![\"Soaking](\"https:\/\/www.gardenershq.com\/inthegarden\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/soaking-seeds-jars.jpg\")
The most common way of soaking seeds is to submerge them in room temperature water for several hours (or overnight). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Soaking can also be done in vinegar, or in the fridge if cold stratification is also required to soften a seed coat and break a seed's dormancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For many seeds, a soak of 8-12 hours (easy to do it overnight) in room temperature water is sufficient to soften a seed coat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though, like most things in gardening, not everything behaves in the same way. Some seeds, especially trees and shrubs, will also require scarification. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To facilitate this, simply nick or lightly scratch the seed coat; this will allow water to penetrate more easily. Other seeds may require a cold weather stratification to break their dormancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seeds to Soak: Boosting Your Germination Success<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Here are some of the many plants that will benefit from a period of soaking before sowing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Soaking Vegetable Seeds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Beans<\/span>: (all types, including lima beans<\/a>, broad beans<\/a>, and runner beans): benefit from soaking for 8 to 12 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Peas<\/span>: Soak for 12 to 24 hours in cool water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Corn\/Maize<\/span>: Soak for 12 hours in water to promote faster and more uniform germination<\/p>\n\n\n\n Okra<\/span>: These will require a 12 to 24 hour soak in water, or briefly soak in vinegar to help break down their hard seed coats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beets<\/span>: soak for 12 to 24 hours in cool water<\/p>\n\n\n\n Swiss chard<\/span>: 12 to 24 hours in cool water<\/p>\n\n\n\n Parsley<\/span>: Your Parsley seeds should be soaked in warm water<\/a> for 24 hours. This will greatly improve parsley germination rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cilantro\/Coriander<\/span>: soak for 12 to 24 hours in cool water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Spinach<\/span>: Soak your Spinach<\/a> seeds for 12 to 24 hours in cool water to aid germination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lupine<\/span>: Seeds can be either soaked overnight in cool water or scarified with sandpaper. This will help to break the Lupines<\/a> hard seed coats, and greatly improve germination success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sunflower<\/span>: 12-hour soak in room temperature water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nasturtium<\/span>: Soak Nasturtium<\/a> seeds for about 10 to 12 hours in room temperature water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Morning Glory<\/span>: Soak overnight in water or briefly scarify with sandpaper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sweet peas<\/span>: Soak for 12 to 24 hours in cool water, a brief scarification in the fridge may also help to boost germination success rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Delphinium<\/span>: The seeds of Delphinium<\/a> seeds should be soaked for 24 hours in cool water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Poppy<\/span>: 12 to 24 hours in cool water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Columbine (Aquilegia)<\/span>: Columbine seed<\/a> germination will greatly benefit from a period of cold stratification after first being soaked in cool water for a few hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Canna<\/span>: Canna Lily<\/a> seeds should first be scarified using either sandpaper or a nail clipper, and then soaked for one to two days in warm water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Baptisia<\/span>: As these have very hard seed coats, you will first need to use a file or sandpaper to scarify their surface. Follow this up with a 24 hour soak in warm water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Asclepias<\/span>: Some Asclepias plant<\/a> species will require scarification, followed by a 12 to 24 hour soak in cool water. Cold stratification is also recommended as this can help to improve germination rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Passionflower<\/span>: Passiflora plant<\/a> seeds will benefit from a 12 to 24 hour soak in lukewarm water once they have undergone a brief scarification.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSoaking Flower Seeds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n