I've been gardening for years and usually have no issues germinating over 20 types of fruits and veggies. However, in the last couple of years, my corn germination rates have plummeted to below 10%. I typically sow seeds in cell trays indoors around mid to late April using either regular or seedling compost. I've also experimented with direct sowing outside in early June. The seeds I'm using are fresh sh2 type F1 hybrid seeds purchased the same year. I'm mindful of their short shelf life. One observation is that there's a white filamentary fungus growing on the compost surface when I sow them indoors, which seems to cause the seeds to rot instead of sprouting. What could I be doing wrong, and how can I boost my corn seed germination rates?
3 Answers
I've had great success with a method where I chit the seeds first before planting. I managed to get 22 out of 24 corn seeds to germinate using this technique. If you want details, you might check out some gardening resources for it!
I’ve noticed that a lot of peat-free composts these days aren’t great for germination – they often harbor fungus and gnats that ruin seedlings. I’ve had better results germinating seeds on damp tissue before transferring them to microwaved compost. It still can be tricky, though!
It sounds like your seeds are rotting, which might be due to the conditions. This year, my greenhouse seeds didn't do well either, possibly because it got too hot in April. When I used a heat mat, they all germinated fine. Also, have you tried using fresh compost instead of reused stuff? That might help!
Oh, I love chitting! I also soak my seeds overnight in water with half an aspirin, which really helps boost growth. It can be a bit of a hassle, but it's worth it!