How To Start Seeds In A Paper Towel | Step by Step Guide
About the Author: Jeremy Starke
I've been growing vegetables since I was 12 — over 30 years in the dirt. I share what actually works in my own Zone 6b garden, and what I wish someone had told me when I started.
Zone 6b · North Carolina · Gardening since age 12Paper towel germination seems like an easy method to start your seeds.
Is it the best option for germinating seeds though?
Why germinate your seeds in the first place?
If these are the questions you are wondering about, then read on to find out the answers!
Why germinate your seeds?
Before we move on to our step-by-step guide on how to start seeds in a paper towel, let’s try to understand why would you want to do it and whether you should do it, to begin with.
One big reason for germinating your own seeds is saving money & being prepared.
You can, of course, buy seedlings that will very likely grow into fruitful plants, but this often isn’t the best decision in the long run, especially if you want to plant a lot.
Germinating your own seeds is a cheaper alternative to this.
Now, why would you even want to germinate your seeds? Wouldn’t it be more time-efficient to plant the seeds directly into the ground or pots?
Well, the thing is that it may or may not be more time-efficient.
Those who have some experience with planting seeds know that not all seeds are viable.
Some of them will never be able to grow into a plant due to a variety of reasons, starting from poor seed quality and ending with the gardener’s lack of skills.
Germinating your seeds, first of all, allows you to make sure that your seeds are viable.
After around a week has passed, you will know which seeds to plant and which do not.
Not only that, but germinating seeds can allow you to spot issues a bit easier.
This is key to being prepared. Time is of the essence when you are growing food.
If issues have arisen with seeds planted into the ground or a pot, you won’t know for sure whether it’s the soil or seed quality, environmental conditions, or maybe your skills.
With paper towel germinating, you can take the soil quality out of the equation and leave the environment, the seed quality, and your skills.
Not a whole lot easier, but one thing less should be noticeable enough.
Why Start Seeds In A Paper Towel?
With germinating, you have three options – start your seeds in the ground, pot, or a paper towel.
The good thing about the former two options is that they allow for a fairly easy transition from germinating to growing a plant.
- Seeds
- Plastic towels. Towels sized 4 inches should be good enough.
- Plastic zipper bags
- A permanent marker to mark seed types on the zipper bags. This isn’t necessary if you won’t be germinating multiple seed types.
However, any other area with an ambient temperature of 70-80 degrees will work as long as it is away from sunlight.
- Check on the seeds every other day. If the zipper has been sealed shut, open it to let in some fresh air. Check to see if the seeds have sprouted. Generally, it takes around a week for the seeds to sprout, but this will depend on the seed type.
- Once the seeds have sprouted, move them to a pot or to the ground. Use tweezers to grab the seed by its body or cotyledons. Avoid touching the delicate main root. Discard seeds that haven’t sprouted.
- Make a hole in the soil for the entire root, place the seed there, and gently cover it with soil. If the seed has true leaves already, make sure that they remain above the surface.
More Info
Starting seeds in a paper towel will help you for many reasons. This is definitely a method that I recommend if you are also testing older seeds germinations rates.
It is really easy and simple to perform this test to check to see if they are viable and ready for your garden. You can even do this earlier than you would start your seeds to help figure out what you want to plant.
Check out our guide on the fundamentals of seed saving here if you are looking for tips for keeping your seeds.
Meet Jeremy Starke
I've been growing vegetables since I was 12 — over 30 years in the dirt. I share what actually works in my own Zone 6b garden, and what I wish someone had told me when I started.
Zone 6b · North Carolina · Gardening since age 12 Read My Story →Frequently Asked Questions
When to transplant seeds from a paper towel?
You want to transplant the seed from the paper towel to some soil once the seed has sprouted. Some seeds take longer to germinate than others so the time may vary.
Is germinating tomato seeds in a paper towel something you recommend?
Yes, you can also germinate tomato seeds in paper towels. This technique can also be used to give you an idea of germination rates.
What other vegetable plants work for seed starting with paper towels?
Most vegetable seeds can be germinated this way as long as you keep the paper towel moist.
