Germinate Beans on Moist Kitchen Paper
When sowing bean seeds directly into the soil, not all seeds turn into plants (due to dry soil or bad weather). Germinating bean seeds on moist kitchen paper towels is a simple and more successful starter method.
Steps
- Things you'll need: 2 plastic rectangular boxes of the same size (about 2.5 inch (63 mm) high), kitchen paper, satay sticks (also known as skewers). Boxes on the photo are about 7 x 4.5 x {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}}.
- Make germination box: Use a pin to prick small holes at 4 corners, about 12 mm (0.5 inch) from top and from side. Drill holes at those positions. Put in satay sticks. Shorten satay sticks using scissors.
- Fold kitchen paper to 6 layers. If needed, trim with scissors to fit in the box. (Alternately, cut 6 sheets of kitchen paper that fit in the box and lay them on each other.)
- Lay dry kitchen paper in the box.
- Moisten kitchen paper by adding cold tap water in the box. Water height: 1/8 – ¼ inch (3 – 6 mm) above paper. Hold the box slanting to remove water. Stop water removal when water flow starts dripping.
- Lay dry bean seeds on moist kitchen paper. Distance between seeds, see photo. Write info on a sheet of writing paper. Fasten the sheet with a staple to the satay stick.
- Put an empty box on top of the satay sticks (which allows air to circulate between the boxes). This box serves as a lid and minimizes water evaporation.
- Put the system in a room at 68 to 77 degrees F (20 to 25 C).
- Regularly check water level as follows: Hold the box somewhat slanted. Water level is okay when a little water appears in the corner within 2 to 10 seconds. When water level is too low, pour some tap water on the moist paper.
- When there are big bean plants, add some water to the box to moisten paper and germinated seed to ease removal. Pick out some big bean plants.
- Bean plants picked.
- Loosen the soil in the garden. Make small holes in the soil. Put bean plants in the holes. Water the plants.
- Rake the soil around the plants (about one hour after planting).
- Grown bean plants, 24 hrs after planting.
- You can put the bean plants in the soil at any (not freezing) weather: dry, sunny, rainy, cold, warm, hot. Always water and rake after planting.
Tips
- More beans needed, place more boxes with paper and seeds on the top of the other box. Maximal 5 or 6 boxes I think. Always put an empty box at the top.
- You can use one box and lay the original lid “loose” on it (so no pressing on it). There is a narrow air opening between lid and tray. The kitchen paper will not dry out so fast. Bean seeds get enough fresh air. When using this “loose lid” on the box, germinating works even better.
- When you put the whole on a warm surface (30-35 C, 86-95F), e.g. on the hood of the central heating unit, germination is much faster.
- Never put the beans on a hot place, otherwise the water will evaporate.
Warnings
- When a little too much water has been added, there is no need for action. After a few days water level will be okay. The seeds will not rot due to the layers of absorbing paper.
- Not all beans germinate at the same time. There are fast and slow ones.
- Beans may smell during germination or show coloured spots. That's normal.
- Always clean the boxes and satay sticks before use with warm water and soap. This is to overcome rotting of bean seeds.
- Far too much water added, use a spoon or a cup or something like that to remove excess water. Or remove satay sticks, put an empty box on the bean seeds, press, and drain water by holding the boxes upside down.
- Remove rotten bean seeds.
- For bean plants with long stems: plant these beans deeper in the soil
Things You'll Need
- Two rectangular plastic boxes of identical size. Height about 2.5 inch (63 mm).
- Kitchen paper
- Satay sticks
- Pin
- Drill + drill bit 0.1 inch (2.5 mm)
