KNO3

habitat_gardener · January 5, 2013

Has anyone used potassium nitrate for seed starting? Does it help?

The Fedco catalog says it's recommended for brassicas, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, basil, endive, radicchio, and most flower seed to soften the seed coat and "expedite" germination.

RayR · January 6, 2013

I've heard of the KNO3 soak for seed starting, but I don't understand how it softens seed coats.
I've never thought of those vegetable seeds as particularly hard to hydrate and they are pretty quick to germinate with just water.

January 5, 2013	#1
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,543	KNO3 Has anyone used potassium nitrate for seed starting? Does it help? The Fedco catalog says it's recommended for brassicas, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, basil, endive, radicchio, and most flower seed to soften the seed coat and "expedite" germination.

January 6, 2013	#2
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,466	I've heard of the KNO3 soak for seed starting, but I don't understand how it softens seed coats. I've never thought of those vegetable seeds as particularly hard to hydrate and they are pretty quick to germinate with just water.