I never soak seeds before sowing them unless there is some well-known reason to do this with a particular genus. I sow them and then partially immerse the flat of pots in water until it soaks up to the surface, then keep them in a well-lit, unheated shed (Jan has seen it). I would not leave them outdoors because slugs, birds, and rodents would likely bite off the emerging seedlings, especially if the seed coat is on the tip of the cotyledon to attract the latter two pests. Jane McGary, Portland, Oregon, USA On 11/14/2021 12:40 PM, Jan Jeddeloh via pbs wrote: > I’m about to sow seed of various hardy and semi-hardy bulbs. My usual procedure is to soak the seed for a day before sowing then throw the pots outside until they start to germinate in the spring. Once germination starts I bring them into a cool greenhouse. Works reasonably well. Today it is over 60F in Portland, Oregon and tomorrow, when we get a gully washer of rain, it will be 50 degrees. Does anyone see a point in soaking the seed since it appears Mother Nature is going to soak it for me and provide reasonably warm temperatures to boot? > > Jan Jeddeloh in balmy Portland, Oregon. Zone 8. > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net>