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Germinating Seeds 3X Faster ( Best Way To Start Seeds )

Germinating seeds in 1/3 time with 3X more success, yes, you have to try this!

This is our FAVORITE method to germinate seeds quickly. As passionate gardeners, we have been using it to start seeds for over 10 years! It works great for all herbs, flowers, and vegetables seeds.  For most types of seeds, this is our go-to method!

In this article, we will look at-

When and how to use this seed germination method.

Comparison of two methods: germinating seeds on paper towel vs. germinating seeds in soil.

Some helpful tips we have learned along the way, and readers questions at the end!

Definitely check out the tips, because there is one thing that you should NOT copy what the nurseries do!

And feel free to download this pretty (and free ) printable planting calendar when you start the seeds! =) A set of beautiful and free printable planting calendar that you can customize | A Piece Of Rainbow

Or make this seed storage box from cardboard boxes!

Make A Seed Box for organized storage | A Piece of Rainbow

Our favorite method to germinate seeds super fast with much more success.

We discovered this method to start seeds from an older book- Planning The Organic Vegetable Garden. It made such a huge difference , we just LOVE it and have been using it every year for the last 10+ years! This method is called pre-sprouting, or pre-germination in the book.

Step one: germinate seeds on paper towel

All you need is a plastic or glass container with a tight lid. Clear ones will make it easier to see through, but not required as the seeds don’t need light to send out roots.

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Put a piece of paper towel or white paper on the bottom of the container, add water till the paper towel is thoroughly moist, but no puddles of water.

Sprinkle seeds in groups on the damp paper towel, close the lid, and make a note to yourself what type of seeds are where, especially when you have seeds that look identical, for example- broccoli, kale and cauliflower.

Place the container with seeds out of direct sun.

This is very important, because a closed container can get super hot, and all the germinating seeds would die from the heat.

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Start checking on them the next day. If the seeds are really fresh, some will germinate in as little as 1 day! The fastest germinating seeds include everything in the cabbage family – bok choi, broccoli, kale, cauliflower etc, and lettuce. The slowest seeds to germinate are pepper, eggplant, fennel, celery, which may take 5+ days. The rest such as tomato, beets, chard, squash, onions, will take about 3 days.

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Step 2: Plant germinated seeds in pots

It is important to have pots and soil ready to go.

As soon as you see roots coming out, plant them right away. If the roots get too long, it will be hard to separate the roots from the paper towel. If that happens, just plant the paper towel!

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It may seem hard to pick up a tiny seed, but it really is quite easy. you can use a tooth pick, or just your fingers, which is what I do.

Plant them at a depth of 1-2 seeds size ( shallow depth for small seeds, deeper for bigger seeds) , and gently mist them daily for the first week.

We also like to put the pots in saucers and fill the bottom with water till the soil in each pot is saturated, then empty the saucer. It will take a couple of days for the little green leaves to pop out. Now they will need full sun to grow strong and healthy!

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Comparison of germinating seed on paper towel method with germinating seeds in soil.

Here’s how to germinate seeds in soil, which is what most people do:

In a pot filled with soil, sprinkle some seed, add a thin layer of soil, water thoroughly. And wait.

Sounds familiar? Once you try the paper towel method to start seeds, you will rarely go back to the soil method. Here’s why.

Pros of germinating seed on paper towel:

  1. Great success rate:  Have you ever scatter a whole packet of 300 seeds, just to have 3 plants survive? The reason is soil tend to dry out, while the paper towel maintains consistent moisture level. When we germinate seeds on paper towel, we sow 12 seeds if we want 10 broccoli plants, because almost all of them will germinate and grow. When we get fresh seeds from a good seed company, the germination rate is almost 100%!
  2. Test old or new seeds: If you have seeds that are a few years old, germinating seeds on paper towel is a great way to quickly test if they are still alive. We have been able to grow healthy plants from cabbage or tomato seeds that are over 5 years old! If you store seeds in a cool and dry place, some can have quite a long life. We also use this technique to find out if the new seeds we got are good quality.
  3. Faster germination: For example, cabbage seeds take 1-2 days to germinate on paper towel and another 2 days to leaf out, while it can take 2-3 times longer if sown directly in the soil.

