What is the difference between seedlings and seeds

So there must be some difference to resemble their different names. As for the convention, the name of these two resembles their origin. A seedling is named for its origin as seed and sapling to represent a young tree.

In both cases, they differ in their DBH. Sapling is said to those plants that are less than a year old and have DBH range from 1 to 6 inches. On the other hand, A seedling only retains a DBH of 1 inch or less. They are the first growth phase of a plant after sprouting. Check out my previous post: Can Plants Drown? How to Save a Drowning Plant? In simple words, DBH denotes the diameter of the main trunk of a plant at a height just below the first branch separation.

It resembles the girth of the trunk. In a sapling, you can look out for its main body size just below the cotyledons. Most probably every seedling has a DBH of less than 1 inch. At this stage, no plant has a truly developed trunk structure. On the other hand, a sapling or plant of age greater than 3 months may have a strong solid trunk formation. You can relate this structure to the mature tree. Now it is obvious that a seedling will have a thinner trunk as compared to a year-old sapling of the same tree.

Thus, The DBH of seedling and sapling is their key difference. Check out my favorite garden tools on Amazon. A seedling is the first stage of a visible plant. It grows from seeds and develops into trees.

Almost every seed-bearing plant or tree is a developed form of its seedlings unless they are grafted. In nature, this is the usual method of plant propagation.

This maintains their identification other than grafts or cuttings. This convention is not biologically correct yet every nursery gardener follows it. So it is better you decide whether you need a botanical definition or a naming convention as a seedling. A seedling usually transplants bare rooted. But if the soil or media are too wet, or too compacted, there will not be enough air around the seed to "breathe".

Like any other living organism, seeds need oxygen for respiration, and that oxygen comes from air in the soil. Not all seeds have the same light requirements. Most seeds germinate best under dark conditions and might even be inhibited by light. A few other seeds need light to germinate. But once seeds have germinated and broken through the surface of the soil or growing media as seedlings, they all need sunlight to grow.

Table 1 shows optimal soil temperatures for germination for common vegetable crops. When a dry seed comes into contact with moist soil or growing media, the seed begins to take up water through the seed coat. As it takes up more water, the seed expands and the seed coat cracks open. The embryo inside the seed is made up of a small shoot and a small root. The root is the first to emerge from the seed. As it grows, it anchors the plant to the ground, and begins absorbing water through the root.

After the root absorbs water, the shoot begins to emerge from the seed. Most of the vegetable plants that we grow are "dicots". Dicots have two seed leaves in the shoot that emerge from the germinating seed.

Tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, beets, lettuce, beans, cucumbers, and squash are all dicots. A few vegetables are monocots, including sweet corn, onions and asparagus. Monocots have one seed leaf in the emerging shoot. Once the shoot, with its one or two seed leaves, emerges from the soil or growing media, we call the plant a seedling.

Still quite fragile at this stage, the young seedling is vulnerable to diseases and to environmental stresses such as high temperatures and dry soil. Making sure that conditions are optimal for growth will ensure that young seedlings can grow rapidly and uniformly. Seeds purchased within a year of when they are to be planted rarely fail to germinate. However, seeds are often stored from one year to the next, and if they are stored improperly or for too many years, they can loses vigor and germinate poorly when planted.

A simple germination test can show whether or not stored seed is still viable. To test seed for germination, count out a sample of at least twenty-five seeds. Wrap seeds lightly in a moist paper towel, keep the paper towel moist but not soggy for five to ten days. Unwrap the paper towel and count how many seeds have germinated. We know that seeds need proper conditions to germinate rapidly.

Whether seeds are planted into trays in the greenhouse or directly in the field, the goal is to have all seeds germinate close to the same time and grow at the same rate. A uniform tray of transplants or a uniform field of seedlings is easier to manage and will lead to a better crop.

Uneven germination due to slow growth, differences in soil moisture or temperatures, or planting depth of the seed, can result in seedlings of different sizes. This can especially cause problems when transplanting a tray of seedlings; half are ready to plant in the field, and the other half are too small, with root balls that don't slide easily out of the tray cells. In the greenhouse, one way to achieve rapid, uniform germination is to use germination mats under the trays.

These mats allow you to set the temperature according to seed requirements. Make sure you maintain optimal temperatures for your crop see Table 1. Most seedlings germinate in 2 weeks or less. At this same time, they have already penetrated a little firmly on the ground.

Giving them 2 to 3 more weeks would make the seedling look like ordinary young plants. Because of this nature, seeds are often a lot cheaper compared to buying seedlings that already have some minor roots and premature stems. Seeds are seeds encapsulated embryonic plants while seedlings are seeds that have just sprouted.

Cite APA 7 ,. Difference Between Seeds and Seedlings. Difference Between Similar Terms and Objects. MLA 8 ,. Interesting to know, I would imagine many people would not know the difference between the two. Well described. Thank you. Please email me if we can talk more. I need help. Name required.