Often, sprouting needs moisture and not nutrition. Hence, we share a list of Seeds that Germinate Best in a Paper Towel!
Damp paper towels are sometimes the only help you need to coax stubborn seeds into sprouting. If you think it’s a myth, check out this list of seeds that germinate best, yes, the best in paper towels, and try it out yourself!
How to Use Paper Towels for Seed Germination?
Most vegetables, herbs, flower seeds, and even some fruits can be germinated using paper towels and similar mediums. Before we share our selection of seeds that sprout better in paper towels, let’s review some basic requirements.
- Choose a slightly thick paper towel that can remain damp and sturdy—not one that tears up and falls apart. It should not shed lint or stick to the seeds once they sprout, but it should be able to hold moisture throughout. Blotting paper, coffee filters, kitchen towels, and bamboo or hemp paper rolls are healthy options with fewer chemicals.
- Now, dampen it by running it under water and gently squeezing out excess moisture, or you can also mist it with water. Choose a few healthy seeds of your desired plant and place them on the towel. You can even cover them with another slightly damp towel to provide consistent hydration and slip them into a Ziploc or airtight bag.
- Next, find a warm spot with a temperature of 65-86F (18-30C). Mist the towel if it starts to dry out.
- If you find moldy growth, remedy it immediately. Replace the paper towels with fresh ones. You can also pick out and discard the moldy seeds. Then, rinse the remaining seeds in a mild hydrogen peroxide solution—one part H2O2 to 10 parts water.
- Ensure the airtight containers or bags are clean, and the towels are never soggy, only damp.
- Finally, your seeds should begin sprouting any time now, sometimes in less than a week. When you see the first signs of life–radicles emerging from the seed husk–wait till it grows to an inch or two.
- Once this is achieved, you may transplant them into suitable soil. Remember, the seedling prefers a 10 F cooler temperature than what it sprouted at.
Seeds that Germinate Best in Paper Towel
1. Tomato
Botanical Name: Solanum lycopersicum
There are all kinds of bland and tainted varieties of tomatoes out there. So, when you chance upon a delicious and juicy batch of heirloom tomatoes, you’ll surely want a neverending supply of them for your kitchen. Pick a damp paper towel and get started!
Tomato seeds sprout well in paper towels, and seedlings will appear within 5-10 days. If, after ten to twelve days, some seeds have not yet sprouted, they are most likely no longer viable. Yes, even seeds come with expiry dates. Check out these tricks to grow tomatoes from seeds.
2. Sweet Pea
Botanical Name: Lathyrus odoratus
Unlike edible peas, this is grown for its fragrant blooms but is otherwise toxic. Sweet peas take anywhere from 10 to 14 days to sprout. Open the bag or container every few days to let fresh air in. Once its sprouts grow, transplant them an inch below the soil’s surface.
Sweet peas grow well at a minimum of about 50 F (10 C) and need adequate space for their long roots to spread.
3. Zucchini 
Botanical Name: Cucurbita pepo
One of the fastest ways to germinate zucchini seeds is via paper towels. Otherwise stubborn, the seeds quickly sprout in this method’s humid and warm settings. Sprouts begin to appear in 2-5 days, and it takes several more days before you’ll be able to move them to plant pots. Just make sure all the seeds are covered or are touching the dampened paper.
4. Pepper
Botanical Name: Capsicum annuum
Pepper seeds are a bit more adamant than the rest on this list. And our reliable paper towel method is here to the rescue, yet again! They need a warmer temperature, around 75-90 F (24-32 C), and ample humidity to sprout, and it may take up to two weeks to do so! However, it’s worth the wait.
5. Lettuce 
Botanical Name: Lactuca sativa
Lettuce is a cool-weather crop that germinates at temperatures below 72 F (22 C). It takes about 7-10 days to sprout and needs to be kept cool and aerated throughout this process. You can even refrigerate them if the weather around you is too hot for lettuce seeds.
Once roots emerge, plant the seedlings in loose, well-draining soil and ensure the temperature is around 60-65 F (15-18 C) for ideal growth.
6. Asparagus Seeds
Botanical Name: Asparagus officinalis
Like pepper, asparagus is another obstinate plant. Usually grown from crowns, seed germination is the way to go if you’re looking at mass plantings.
Another cool-weather plant, asparagus seeds, must be refrigerated for at least a month to mimic the winter conditions it needs to break dormancy.
Then, follow the damp paper towel method and ensure the temperature is around 70F (21C). Sprouts will begin to show in about 14-20 days before you can transplant them into the soil.
7. Sunflowers
Botanical Name: Helianthus annuus
Germinating sunflower seeds in damp paper towels is a quick and easy way to get a headstart on your summer blooms. Sandwich the seeds between two damp paper towels, put them in a zip-lock bag, and stash them in a warm location with indirect sunlight.
The key is to keep the seeds moist but not soaking wet. You should see tiny white roots emerging from the seeds within a week to ten days.
8. Strawberry
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Botanical Name: Fragaria x ananassa
Germinating strawberry seeds differs slightly from the usual damp paper towel method. Pick out the seeds from the surface of a juicy red strawberry and spread them out between two moist paper towels. Seal them shut in an air-tight bag and refrigerate for 2-3 weeks.
Then, take it out, let it warm to room temperature, and sow your seeds evenly across the top of your soil. Strawberries need light and warmth to germinate in this soil. And once they sprout, transplant only when they have at least three sets of true leaves.
9. Moonflower
Botanical Name: Ipomoea alba
Moonflower seeds also sprout well in damp paper towels. But here’s a trick that quickens germination–soaking. Soak these seeds in room-temperature water for 3-4 hours and then put them in the damp paper towels. Also, keep these on a south-facing windowsill that receives filtered light through a sheer curtain because they need warmer temperatures to sprout, ideally 65-75F (18-24C).
10. Zinnias
Botanical Name: Zinnia
Zinnias germinate better from paper towels than those planted directly in the ground. Seeds germinate in about a week in temperatures of 70-75 F (20-24 C), which is ideal. Once seedlings emerge, plant these prolific bloomers in well-draining soil watered only when dry.
Well, what are you waiting for? It’s time to try growing these seeds in paper towels on your own. Do let us know how it goes in the comments. Here are some quick tips for faster germination that’ll help you even more.