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Cons of germinating seed on paper towel:

There is one extra step of planting the germinated seed in soil. So if you want to plant a whole field of flowers or vegetables, this method will not be practical.

Now you see the pros and cons, it is very easy to see which method is better for the home gardener!

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Some helpful tips we have learned along the way, and readers questions:

  1. 90% of the time we use this method to germinate seeds, but we sometimes direct sow seeds that grow super easily and super fast, or less attractive to pests, such as arugula, radishes, or carrots.
  2. Although you see seedlings grown in six-packs at nurseries, I think it’s a fantasy because those plants were grown in perfect greenhouse conditions with daily fertilizers. It’s very hard to grow seedlings to that big in a six-pack for home gardeners. We prefer to grow them in 4 inch pots, or a long deep planter like in the above image. This allows the seedling to grow quicker and bigger before being transplanted, so they don’t disappear with one bug bite!
  3. Have pots and soil ready!  Because the seeds could germinate in as little as one day! If your seeds grow into the paper towel, yes, you can plant the paper towel.
  4. For the first 1-2 weeks after planting them in pots, mist the seedlings or gently water them, and keep the soil moist. They are fragile and can fall over easily!
  5. Our favorite seed companies are Baker Creek Seeds, and Bountiful Gardens, both are started and ran by some great passionate people! Just look at that gorgeous green corn below from Baker Creek, irresistible!

Corn-Oaxacan-green

Below is an extreme example of how much we love this method! =)

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A couple of delicious pics from our garden-

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And a post on a simple trick ( especially useful in hot weather!) to jump start your transplant seedlings here-

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You may also love to see how to create living structures from all these plants here-

Amazing Living Structures | A Piece of Rainbow

Wish you a beautiful and bountiful garden this spring!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    • Kaos

      December 31, 2015 at 4:53 am

      if you use a weak tea solution, (dilluted unsweetened tea) it provides a boost to starting seeds as well combined with this method.

      Reply

  2. Ann

    January 6, 2015 at 10:27 am

    Ananda – this is AWESOME information!! Wish I’d known this years ago since I grow all my veggies from seed. THANK YOU!!

    Reply

    • Ronni Bergman

      April 28, 2019 at 5:51 am

      Kyla Currier, you don’t need a green thumb to have a garden. I don’t have one, my husband did, but we divorced 25 years ago. I learned some essential things from him, that are necessary to having a nice garden. Through trial and error of leaving out the essentials, I have wasted quite a few growing seasons!
      If you follow these few simple absolute musts, you will be suprised at how simple growing a garden is:
      1.The Seeds: Germinate just like this article explains. Super simple and reliable. Follow package directions for sunliight. (Full sun, or partial,for less- 2. The Soil: And this is crucial. It must be turned over, either by digging, or tilling. First year is there hardest, subsequent years are a matter if turning over with shovel, but 1 St time garden, the rocks need to be picked out , and the clumps of dirt broken up. 3. Also crucial: FERTILIZER… Depends on your soul, but basically, if you can just put some manure on/in (usually your local cow/horse farm will gladly let you take some out of his stalls, take your shovel! free of charge. Dump it on, shovel it under, evenly. Ideally, this should be done in the fall, after your last hardest, so it can break down over the winter, and not risk burning, or over fertilizing. Although I have had to put in in in Spring, just before planting, and I just made sure to use about 1/4 the amount, and get the OLDEST Pooh in the field/barnyard. And my plants loved it. Just make sure to evenly distribute. 4. Water: Make sure to check your soil daily, to make sure it is moist, (if not, water with hose — never during mid day heat), continue to check daily, in the evening or late afternoon until you get accustomed to how your particular soil drains/maintains moisture., due to your climate and rainfall. Be creative, you don’t always have to stand there and hold the house. If soil gets dry, plants WILL wilt and quickly die, also, continued dry soil will effect produce production. Mist plants in the eve, or morn, they will love you! 5. Lastly, everyone’s favorite part of gardening…WEEDING. Pull weeds between rows after watering (roots pull out easily). Stay on top of it, avoid plant killers, it’s poison you will end up consuming. Weeding is necessary to allow sunlight to get to the entire plant. AND, the VEGGIES will get all the watering, instead of the weeds. Same with nutition from your soil. AND THATS IT!! I’m confident if you follow these few simple rules, you will have tastier, healthier food, for a healthier you. Keep in mind kids LOVE learning, and being helpful. Andy if you want to start extra small, you can try some tomato plants in 5 gallon buckets, on your porch. Like I said,cI DO NOT have a green thumb. I don’t even have any house plants, because they tend to die every winter. But girl, I can grow tomatoes, cukes, and squash and zukes as good as anyone, and miles better than the grocery store has to offer!!! It’s prob not too late if you get in in THIS week!! HURRY!!! You’ll be so glad you did, And it is so rewarding, and good for the soul to get DOWN TO EARTH!!! ☀️🌱😊

