Germinating Seeds & Turmeric Rhizomes In Moist Paper Towels

Do you enjoy growing your own vegetables? With summer a few months away, it is time to plan your vegetable garden. How about an early start by germinating the seeds indoors? Last year (2017), John (my husband) was successful in sprouting seeds and turmeric rhizomes by using the moist paper towel technique. The plants grew faster with a very good yield. Sprouted seeds were transferred into starter containers and when the weather was warm, planted into the soil. In case of turmeric rhizomes, they were buried directly into the soil when the outdoor temperature was hot.

Okra Seeds

Okra Plant

Okra Plant

Okra

Turmeric Rhizomes Sprouted In Moist Paper Towels

Buried Sprouted Turmeric Rhizomes 

Turmeric Leaves

You will need:
1. Ziploc bags
2. Thick paper towels
3. A bedsheet
4. Seeds and turmeric rhizomes
5. Permanent marker
 
Steps to follow:

1. Using a spray bottle, moisten two paper towels just damp, not dripping with water.
2. Spread the seeds or rhizomes spacing them apart on one paper towel. (Note: Soak rhizomes for a day in normal tap water before enclosing them in moist paper towels.)
3. Sandwich by covering them with the second paper towel.
4. With a permanent marker, write the name of the seeds on a ziploc bag. 
5. Gently enclose the two sheets into the ziploc bag and seal.
6. Create an insulation by keeping the ziploc bag in between folds of a bed sheet.
7. Keep the bed sheet on top of a heat vent or a warm dark area, away from sunlight, about 23 degrees C.
8. Every two or three days, check on the seeds or rhizomes and see if the paper towels are moist. If dry, then wet by spraying some water.
9. They will start to germinate in 7 to 10 days.
10. Transfer sprouted seeds into starter containers or pots and spray them regularly with water.
11. When plants have grown to a reasonable height and if outdoor weather is warm enough, bury them directly into the soil.

 
Note:

1. When handling sprouted seeds, do not touch the delicate main root but hold the body of the seed with tweezers.
2. Turmeric rhizomes were buried directly into the soil when weather was hot.
3. Kashmiri and guntur chillies seeds were germinated using the above method (pictures below). The sprouted seeds were transferred into starter containers and then into pots. 

Sprouted Chilli Seeds Growing In Starter Containers