The Unlikely Kitchen Appliance That Can Help Speed Up Seed Germination

Your slow cooker is likely one of your favorite kitchen appliances when it comes to whipping up a comforting soup or stew — but did you know it has its uses for your garden, too? A slow cooker could be used to help with seed germination, which makes sense when you think about how warmth directly impacts seeds.

Waiting for your seeds to sprout is probably one of the most tedious parts of gardening, so we're always looking for ways to increase speed germination rates, especially at the time of year when getting a head start on spring planting becomes more urgent. Many people swear by using warming mats, and using a crockpot is like a DIY version of that trick. It's particularly useful if you don't have heat mats to hand or are short on space.

To do this, put a small amount of water in the crockpot, then add your seeds in plastic bags or containers alongside a damp paper towel. Next, turn your crockpot onto the "warm" or "low" setting, which will create the right kind of humid environment that seedlings need to start their life journeys. Most seeds germinate in soil temperatures of roughly 65 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, so, in theory, providing this kind of consistent bottom warmth should help faster sprouting.

However, while this logic technically stands, it's worth remembering that crockpots and slow cookers are designed to cook food, not propagate seeds. Although heat mats are often designed specifically for seeds, a slow cooker on a "low" or "warm" setting doesn't necessarily have precise temperature control, and it could end up running hotter or cooler than you want. And this is important: Too low a heat and the seeds won't germinate; too high and it could kill them or lead to mold. 

Ultimately, helping your seeds germinate is not down to warmth alone. There's a delicate balance acting at play between temperature, airflow, moisture, and sometimes light, all of which work together to create the right environment for your seeds. Yes, throwing them in a slow cooker could work for certain seeds, but it's not a guarantee. Similar to other improvised hacks that get passed down like old wives' tales, such as using vinegar for seed germination, there is anecdotal evidence to support this method — but nothing scientific. So, if you are curious and want to try the slow cooker approach, know that, while you may be successful, there are much more reliable ways to get your seeds to germinate.