      Reply

  5. Natalie

    January 6, 2015 at 12:04 pm

    What an awesome idea! I had a tiny garden last year that I adored, but we’ve since moved to a place where I can have a garden about eight times the size of my former one. I’m SO excited to get started, and I’ll definitely use this method!

    Reply

  6. Cara of Stylish+Geek Blog

    January 6, 2015 at 12:34 pm

    Wonderful post! I have not tried planting from seeds yet but I will this come Spring. In the past I have grown roots from stems and that proved to be gratifying. Your advice will surely come in handy when I have a try at planting seeds 🙂

    Reply

  8. Jordan

    January 6, 2015 at 1:44 pm

    This takes me back to school when we used to grow seeds on kitchen roll! This is such a helpful and insightful post 🙂

    hellomissjordan.blogspot.co.uk xx

    Reply

  13. Erin

    January 6, 2015 at 6:28 pm

    No way!!! I’ve never thought to do this but I definitely am going to now. I love gardening but really dont like the sowing gamble. lol. Planting 300 and only getting 3. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  22. lauriel

    January 7, 2015 at 9:58 pm

    Ooh, I love your idea to jump-start germination! I do have to ask though, have you ever run into trouble with seeds molding instead of sprouting? I’ve had my share of failures, and I’m not really sure what the problem was… :/

    xo,
    lauriel
    EyeForElegance.com

    Reply

  24. RobynK

    January 10, 2015 at 3:33 pm

    I was just researching this to prepare for our first garden at our new home, this post is perfect. Thank you so much for sharing the great information!

    Reply

  27. Lauren | Wicked Spatula

    January 21, 2015 at 9:54 am

    Wow, great idea! We just bought our house last April and had a small garden with plants I bought already started at the farmers market. They did great but we want to use seeds this year! I’ll definitely be doing this! This may be a silly question but do you just place one seed in the starter pots before transplanting? I’ve tried to grow herbs before by just sprinkling a handful of seeds in the pot and it usually doesn’t flourish as I hoped. Thanks!

    Reply

    • ananda

      January 22, 2015 at 10:32 pm

      thank you lauren! for 4″ pots, i put 1 seed if it’s tomato, broccoli, or other plants that take a while to grow or does not like transplanting, such as squash. if it’s onions, lettuce, cilantro, i put 3 or more seeds per pot. =)

      Reply

  28. Sandi

    January 30, 2015 at 3:10 pm

    This idea is making me excited for spring to arrive. I love it. Gotta go … off to get my seeds and plastic containers…Thanks!

    Reply

  30. Mindy

    March 8, 2015 at 9:41 pm

    I will be doing a garden of only pots this year for the first time. Would you still transplant to larger pots or start out in a bigger pot size?

    Reply

  31. Ashley

    March 9, 2015 at 10:51 am

    Love this! My daughter and I just started our seeds today. They are a older seeds so I’m hoping they are still alive. Fingers crossed!

