About This Smart Calculator

Every gardener knows the feeling. You carefully plant a packet of seeds, dream of a lush harvest, and then... only a few lonely seedlings pop up. It's disappointing! Old seeds or seeds stored improperly can lose their spark. This tool helps you peek into the future by testing that spark first. It's a two-part guide to success. First, you can easily figure out your **seed germination rate**—a fancy term for the percentage of your seeds that are actually alive and ready to grow. Think of it as their report card.

But we don't stop there. Knowing the rate is great, but what do you do with that information? That's where the second part of our calculator comes in. It acts like a smart planting assistant. You tell it how many plants you actually want to end up with in your garden, and it uses your germination rate to tell you **exactly how many seeds you should plant** to reach your goal. It automatically accounts for the duds, so you're not left with empty spaces in your garden bed. It’s the best way to turn a simple seed test into a real, actionable planting plan for a garden you can be proud of.

How to Use This Tool

It’s a simple two-step process to go from testing to planning:

1. Test Your Seeds: In the "Part 1" section, enter how many seeds you started with in your test (a wet paper towel is perfect for this) and how many of them successfully sprouted. Your germination rate will appear instantly.
2. Plan Your Planting: Once you have your rate, the "Part 2" section will show up. Simply type in how many plants you'd like to have in your garden. The calculator will then tell you the total number of seeds you should sow to make that happen.

Tips for Success

• The 10-Seed Test: You don't need to test a ton of seeds. Ten is a perfect number for a quick and easy test. Place them on a damp paper towel, fold it, slide it into a zip-top bag, and keep it somewhere warm. Check on it every day!
• Give Them Time: Some seeds, like peppers and parsley, are slowpokes and can take a couple of weeks to sprout. Others, like radishes, are very fast. Check your seed packet for the expected germination time before you give up on them.
• Store Seeds Like Treasure: The best way to keep your seeds ready for action is to store them in a cool, dark, and dry place. An airtight jar or envelope in the back of your fridge is a fantastic spot.