WHY ARE MY SEEDS NOT GERMINATING?

When we started our small garden, we planted whatever seeds were available. One time, Pau cooked ampalaya that were starting to become yellowish in color, and he saved five seeds from them. He sowed these seeds in the end row of our kangkong plot. After several days, we were delighted to see two ampalaya seedlings growing. Obviously, three of them did not germinate. But we were already happy with these two because we did not have any idea yet on how we can make a proper trellis for them. We only have four thin bamboo poles, which we used for our alugbati before, and a small roll of nylon. Pau made a simple grid for these greens to climb on.

After almost two weeks, when the two were already going up the mesh made for them, two other seeds sprouted! The remaining one also broke through the soil after another week! All five seeds germinated at the end. Now, the first two are more than a meter long and ready to flower, the next two are about a foot long, and the last one is around 6 inches in length. Isn’t it amazing and interesting how it happened? They all came from the same ampalaya fruit, watered with (almost) the same amount of water, and planted on the same day and plot of soil. There is really nothing different with how we care for each one of them. Why would they germinate and grow at different times and rates?

I may have a degree in agriculture, but I do not know everything when it comes to growing plants. It is just my husband who thought that I can answer every question he has when it comes to our small garden. Nevertheless, let me offer some possible explanations why seeds may not germinate and grow at the same time and rate. Hopefully, they will answer your questions as well.

1. The environmental condition may be inappropriate. In addition to good soil, a seed needs an optimal amount of water, light, oxygen, and temperature to grow. Maybe we miss one of these in our garden. Temperature is getting higher nowadays. The soil might have been too hot for the seeds to germinate at first. But thankfully, all of them are growing well now.
2. The seeds may be old. The viability or the ability of seeds to germinate may decrease with time. In our case, the seeds were freshly harvested from the fruit.
3. The seeds are eaten by predators. Birds are one of the most common predators. They can eat or dig the seeds while looking for something to eat. There are several birds visiting our garden once in a while. However, I doubt that they would take our seeds. I would suspect those stray cats in our street more than them. I hate those cats! They are digging our plot of pechay to poop!
4. The seeds may have developed dormancy. Although viable, some seeds might not germinate because they are dormant (or sleeping). Seed dormancy hinders germination even under optimal environmental conditions. 
5. The seeds are sown at the wrong depth. When seeds need light to germinate, the amount of light that they receive can be determined by how deeply they are sown. I think this is the reason why three of our seeds germinated late. Maybe their holes were deeper than those of two others or we accidentally stepped on the soil, shoving them further into it.

These are simple explanations. You can search the Internet or read a book to learn more about what is happening in your seeds or plants. Each seed is unique. Not all seeds have the same requirements so better know what you are planting in your garden.

With what I observed in our sown ampalaya seeds, I was reminded with a devotional entry I wrote.

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…”

Ecclesiastes 3:1

We are like seeds. We may be planted wherever we are right now, but sometimes we feel like we are not growing. We envy those whom we think are ahead or better than us. They now have their own house or travelled far, while we are left to our responsibilities. Some of them found a good husband while you do not even have someone pursuing you. Or they have a good wife and you cannot even find someone to court. We tend to compare our processes to them when we shouldn’t. 

If you are feeling like this, let me encourage you. Similar to seeds, we are all unique. Your timeline is different from mine or from those around you. But one thing is sure: the Lord has planned everything well for you. You are where you are for a reason. Your current season may be the “imbibition stage” you need. During this period in a seed, it takes up water, and it terminates when the radicle emerges. Who knows, you might wake up one day with your leaves all up and growing, climbing the trellis prepared for you. You are just on time, mighty one. Have faith.