    Reply

  35. Linda

    March 21, 2015 at 10:35 am

    If I pre-germinate my seeds, can I them place them in 4″ cowpots with organic potting soil? If so, I would be able to eliminate smaller containers with seed starting mix and a heating pad, correct? Just want to get it right, I have purchased a lot of seeds from Baker’s Creek ( so much to choose from) and don’t want to waste any of these precious seeds, also bought a grow light. So exited, I have wanted to start my gardens from seeds for years, but somehow never have. This is my year! I also have 2 neighbors joining me who also purchased seeds so we will have our own neighborhood co-op with so many delicious varieties!

    Reply

    • ananda

      March 21, 2015 at 6:28 pm

      hi linda! yes 4″ pots are great! however a heating pad can be great for seedlings like tomatoe, pepper, etc. they grow quicker when the soil is warm! baker creek seeds usually germinate 100%, and last a few years, so i would start with only 5-10 seeds each! good luck!!! =)

      Reply

  36. Angela

    March 23, 2015 at 7:55 pm

    Can I plant the paper towel with the sprouted seeds? Will it work like the papers with carrot seeds on it that they sell?

    Reply

  37. Liz

    April 2, 2015 at 4:25 pm

    Thank you for this! I feel like I’m behind so it might help me to not be so late in the planting game. This is my first time not buying plants so I’m hoping you can give me a few more pointers like once they start to sprout green out the soil do I then put them under a grow lamp? I’m worried because April can still be a bit cold here in VA sometimes. How long would you recommend them being under the grow lamp before transplanting outside? Thank you!

    Reply

    • ananda

      April 2, 2015 at 10:29 pm

      hi liz! if it’s a heat loving plant like tomotoe, it should stay inside when temp is below 45. the leafy ones and cabbage family can take a lot more cold. just watch for freezing spells. if it’s nice and sunny, take them outside for the day! =)

      Reply

  38. Vickie

    April 8, 2015 at 4:04 pm

    What about the really tiny seeds like Lobelia, ally sum, and impatiens? I have tried finding pelleted seeds for these and can’t find them. Only veggie seeds. Even if you sprinkle them on the wet towel they will be close To each other. Help!

    Reply

    • ananda

      April 11, 2015 at 7:17 am

      hi vickie, for the super tiny seeds like celery root, lobelia, it will be easier to sprinkle them far part on the towel, and plant the towel. or sow them in a pot and mist daily till they come up!

      Reply

  39. Abby

    April 15, 2015 at 4:49 pm

    Thank you so much for this post! This year will be my first real garden, and I hope to prove that my thumb is, in fact, green! I have a (dumb) question…when you say you plant the seeds 1-2 seeds deep, does that mean whatever size the seed is is how deep you generally plant it?

    Reply

    • Cindy

      May 19, 2015 at 10:45 am

      Looks fantastic! Could I incorporate this with the eggshell idea I’ve seen- where people use washed eggshells as their planter pots? I’m thinking one sprouted seedling per eggshell?

      Reply

      • ananda

        May 20, 2015 at 9:41 pm

        thank you cindy! =) eggshells can work as planters, but personally i prefer larger pots like 4″ to 6″. plants tend to stop growing in really small pots, unless being constantly fertilized like how the nurseries do!

        Reply

  41. Lorri Sprague

    July 26, 2015 at 8:13 am

    I live in south central Texas, summer temps can be 105 with 30s and 40 in winter. We get varied amounts of rain in spring but very little rain in summer.
    I would like to know if there’s any hope in growing rhubarb here and if so what tips do you have for getting it started? Love your page! It’s colorful, instructive, easy to read/follow and gives me hope. Thank you………….ls

    Reply

  43. Gail Plaskiewicz

    November 19, 2015 at 11:24 pm

    Oh my gosh! I grow all my veggies from seeds but never knew to do this. Our picture window in our Living room has a window ledge on it. Right now I have 3 pots on it. The sun comes through and below it is our radiators. In the winter, my sister says the plants think it’s a green house. Right now on there I have shallots, parsley and I have to replant my basil. Those were growing outside in pots until it got to cold for them so I brought them in. I am going to do this with my basil and maybe some flower seeds too! I am so excited to try this!

    Reply

  44. Shantel Jefferies

    January 17, 2016 at 12:36 pm

    2 quick questions. 1 I have done everything that your article says I am just not sure where to put them after I have don all this I have seen some articles that says to put them in the fridge and some says to leave them out. can you please help? and 2 does this work for starting rose seeds?

