During the week the first of our seeds have germinated, the little tomato plants and the sweetpea flowers have popped out of their seeds and up out of the ground. Nature is fabulous. This prompted me to remind myself what happens during the germination process, which I am sure I would have learned about when in school.
Before a seed can sprout, it must go through a process called germination. This process happens inside the seed.
The outside of a seed is called the seed coat. The seed coat is the hard outer layer of the seed. Not all seed coats are alike, though.
Some are hard (corn, beans, peas, sweetpeas).
Other seeds have softer coats (tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers).
Parts of a Seed
The inside of a seed has four main parts. The four main parts of the inside of a seed are
The Radicle is the first root the plant has. In the picture above you will be able to see the little white Radicles.
The Hypocotyl is the stem of the plant.
The Epicotyl are the parts of the seed that become the first leaves of a plant.
The Cotyledon is the inner protective layer of the seed that stores food for the seed to use during the process of germination and until the seed comes through the soil and has leaves that can be used for photosynthesis.
When you plant seeds in some soil, it is important to keep the soil watered/damp (not too much) the soil temperature is important as well. I understand in the natural environment it is these factors that prompt the seeds to begin germinating.
The reason watering and dampness is so important is because the seeds need to be able to take in oxygen and minerals from the soil/water through tiny pores (holes) this gives the inside of the seed the food it needs to break open and make its way through the soil so it can grow into a plant. There are lots of YouTube videos that show this process in slow motion.
Here are some Nasturtiun seeds germinated on some damp kitchen towel in a warm place... you can clearly see the elements of seed germination.
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