blotting with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
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Putting in a ventilated container like a mesh bag or perforated jar.
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Keeping seeds at 40°F in the refrigerator (not freezer).
Soaked seeds decline rapidly in storage but can buy you a few days until your next planting window.
Direct Sowing vs. Transplanting
Green beans can be planted either by direct sowing out in the garden or by first sprouting indoors and transplanting seedlings. Which method is better after soaking?
Direct sowing is easiest since bean roots dislike being disturbed. But soaked seeds could be started indoors 2-4 weeks before last frost for an early harvest provided they are transplanted with care. Just don’t soak too far in advance.
Companion Planting for Soaked Beans
Certain companion plants can protect green beans from pests and enhance growth. Consider interplanting soaked bean seeds with these friendly neighbors:
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Potatoes and carrots – Repel bean beetles.
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Marigolds and nasturtiums – Deter aphids.
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Beets, onions, and radishes – Mask the scent of beans from pests.
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Celery and cucumbers – Shade beans and retain soil moisture.
A well-planned garden makes life harder for pests and easier for your soaked green beans.
Caring for Beans After Planting
Once your soaked seeds are planted, they still need attentive care:
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Water regularly to keep soil consistently moist but not saturated.
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Mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
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Trellis vining varieties to prevent disease.
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Harvest frequently as beans ripen to encourage more pod setting.
With a good start from seed soaking and proper ongoing care, your green beans will provide a bountiful harvest!
Reaping a Bountiful Bean Harvest
Few things beat harvesting buckets of fresh green beans right from your own garden. Properly soaking seeds first is an easy way to help ensure bean success. While not mandatory, soaking has clear benefits that make it worth the modest time and effort required. Treat your seeds right, and your plants will return the favor with armloads of delicious beans.
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What Type Of Seeds Need A Presoak?
Not all seeds are easy to soak. Small seeds in particular can clump together in water and be a nightmare to work with afterward. Larger seeds with thick seed exteriors are ideal for soaking to kickstart the germination process. Others that are wrinkled seeds, like peas, do especially well after soaking. After putting those seeds in water, they’ll plump up and be ready to direct sow.
Peas, beans, pumpkin and other winter squash seeds, chard, beets, sunflower, lupine, fava beans, and cucumber seeds all like to soak. Most other medium-to-large vegetable and flower seeds with thick coats benefit from soaking.
Are There Seeds You Shouldn’t Soak?
There are plenty of small seeds that won’t really benefit from soaking. Not because they don’t have a seed coat that needs water to germinate, but because they are so small that it’s not possible to plant them when they are wet.
When you shouldn’t soak your seeds are when they are small, like basil, chia, tomatoes, lettuce, black-eyed susans, foxglove, and lisianthus. Either planting them in trays or directly in places where you can keep the soil evenly moist should be enough. They still work pretty much the same way: the seed coats need to be wet for them to germinate. But if you water them first thing in the morning and keep the area shaded, they’ll germinate faster and start growing right away. Tomatoes, basil, and chia all have a seed coat that absorbs and holds water around the seed to help it germinate. This means that they only need stable soil moisture to survive.
There are also seeds such as zinnias and bachelor’s buttons that have a paper-like seed coat. These seeds come from very dry regions where seeds will sprout at the first sign of rain. These seeds can be direct sown into moist soil without presoaking.