    Thank You
    Shantel

    Reply

  45. Rod

    February 8, 2016 at 8:01 pm

    Interesting and looks like it’ll work well for any place where it’s colder but as I live in Australia at 27 degrees from the equator( equivalent to southern florida) and the temperature is 30 degrees C. (& more) 7 or 8 months a year (80-85F?) and even winter is not too cold, would not suit gardeners here as described mostly as the overriding need is to keep seeds from being cooked or fungi etc. So also putting the seedlings out in the sun quick/ easy to transplant when so small doesn’t impress me and is both more TIME consuming & critical when transplanting from what I can see. My experience is that a holed plastic tray 5cm or 2 inches deep minimum, potting mix/sand/fertilizer pellets works well. Sprinkle seeds on top regularizing the seeds. Sprinkle THINLY with some coarse(friable) sand on top. Place in medium shadow and keep moist with atomizer (some steady light rain works wonders). When seeded ( similar to article times), in due course graduate to bright shadow and to part sun and full sun as required in due course. Transplant plants at something resembling your pleasure. Whisk sand away with a small brush when size or condition permit and re-use sand and your tray for the next batch. I usually get a good result from this. Cheers.

    Reply

  48. Mary Ann

    March 8, 2016 at 4:52 pm

    Can’t wait to try this. I have some seeds from last year that I’d like to try. Thank you for the information.

    Reply

  49. Sonya

    March 22, 2016 at 11:09 pm

    Great tips! We just moved to our new home with loads of gardening space and that also made me challenge myself on to gardening! Just one question though I live in The Philippines where it’s basically summer half year and rainy on the other half. Now is summer and based on research I have done it’s best to plant during summer so am very keen to finally start.

    Will this pre-sprouting technique work on all types of seeds, specifically herbs?

    Thanks so much for this wonderful post and will be checking your site for more gardening tips from now on!

    Reply

    • ananda

      March 30, 2016 at 9:51 pm

      if a seed is 1mm in size, we would plant it 1mm to 2mm deep. if a seed is 5mm in size, we would plant it 5mm to 10mm deep. hope that helps! =)

      Reply

  54. Denise Robinson

    May 15, 2016 at 7:06 am

    I’m going to test some seeds today. Thanks for the information. I’m new to starting a flower garden.

    Reply

  57. Khushbu Merchant

    July 20, 2016 at 3:59 am

    Hi. I read through some of your posts on growing veggies and plants. Brilliant.

    however, I do have some query:
    1. Growing plants by putting leaves in water method – Does this method work for every vegetable/ fruit/ flowering plant/ non-flowering plant, etc

    2. Pre-sprouting Seed method – Do you usually buy new seeds? Can we do this from the fruits that we eat? If yes, does it need some preparation?

    Reply

    • ananda

      July 20, 2016 at 8:55 am

      hi! here are the answers – 1. no, only certain plants can be rooted in water. 2. you can save seeds, just wash clean and dry them so they won’t mold. some hybrid varieties will not produce the same result when grown.

      Reply

    • ananda

      March 2, 2017 at 7:40 pm

      it is most likely that they are not getting enough direct sun. seedlings need at least 5 hours/day of direct sun after being planted in soil!

      Reply

  62. Sam

    April 11, 2017 at 4:14 pm

    Hey! Thank you very much for these tips! I have a quick question about planting germinated seeds. Would you plant them with the tap root down or up? The tap roots of my beans came out in just a day when I used your method, and now I’m wondering which way I should plant it. I don’t want to ruin my progress. 🙂 Thanks, Sam.

    Reply

    • ananda

      April 11, 2017 at 4:51 pm

      hi sam, roots down or side ways would make it much easier for seeds to come up, but they will make a u-turn and still come up if planted the other way. happy gardening! 🙂

      Reply

  63. Linda Silver

    April 18, 2017 at 6:40 am

    OMGoodness. Thank you for this terrific article. I just moved to PA and I have a whole bunch of seeds that I have not planted. So this is an awesome help. I will be starting asap. Blessings to you and yours!!

