Seeds can lose their and viability and germination rate over time and in the wrong storage conditions. Check dates on seed packets to ensure they are not too old and for most seeds storing in cool, dry and dark conditions give the best chance at keeping them viable. If seeds are out of date you may still be able to grow them, so don't throw them away, but be mindful when planting them that there is a chance they may not germinate.

Different plants like different conditions when growing in the garden, it is important we consider these conditions when starting off seeds to give the plant the best chance to meet its life expectancy and for edible crops be able to produce bountiful harvests. Some plants like it hot and dry and some like it cold and wet, many like it somewhere in between, be sure to check the seed packet to check when it is the right time to plant that seed.

When we talk temperature with seeds we are generally referring to the soil temperature and not the air temperature, as the seeds are generally started in soil and not the air and need a set temperature range to help break dormancy and to get growing. Using a thermometer to check the soil temperature first can give surprising results and help ensure the temperature is in the right range. Heat mats, greenhouse and plastic tunnels are ways to help manipulate the temperature to get an early start to your planting season.

Maintaining moisture levels when starting seeds can be one of the hardest steps. The soil will need to be damp to the touch. Soil that is too wet can cause the seed to rot, and soil that is too dry can prevent the germination process from starting or cause the seedling to die once it starts to grow. Starting with moist mixture and then utilising a gentle mist spray bottle regularly in the early stages of the seedlings life to keep the soil moist but not soaked will help in the growing journey.

To give your seeds the best start to life having a great growing medium is key. As seeds break dormancy and begin to grow they already have a lot of what the need stored inside them, having a light and moist mixture will allow them to break out of their shell and get the plant moving. Once they are growing they will quickly use up any food stores they had within the seed and will then look to draw this from your growing medium, so ensuring this light, moist mixture also has some balanced nutrients via sifted worm castings, good quality compost or a weak liquid will help. 

Plants convert sunlight into energy that helps them grow and stay strong. Once a seed germinates and sets roots it will then generally look for the sun to give it energy to grow. As the plant breaks through the growing medium having good access to direct sunlight is required (or grow lights that can replicate sunlight) to keep the plant happy and healthy and stop them from becoming leggy as the stretch out chasing the light. Moving seedlings outside during the day (avoiding weather extremes)  and bringing them in at night if not starting direct in the ground can help to maintain happy and healthy plants.

As a general rule of thumb, plant the seeds at twice the depth of their width. This gives the seed enough growing medium to grab onto and start growing but doesn't put the surface out of reach so that it can break through and chase the sunlight. Not sure which way is up, down or side ways, generally it will not matter too much and the seed will correct itself, but for longer more narrow seeds use the width of the widest part of the narrow stretch as a guide for planting depth. 

Seeds can take varying times to germinate, so patience is key. Some will come up in a matter of days, others might take a number of weeks.

If your seeds don't germinate at all, as you can see from this page alone there is a lot of variables when growing from seed, with many that might be out of your control as well. If you have been unsuccessful after one or two attempts don't give and give it another grow. It is well worth the rewards of a home-grown plate of vegetables for your dinner.