More gardeners should know how to start seeds in a paper towel. It’s a handy method for checking germination rates of old seeds, but it’s also an effective way to start vegetable, flower, and herb seeds indoors. It saves serious time and space, and is very easy to do. In this article you’ll learn the essential steps for starting seeds in a paper towel and what to do with them after they sprout.

Why you should know how to start seeds in a paper towel

Learning how to start seeds in a paper towel is a helpful skill for gardeners. I use this technique to determine whether seeds from old seed packets are still worth planting. If kept in a cool dry spot, most types of seeds can be stored for several years, but germination rates decline over time. Trying to plant older seeds in the garden or inside under grow lights can be frustrating as low germination rates mean few seed sprout. If you’re trying to figure out seed viability, it’s helpful to do a germination test. 

Testing older seed packs saves me money because if there are still seeds that will sprout in those packets I don’t need to buy new seeds. Also it’s a great way to save indoor space beneath grow lights or in a sunny window. It’s frustrating planting up a tray of soil cubes or cell packs only to have most of the seeds not sprout. If I know all or most of the seeds will grow, I’m not wasting valuable grow space. 

Another reason why you should know the paper towel method is because it’s an easy way to germinate seeds that I then transplant into cell packs, pots, or soil cubes. I use this method for a wide variety of vegetable seeds including tomatoes, eggplant, hot and sweet peppers, squash, watermelons, cucumber, broccoli, cabbage, and so on. Germinating the seeds before potting them up means no empty cells or soil cubes for the most efficient use of my seed-starting space. Another benefit is that this technique eliminates the need to thin – just plant one sprouted seed per container. 

Supplies for starting seeds in paper towel 

Now that we understand why it’s important to know how to start seeds in a paper towel, let’s look at what supplies you need for this technique.

• Paper towels or coffee filters. I typically use paper towels, but you can also use paper coffee filters to germinate seeds.
• Ziptop bags or a plastic container with lid
• Water sprayer
• Labels or masking tape and a marker
• Seeds

How to start seeds in a paper towel to test seed germination

The paper towel germination method is a practical way to check seed viability. 

1. Dampen the paper towel or coffee filter with water. I find the easiest way to do this is to spread it on the work surface and spritz it with water. You can also run a piece of paper towel under the faucet and then squeeze out excess moisture.
2. Place 10 seeds on one side of the paper towel, spacing them about an inch apart. Fold the other side of the paper towel over top the seeds. Press gently to ensure good paper-seed contact.
3. Carefully lift the piece of paper towel and place it in a ziptop bag or into a plastic container. 
4. Zip the seals on the bags or put the lid on the container. When I use ziptop baggies I like to blow in air using a straw. Inflating the baggies turns them into little greenhouses. This greenhouse effect increases humidity as well as heat in the bags. Label the type of seed, variety, and the average days to germination. This information is typically listed on the seed packet. 
5. Keep the bags or containers in a warm spot – like on top of the refrigerator or near a sunny window. The heat helps prompt quick germination. 
6. Check the bags every day or two to see if the paper towel is drying out. If so, spritz it with water. This also gives you a chance to learn whether any seeds have germinated.
7. After the average days to germination has passed, open the bag, remove the paper towel, and count how many seeds germinated.

What to do with the germinated seeds 

If you’re doing a germination test to determine whether your seeds are still fresh enough to plant you’ll want to count how many seeds sprouted. When all 10 seeds sprout, the germination rate is 100% and they’re fine to plant. If half of them germinated, the germination rate is 50% and you can plant them at a higher rate when the time is right. However, if none germinated, toss the packet in the compost.

I usually do germination tests in winter and because it’s still so early in the season I don’t transplant the germinated seeds. I add them to my compost. If doing a germination test later in the season you can pot up a sprouted seeds for use in the garden. More on this below.

How to start seeds in a paper towel to pre-germinate seeds before planting

This method is very similar to the one used for checking seed viability but there are a few differences.

1. Dampen the paper towel or coffee filter with water. I find the easiest way to do this is to spread it on the work surface and spritz it with water. You can also run a piece of paper towel under the faucet and then squeeze out excess moisture. 
2. Place as many seeds as you like on one side of the paper towel, spacing them about an inch apart. Fold the other side of the paper towel overtop the seeds. Press gently to ensure good paper-seed contact.
3. Carefully lift the piece of paper towel and place it in a ziptop bag or into the plastic container. 
4. Zip the seals on the bags closed or put the lid on the container. When I use ziptop baggies I like to blow in air using a straw. Inflating the baggies turns them into little greenhouses. Label the type of seed, variety, and the average days to germination. This information is typically listed on the seed packet. 
5. Keep the bags or containers in a warm spot – like on top of the refrigerator or near a sunny window because the heat helps prompt quick germination. 
6. Check the bags every day or two to see if the paper towel is drying out and if it has, spritz with water. This also gives you a chance to learn whether any seeds have germinated.
7. As they sprout I carefully lift them with tweezers, a wooden skewer, or my fingers and transplant the germinated seed in cell packs or pots filled with a growing medium. Of transfer them to soil cubes.

Transplanting tips

• As seeds sprout and you transplant the germinated seed into cell packs, soil cubes, pots, or other types of containers be sure to plant them at the appropriate depth. This is typically just beneath the surface of the growing mix, don’t bury them deeply.
• If you find your sprouted seeds sticking to the paper towel, their tiny roots may be growing into the towel. In this case just tear or cut off a small piece of the towel and plant it with the seed. Using a coffee filter reduces this issue.
• Maintain a lightly damp growing mix and when the small seedlings have several sets of true leaves, start to fertilize every two weeks with a diluted liquid organic fertilizer. 

The best seeds to start in paper towels

Many types of vegetable seeds and flower seeds, as well as herb seeds like cilantro, can be started using the paper towel method. It’s easier to start larger seeds, which is why I sprout so many vegetable seeds this way. Here are some types to try:

Vegetable seeds:

• Beans
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Cucumber
• Eggplant
• Lettuce
• Peas
• Peppers
• Pumpkins
• Squash
• Swiss chard
• Tomatoes
• Watermelon
• Zucchini

Flower seeds:

• Morning glory
• Nasturtium
• Sweet peas

For more information on indoor seed starting, be sure to read these articles:

• How often to water seedlings and how to do it right
• DIY seed starting mix: Easy recipes
• Soil blocking: A better way to start seeds indoors