    Reply

  64. Romina

    February 27, 2018 at 5:29 pm

    muchísimas gracias por compartir esto, sembré semillas de lechuga y ya pasaron 10 días y no paso nada. Entonces encontré tu pagina y puse algunas semillas del mismo paquete de semillas de lechuga en papel el día de ayer y hoy ya están geminando, 1 día exacto como pusiste en tu nota.

    Reply

  65. Brittany

    March 16, 2018 at 8:57 pm

    Do you think this method will work with milkweed? I have asclepias tuberosa seeds and the packet doesn’t say a whole lot.

    Reply

  67. Heather

    March 24, 2018 at 1:31 am

    Hi Ananda,
    I have just tried this method and it is fantastic! 2 packs of Calendula Ivory Princess @ $3 each, I already had the seed raising mix and I have 204 healthy little plants all potted up. It would have cost me at least $84.00 to buy these seedlings and I doubt that my local outlet store would have them in that colour anyway! I will be sprouting all my flower seedlings from now on. Thank you so much for sharing all the great tips with us, I personally find it really inspiring. Cheers!

    Reply

  68. chrisele L nelson

    April 5, 2018 at 12:19 pm

    Im trying to get a jump start on veggies and flowers. Living in zone 5 many flowers can take some time to look nice. Can you do all seeds this way? Also, if the germination takes 14-21 days how much sooner will they sprout doing it with this method? For example Rosemary can take 14-21 days so what would be a better way to estimate when sprouting will occur?thanks
    Chrisele

    Reply

  69. Jason Boyle

    April 27, 2018 at 9:49 am

    Hello there!
    I was just wondering, if it’s a stupid or good idea to start growing marijuana strain in forests nearby my hometown now..Autumn is coming and the plants won’t be ready to harvest for 100% sure before winter comes… But will they survive the winter and start growing in spring? I probably won’t be around in springtime when i usually would put out the seedlings in the forest.. what do you think?
    Thanks for your input!

    Reply

  70. Byrd

    June 9, 2018 at 2:10 pm

    Hi there! So I tried ur method & my seeds are just starting to sprout! (2 dats????) I’m wondering if I am able to plant them directly as is into either my flower beds or the containers I’ll be leaving them in all summer or should I start them in starter pots & transplant in a few weeks? I have calendula,zinnia,aster & nasturtium But would also like to do leafy herbs as well. *It is perfect conditions outside; warm,sunny,waaay past last frost*
    Thanks so much!!!

    Reply

  71. Jeff

    July 10, 2018 at 2:59 pm

    When misting the seeds and seedlings DO NOT use tap water! Tap water contains any amount of chlorine, fluorine or chloramines which depress or inhibit plant growth. Use rain water, preferably or mineral water instead.

    Reply

    • ananda

      July 10, 2018 at 3:55 pm

      thank you jeff for sharing your great tips! 🙂 i agree rain water is better than tap water, but if rain water is not readily available, tap water could work too.

      Reply

  72. Helen

    September 3, 2018 at 8:15 pm

    Hi, i have tried your method for succulent seeds (echevaria) and it is day 7 and nothing yet. This is my firsttime planting. Should i discard if nothing grew after 3 weeks? I read online echevaria seeds germinate period is 3 weeks.

    Reply

  73. kenneth thompson

    December 1, 2018 at 11:14 am

    when useing paper to germinate cilantro seeds the white item that appears is it a stem or root? When moveing it to container does this stem or root plant up or doem

    Reply

  74. Fanny

    March 31, 2019 at 7:55 pm

    Good article on growing vegetables and flowers from seeds! We just had great success with this method! Keep it up.

    Reply

  75. Amy

    April 2, 2019 at 5:01 am

    Hi there, quick question. Might be silly, but thought I would ask. When you are going to move them to the soil, is there a specific way you should put them in the soil? Sprout down/up? Or does it matter? Thanks
    Amy

    Reply

  76. smith

    May 17, 2019 at 2:34 am

    so, we have to actually close the container with lid and make the germinating seed die from the heat? or what do you mean by it?

    Reply

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