How to test the germination of your seeds at home with household materials. Video is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPLJk0kBcMg

1. Presented by Andrea Springmeier
2012 Seed Savers Exchange Webinar Series
Home Germination
Testing

3. Our mission is to save North America’s diverse,
but endangered, garden heritage for future
generations by building a network of people
committed to collecting, conserving, and sharing
heirloom seeds and plants, while educating
people about the value of genetic and cultural
diversity.

5. Gathering Supplies

6. paper
towels
plastic
bags
thermometer
cup or container
spray bottle
rubber
bands
nail
clipper
pencil

7. Supplies
• thermometer
• plastic bags or plastic wrap
• rubber bands
• pencil or marker
• paper towels
• cup or container
• spray bottle
• nail clippers or razor blade

8. Seed and Sprout Parts

9. seed coat
(testa)
hypocotyl
cotyledon
primary
leaves
future root
(radicle)

11. Germination Requirements

15. Test Setup

22. Evaluation

25. late
germinator
or abnormal
seedling
good
germination

26. mold
discoloration
cracks

28. hilum
nick
nick

29. (healthy seedlings)
(total seeds tested)
x 100 = germination rate

30. (healthy seedlings)
(total seeds tested)
x 100 = germination rate
20 / 25 x 100 = 80%

32. 2012 Seed Savers Exchange Webinar Series
Thank You!
Additional Resources
Seed to Seed, Suzanne Ashworth
A Seed Saving Guide for Gardeners and Farmers,
Organic Seed Alliance
www.seedsavers.org/site/pdf/HomeGermTests_LAFrevised.pdf