One way to jumpstart seeds is to rehydrate them by soaking them in warm water.

But is soaking every jot down of seed really necessary?

Meet the Expert

Do Seeds Need to Be Soaked Before Planting?

Soaking seeds before planting them

The Spruce / Brie Goldman

Not all seeds need to be soaked before planting, but some types will definitely benefit from this treatment.

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The seeds should not remain in water for more than 8-12 hours.

Seeds soaking in small jars before planting

The Spruce / Brie Goldman

Only larger seeds with tough exterior coatings should be soaked.

Tiny seeds with thin outer shells do not require soaking.

Soaking tiny seeds can cause them to clump together, making them almost impossible to sow.

Using a fine mesh sieve to extract the soaked seeds

The Spruce / Brie Goldman

Seeds That Never Require Soaking

Seeds to soak before planting

The Spruce / Brie Goldman