When temperatures are low, an early infection of the developing seeds almost always results in seed rot or the death of the seedling.
In most cases, seedlings will survive infection if they have already produced their first set of leaves and roots.
How does seed rot look like?
In many cases, seed rot develops just after you’ve planted the seeds. White fungal mycelium grows out of apertures in the husks of infected seeds and the collar of the infected seedling’s bud.
After a few days, the mycelium from the fungus looks like a halo emanating from the original place of infection on the seed or seedling. The fungal growth turns green because a variety of algae colonizes it.
The diseased seed may be contained within a circular area of darkened soil. Another possible explanation is the presence of algae. However, secondary invasion by diverse aquatic bacteria of the seed and fungus is more likely.
When temperatures are low, an early infection of the developing seeds almost always results in seed rot or the death of the seedling.
How to prevent seed rot
Seeds you’ve treated with fungicides offer protection against seedling diseases and rot. This is particularly useful when you plant the seeds at an early stage or when environmental conditions are adverse to the germination and growth of seedlings.
How to fix seed rot
It is important that you plant the seeds in sterile, well-drained soil mixes. Care should be your priority to avoid using toxic chemicals, plant overcrowding and overwatering.
Will seeds rot in wet soil?
Even though seeds sprout best in moist conditions, make sure the water is not waterlogged. Seeds might rot and perish if the soil is too damp. That’s why choosing a seed-starting medium that allows water to drain quickly is important.
This soil is capable of retaining an adequate quantity of water. Don’t use garden soil; use your amended ordinary potting soil.
Keep in mind that too much water might cause seeds to rot. Water the seeds regularly (once or twice daily) until they sprout.
Reduce watering frequency slightly to prevent damping off once seeds have sprouted. When germinated seeds become overly wet, a phenomenon known as “damping off” occurs.
Can rotten seeds germinate?
Seed coverings must take in water from the environment to promote germination and sprouting. Seeds damaged by seed rot are relatively dry and do not germinate.
For this reason, if you notice that they are plump but spongy, rot has set in as the germination process begins.
How do you tell if a seed is alive or dead?
Seeds lie dormant until you expose them to favorable growth conditions. Generally, seeds germinate best in warm, moist environments and remain dormant in cold, dry climates.
A seed is viable if it is still alive and capable of producing a root once the right conditions are met. Dormant seeds have a long window of viability, although they can perish if kept in poor conditions.
Thankfully, checking the viability of seeds is a simple process. Here are some of the approaches to take:
- The Water Test
A simple test for the viability of seeds is to submerge them in water and observe their growth. They are probably alive if they drown.
Floating means certain death. This method may not be accurate for small seeds like carrots or lettuce, but it works well for larger seeds.
- Paper Towel Test
Germinating seeds on a paper towel is a less accurate method for determining the viability of the seeds, but it is also more entertaining.
This should not be too difficult. You’re going to need several things:
- To begin, you will want to label the Ziploc bag with the seeds’ names you are evaluating and the date you began the process. This is highly crucial to ensure that one variety does not become confused with another or be mistaken for the other.
- Ten seeds may be tried out. Your germination rate will be easily calculated. A germination rate of 80 percent is possible if 8 seeds grow.
- The paper towel must next be folded. As long as there’s room for all the seeds and space between them, it doesn’t matter how you fold it. In order to put the paper towel and the seeds in the Ziploc bag, spread out the paper towel.
- Next, spray the paper towel inside the Ziploc bag until it is damp but not drenched with water. Mold can flourish in damp environments. The presence of mold can prevent seeds from germinating. While this increases the drying time for the seeds, it reduces the likelihood of mold growth. Just remember to give your seeds a light misting every day.
- Start looking for signs of germination after a few days have passed. Simply remove the paper towel, carefully open it, and examine the stain.
- After a couple of days, these bean seeds showed signs of germination. When a seed germinates, its outer layer (the seed coat) splits open, and a root emerges from the ground. Your seeds germinated because the plastic bag had the right amount of moisture and warmth to germinate.
What should you do after a couple of days if the seeds have not sprouted? When it comes to the time needed to sprout, various seeds have varying requirements.
If your seeds came in a packet, the sprouting period should be printed on the back of the packet. You can get the same information online if the seeds don’t come in a packet.
After two weeks, the vast majority of seeds will have sprouted, and, likely, they did so much earlier. Continue your germination test for the recommended amount of time or until all of the seeds have sprouted, whichever comes first.
Final thought
After germination, you can put larger seeds, such as beans, in the ground. Preparing a growbag or container for a bean seed with a short root doesn’t take much effort, and then you can plant it like any other seed.
But transplanting can be difficult if the seeds are on the small side, such as tomato seeds, or if the root grows too long. If the roots have already begun turning brown, it is likely too late to save them.