Can all seed's be germinated in cups of water, or paper towel method?

I'm brand new to growing anything other than weed, hahaha, sadly It must have been a class in high school that i missed, you know the one that teaches you how to survive, without a grocery store. Oh wait, THEY NEVER HAD ONE!

Anyway's I have a 24/0 room, a 12/12 room, and the great outdoors of Florida, So i figure I can manage to grow just about anything, at any time, using any one, or combination of these different areas.

Got some pumpkin seeds, and carrots that i wanna plant, I figure its too late for the carrots outside, so I can throw them in my 24/0 room, and the pumpkins i was going to start in my 12/12 flower room.

Blah blah, enough bullshit, So can i germinate the carrot/pumpkin seeds in a cup of water? The carrot seeds are so small I may just dump them into a dixie cup with soil and start them that way, as always, thanks for input! - The Snake

Yes, you can! Paper towel method is what I always do over sowing the seed's.

I may be wrong and I personally start my seeds (weed) in rapid rooters, but I think that most people start the seeds in paper towels to make sure that they germ because weeds seeds are not cheap. Seems to me that carrots and pumpkin seeds are pretty cheap and you could just throw them in the soil you are going to grow in.

I've never pre-germinated a seed, always just sow it directly...if it's gonna grow, it's gonna grow.

So while you certainly can do this, I feel like it's an unnecessary step. What I do is just use a small drinking cup like a Dixie or Solo, plant several seeds per cup for larger stuff (I would sow carrots where they're going to grow) and either cull the weakest sprouts or divide them early while the root system is tiny, I'm talking like just past the cotyledons opening.

You are the master of your garden, do whatever method you think is best. Im a big fan of the KISS philosophy in all things.

Carrot seeds are very small and delicate . They are best planted shallow in a very fine soil but the pumpkin seeds will be hardy once sprouted using the paper towel method .. Have fun , I grew sunflower seeds with my children this spring using the paper towel germintation method and now the plants are taller than me at 6 foot !

As well we soaked our Birdhouse Gourd seeds in water for a few days and once germinated they went outside into the ground . Fun vines to grow that reward us with birdhouses and bongs for dad

I used to sprout my seeds in a wet paper towel as well, with about an 80% success rate. Paper towel method is a good method for sure. However over the past few years I've started germinating my seed by sowing them about 3/4" down into a 1" layer of warm water moistened vermiculite top dressed on the soil I intend to grow in then covered in saran wrap. If your not growing in soil obviously this method does'nt help much. If you are though, I highly recommend using this method. I've had 100% success rate over about 30 seeds when I started doing this. Vermiculite is a fantastic starting material as its nutrient free, holds just the right amount of moisture and won't compact. This allows the tap root to quickly bury itself and have a strong base for growth.

And yes I do this method for all my fruits and veggies as well, Just planted watermelon and cantaloupe this way outside without using the saranwrap, just watered very well before i planted them. All have sprouted

Every good seed ive had has germinated in a clear small shotglass of water

Try germinating a dormant P.edulis (bamboo) seed. You might have to wait 600 years before it sprouts.

The answer is: NO.

Paper towel alone will not germinate most dormant seeds. You'd have to break the dormancy first, for example, by treating seeds with different chemicals or growth hormones, or puncturing the seed coat.

tHE roots of some seedlings are way to sensitive to be germinated in paper towels

Always been paper towel for me. I like to know i have a tap root asap lol

For me I've never messed with paper towel or water in a cup method for germinating fruits, veggies and herb seeds due to the fact they are so cheap and it doesn't matter if you plant more in if the seeds you planted failed to germinate. No point in spending more money then you need.

For me I've never messed with paper towel or water in a cup method for germinating fruits, veggies and herb seeds due to the fact they are so cheap and it doesn't matter if you plant more in if the seeds you planted failed to germinate. No point in spending more money then you need. I use seedling soil to start my seeds off.

depending on the type of pumpkin, you may want to take a nailfile to the edge of the seed (just a little!) to help it pop. my success rate went from dismal to awesome when i started doing that.