soaking seeds before direct seeding?

[rollingrock]

I was talking to a friend; they told me that they put  their corn and legume seeds(beans and peas) in water for 8 hour before they direct seeded them.
They also said they  dusted the wet bean and pea seeds with legume inoculant before planting.
Does anyone else do this for there corn , bean and pea seed?

[rollingrock]

[galina]

Not for direct seeding, but if I have old pea seeds I stick them in the sprouter (for bean sprouts) and see whether they germinate.  Any that do grow a root then get planted out in the garden with cloche protection.  The main reason for the cloche is protection from voles and mice who love to steal the softened peas. 

I don't do this with bean seeds because they can rot more easily (especially the white seeded beans) and neither with corn.  But I start both indoors and transplant anyway.  I don't think an overnight soak is a problem, not enough time to rot the seeds, but it will give them a kick-start.  How well they do afterwards depends on the conditions outside at the time.  Pre-started beans and corn might have a hard time if the growing conditions aren't right and the soil too cold, whereas not pre-started seeds can bide their time if conditions are not quite right for them. Peas cope with cool soil and weather (and even with a bit of frost), beans and corn are definitely warm weather plants and need much warmer soils to grow. 

[Jeannine]

Never ever do it with corn, you would be encouraging them to rot and it sn't needed . One of the biggest mistakes one can do with corn seed, it hates wet . XX Jeannine

[johhnyco15]

soaking bean seeds before planting increases the chance of halo blight a nasty infection of runner and french beans  so i wouldnt soak beans before planting hope this helps

[saddad]

I only soak my broad beans... 

[rollingrock]

soaking bean seeds before planting increases the chance of halo blight a nasty infection of runner and french beans  so i wouldnt soak beans before planting hope this helps

sorry say but info i saw halo blight does not suggest transmission as suggest on seeds. since my seed are from seed company and not traded> think i am safe. from holo blight because seed company's are required to test seed for things  like holo blight.

[Jayb]

soaking bean seeds before planting increases the chance of halo blight a nasty infection of runner and french beans  so i wouldnt soak beans before planting hope this helps

sorry say but info i saw halo blight does not suggest transmission as suggest on seeds. since my seed are from seed company and not traded> think i am safe. from holo blight because seed company's are required to test seed for things  like holo blight.

The only time I have had an outbreak of Halo Blight, was on Runner bean plants grown from seeds bought from a large seed company. They were the only bean variety affected out of a dozen or more I was growing.

[Garden Manager]

Never need to soak pea and bean seeds, but have heard of soa king beetroot seed but never tried it. I often struggle getting beetroot to geminate so would this be woth trying?

[ed dibbles]

I water the seed drills before sowing so that the seeds have a reservoir of moisture to root into and won't dry out before germination even if the surface dries.

[johhnyco15]

i have soaked beetroot seeds in the past and sprinkled salt in the drill as beetroot originates from the flood plains of the nile so its ok with salt this was a little tip in a peter seabrook  book i read from the 70s i tried it and i must say the beetroot were very dark red and germination was rapid however ive never had an issue with germination or colour of beetroot

[ancellsfarmer]

i have soaked beetroot seeds in the past and sprinkled salt in the drill as beetroot originates from the flood plains of the nile so its ok with salt this was a little tip in a peter seabrook  book i read from the 70s i tried it and i must say the beetroot were very dark red and germination was rapid however ive never had an issue with germination or colour of beetroot

Would adding vinegar too, save on the need to pickle them later?

[Crystalmoon]

I do tend to soak beetroot seeds & get better germination this way. I have never heard of adding salt with beetroot but may give this a go this year.

[johhnyco15]

I do tend to soak beetroot seeds & get better germination this way. I have never heard of adding salt with beetroot but may give this a go this year.

i does work just sprinkle the salt into the drill place the seed on top, cover and you beetroot come out a darker red mr seabrook does know his stuff