āļø Sonia Pardasani, Co-founder BageechaBox | š 5 min read | š”ļø Troubleshooting Guide
Poor germination is one of the most demoralising problems a new grower faces. The good news: there are only a handful of real causes, every one is fixable, and most are preventable.
Normal Germination Rates
| Variety | Expected Rate | Days to First Shoots |
| Radish, Mustard, Broccoli | 85ā95% | 1ā2 days |
| Fenugreek, Sunflower | 80ā90% | 2ā3 days |
| Pea Shoots, Wheatgrass | 80ā90% | 2ā3 days |
Cause 1 ā Old Seeds
Seeds lose viability over time. Test your seeds: place 10 between damp paper towels for 48 hours. 7+ sprouted = good; under 4 = replace the seeds. Store seeds in an airtight container in a cool dark place.
Cause 2 ā Temperature Wrong
Below 18Ā°C: Most seeds stall. Move trays indoors to a warmer spot in winter.
Above 35Ā°C: Heat can damage seeds. Move to a cooler spot or grow early morning in summer.
Cause 3 ā Wrong Soaking
Varieties that need soaking (fenugreek, pea, sunflower, wheatgrass) perform much worse without it. Varieties that should not be soaked (radish, mustard, basil) germinate worse if you do soak them.
Cause 4 ā Cocopeat Too Wet or Too Dry
Seeds need moisture to germinate but will rot if sitting in waterlogged cocopeat. Do the squeeze test: a handful squeezed firmly should not release any drips.
š± Start with fresh, high-germination seeds
BageechaBox seeds are tested for germination rate before every batch. Delivered across India in 24ā48 hours.
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