I soaked my soybeans for 20 hours before starting the germination process on cotton. I'm working on a school project that looks into how soil pH affects soybean growth, and I need a good batch of seeds to start with. My worry is whether soaking them for that long might affect their germination rate or their growth down the line. Did I mess things up?
2 Answers
As long as you soaked all the seeds for the same length of time, you shouldn’t worry. It actually aids germination, so if you had varied soaking times, it could throw off your results. Just make sure to note that you soaked them for 20 hours in your methodology. And don’t sweat it if things don’t go perfectly—failures happen in science too! Your supervisor will understand that.
You're good! Soaking seeds for that duration can actually help them, especially with larger seeds. I've done it for corn, beans, and a few other plants, and I've never experienced any issues. 20 hours shouldn't be a problem at all!
Thanks! When should I plant them in soil for the pH tests? Right after the radicle shows, or when they start to turn green?