how do seeds know which way is up in space

All plants can sense the direction of the gravitational field and orientate themselves accordingly. ... In mature plants, phototaxis (growing towards the light source) overrides the gravitational impulse for the stalk and leaves, but the roots – and the seed while it is underground – rely on gravity for orientation.

1. Which side of the seed goes down?
2. What happens if a seed is planted upside down?
3. Does it matter in which direction seeds are planted?
4. Why do seeds sprout upwards?
5. Do you plant a sprouted seed up or down?
6. What do I do after my seeds sprout?
7. What happens if you plant a seed too deep?
8. Why do seeds grow faster in the dark?
9. When should I plant my germinated seeds?
10. Which way up do I plant runner bean seeds?
11. Which way up do you plant cucumber seeds?
12. Do seeds need light to germinate?
13. Should seedlings be kept in the dark?
14. How do roots know which way to grow?
15. What would likely occur if a seed is planted upside down with a light source below the plant?
16. Should seeds be soaked before planting?
17. What is needed for a seed to grow into a sprout?
18. What is the fastest way to germinate seeds?

Which side of the seed goes down?

In nature, most seeds end up facing any old way and they still germinate. Geotropism (geo = ground, tropism = growth) takes care of assuring they sprout correctly: the radicle (seed root) will always grow downward, showing “positive geotropism,” while the shoot (plumule) will grow upwards (negative tropism).

What happens if a seed is planted upside down?

Whether a seed is sown upside down, right side up or on its side, it has the ability to position itself so stems grow upward and roots grow downward. Seeds contain growth hormones that respond to gravity and rotate the seed to the correct orientation.

Does it matter in which direction seeds are planted?

Scott believes that pointing the seed in the right direction (meaning with the root in the down direction) when planting will improve germination rates and vigor of the plant. ... No matter how a seed is planted, the root will orient itself towards the pull of gravity in the downward direction.

Why do seeds sprout upwards?

Paul Robson, Plant Biologist at Aberystwyth University... Paul - Plants grow upwards because they're trying to get to the light to begin photosynthesis, but mostly germinate underground where there's little light to follow. And so, the plants actually use gravity to tell it which way is up.

Do you plant a sprouted seed up or down?

Place your germinated seed, root down, into the hole and cover lightly. Do not pack the soil on top of the seed; a light protective layer of soil is all that is needed. Once they sprout in one to three days, new seedlings will need lots of light, and fluorescent grow light works best.

What do I do after my seeds sprout?

Once the seeds have sprouted, remove the cover. When the seedlings are young, you may want to re-cover them for a few hours a day to keep them from drying out. Over many years of growing my own plants, one thing that really helped me out was using a turkey baster to water the young seedlings.

What happens if you plant a seed too deep?

ANSWER: Seeds that are planted too deep in the soil may grow into weak, feeble seedlings or fail to germinate at all. If it's been buried too far under the surface of the soil, the seed may not get the light it requires to sprout.

Why do seeds grow faster in the dark?

The light slows stem elongation through hormones that are sent down the stem from the tip of the stem. In the darkness, the hormones do not slow stem elongation. The seeds in the dark-grown condition rely upon the stored chemical energy within their cells (lipids, proteins, carbohydrates) to power their growth.

When should I plant my germinated seeds?

As soon as the seeds start to sprout roots, it is time to plant them. Take the pie pan outside and spoon the seed, with some of the surrounding gel into a ½” deep hole and cover lightly. If you are up for a little adventure, there is one more method of planting you can use with the gel.

Which way up do I plant runner bean seeds?

Hi all, A tip from allegedly the best runner bean grower off his day, Brython Stenner, look carefully at the scar on the side of the bean (this is where the bean was attatched to the pod) at one end of the scar is a dimple, plant the seed vertically with this dimple facing DOWNWARDS.

Which way up do you plant cucumber seeds?

Mostly, people will tell you to sow cucumbers on their side. Just to be difficult we do it differently, and sow the cucumber seed on end. Firstly, it is important to realise that there is a right end and wrong end to the seed. Each seed has a 'sharp point' where it was attached to the fruit, and a 'blunt end'.

Do seeds need light to germinate?

Light may actually stunt the process of germination. At this point and beyond, it can be helpful to distinguish between the lighting needs of seeds as they burrow in the soil and the light they need once they sprout and become seedlings. All seedlings need sunlight to grow strong.

Should seedlings be kept in the dark?

Some plants germinate well in darkness, some prefer continuous light, and others have no preference either way. ... It is a fact of life that most plants need light to grow and keep them healthy, but not all plants need light to germinate, and, as we shall see, some seeds find light a hindrance.

How do roots know which way to grow?

If they come across some obstacle, they feel their way around it until they come to a point where they can grow again. The roots do this through a self-reinforcing chemical cycle. A protein at the tip of the root hairs, called RHD2, produces free radicals that stimulate the uptake of calcium from the soil.

What would likely occur if a seed is planted upside down with a light source below the plant?

Growing of a crop upside down with a light source down will make auxins accumulate the top where the roots are promoting their growth but because roots grow towards gravity (geotrophism)they willl grown first upwards but start to bend and grow towards gravity.

Should seeds be soaked before planting?

Soaking seeds before planting helps you to break down the seed's natural defenses against what it expects from Mother Nature, which then allows it to germinate faster. Another reason is that while Mother Nature actively assaults seeds, she also gave those seeds an internal gauge to help them know when they should grow.

What is needed for a seed to grow into a sprout?

Essentials. The beginning of the growth of a seed into a seedling is known as germination. All seeds need water, oxygen and the right temperature to germinate. Dormancy is a state of suspended animation in which seeds delay germination until conditions are right for survival and growth.

What is the fastest way to germinate seeds?

One easy way to make seeds germinate faster is to presoak them for 24 hours in a shallow container filled with hot tap water. Water will penetrate the seed coat and cause the embryos inside to plump up. Don't soak them for longer than 24 hours because they could rot. Plant the seeds immediately in moist soil.