Seed Germinator: The Little Machine That Is Transforming Farming Of Seedlings

If you have spent a season witnessing the failure of a significant portion of your

nursery trays to germinate, you definitely know how frustrating it feels when the

germination of seeds is inconsistent. The solution to this problem is a seed

germinator. Having covered agritech inventions and talked with people who

moved from field sowing to controlled seed germination in a decade of experience, I

can safely state that it is not another marketing trick – it is a real solution to an

ancient problem. 

What Is a Seed Germinator?

So, what is a seed germinator? It is a special chamber or tray system providing

controlled conditions in terms of temperature, humidity and light in order to

ensure the growth of the seedling in a fast and more consistent way compared to

growing plants outdoors. In fact, it is a plant incubator ensuring that a seedling

grows under the conditions it wants rather than survives in. 

How Does Seed Germinator Work?

The principle of functioning of a seed germinator sounds rather simple. The seed

germinators include three main components: the heating element responsible for

ensuring optimal temperature of the soil (root zone), the moisture control system

(spraying/misting or capillary irrigation) and, finally, lighting  equipment (if

necessary) to support photosynthesis after the shoot emerges. 

Thanks to sensors and automatic climate control, seeds will not have to suffer from

cold periods, dry or overly moist conditions that often lead to the failure in the field.

Because of the stable conditions, the percentage of seeds that successfully germinate

rises dramatically (from 60-70% outside to over 90% inside). 

Seed Germinator Machine: The Types That Will Be Helpful for You to Know

There are many different seed germinator machines, which can vary in type and

design. In most cases, there are two options available for the majority of nursery

owners: Tray germinator is a small-sized machine designed specifically for

germination of vegetable and flower seedlings. Chamber germinator is a big,

insulated room intended for commercial seed testing laboratories and large

nurseries. 

Portable seed germinator is also a useful option for those who are trying out

some new crop types in their gardens or small farms. 

Speaking about their purposes, all these types have something in common:

protection of the seed at its vulnerable stage of development. 

Seed Germinator Price: What to Expect?

The difference in seed germinator prices is quite wide between different devices.

The cheapest devices will be tray-type ones that are designed for household or

small farm use. Medium-sized devices that are automatic germinators with

humidity and temperature control systems for nurseries are rather expensive,

however, in this case, it is possible to get the return on investment thanks to

increased survival of seedlings. Large-sized chamber germinators are industrial-

size devices that are used only by seed companies and scientific organizations, and

they are expensive devices, but they are very precise and cannot be replaced with

manual devices. 

Anyway, in all cases, it would be reasonable to consider such aspects as capacities,

energy consumption and warranties instead of focusing only on the price of the

device, because cheap device failure during the peak sowing season might be

extremely costly. 

Conclusion

Seed germinator is not a luxurious device anymore, it becomes necessary for

everybody who wants their seedlings to survive. And once you've got acquainted

with it, you will never want to return back to the traditional germination in open

soil.