# I need easy germinating seeds

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-easy-germinating-seeds/375109>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 3, 2006, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-easy-germinating-seeds/375109 "2006-10-03T15:09:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![solkoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@solkoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solkoe)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-easy-germinating-seeds/375109/1 "2006-10-03T15:09:07Z")

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I sometimes do experiments with seeds. We test germination conditions. More often than not, the experiments fail because none of the seeds germinate. I usually use grass seed because you get so much for so little but I find that they take a long time to sprout.  
Can someone recommend a seed that is cheap, easy to get and that germinates quickly?

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**Author:** ![Long\_Time\_First\_Time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@Long\_Time\_First\_Time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Long_Time_First_Time)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-easy-germinating-seeds/375109/2 "2006-10-03T15:16:33Z")

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[QUOTE=solkoe]  
I sometimes do experiments with seeds. We test germination conditions. More often than not, the experiments fail because none of the seeds germinate. I usually use grass seed because you get so much for so little but I find that they take a long time to sprout.  
Can someone recommend a seed that is cheap, easy to get and that germinates quickly?  
[/QUOTE]

Bean seeds. You can get dried beans at the grocery store and use them, or a seed packet from a garden store.

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-easy-germinating-seeds/375109/3 "2006-10-03T15:19:09Z")

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Salad cress germinates in a very short time. Mustard is a little slower, but probably cheaper to buy in bulk.

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-easy-germinating-seeds/375109/4 "2006-10-03T15:20:10Z")

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Oh, and Alfalfa is quick too.

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**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-easy-germinating-seeds/375109/5 "2006-10-03T15:20:56Z")

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Whatever they use in grade school for this lesson. Lima beans?

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**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-easy-germinating-seeds/375109/6 "2006-10-03T16:17:40Z")

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Radish seeds germinate in about 4 days, and produce easily identifiable little cotyledon pairs.