What is the difference between germinate and sprout

I'm not sure there is a difference. A website I found says the difference between germinating and sprouting is that sprouting is induced by man, usually by soaking in water and germinating is a natural processs. But I'm not sure I believe that. And even if that's true, it doesn't fit the way the writer of this excerpt used those words. You little ripper! Senior Member Australia.

According to this website germination follows sprouting: Malting as part of Whisky making process Once the grains have begun to sprout, observed by a small white dot, which is actually the root, beginning to emerge from the seed.

This is when the barley is moved into the germination period of malting. Ponyprof Senior Member Canadian English. In English you sometimes get two words, one is from old English roots and one is more Latinate and and scientific sounding. I think there is no substantial difference between the meanings here.

I remember the craze for alfalfa sprouts in salad or sandwiches. You sprinkled alfalfa seeds on wet paper towels until they germinated and produced a tangle of green shoots. I would add that germinate means specifically to sprout from a seed. However sprout can also mean to emerge from an existing plants.

Since moisture is important to germination, many seed packages tell you to soak seeds before sowing them. The newly emerged root needs water, so you should plant the seeds a little deeper in hot weather or in the summer when the soil dries quickly. Large seeds such as beans contain more endosperm to feed the plant while the cotyledon works its way toward light. This is why you plant large seeds deeper in the soil.

However, you sprinkle some tiny seeds, such as grass seeds, on the top of the ground or covered by a thin layer of soil. Depending on the plant species, you may have to store your seeds in a refrigerator for weeks or even months before you plant them. This is called stratification, and it mimics the conditions of winter dormancy that some seeds require before they will germinate. Rivers, streams or the ocean surf sometimes tumble seeds, scraping their thick coats enough to let in water necessary for germination.

Some animals scrape the thick coats of some seeds in an unsuccessful effort to eat them. Still other animals prepare the exterior of the seeds for germination by passing them through their digestive tracts when they eat fruit.

You may have to scarify the hard coats of some seeds yourself by scraping them with a knife or rubbing them with sandpaper. Growing seeds or beans for their sprouts is called sprouting. This requires soaking the seeds in a sprouting device.

You will typically provide the germinating seeds with fresh water at 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, changing it several times a day. Let the mix come to a boil and start to thicken.

Pour the mix into a shallow bowl, a pie plate, works well too. Spread the seeds evenly over the gel and cover with plastic wrap. Place the bowl in a warm place near a window for some indirect sunlight. As soon as the seeds start to sprout roots, it is time to plant them. If you are up for a little adventure, there is one more method of planting you can use with the gel. Pour the gel mixture into a zip top plastic bag.

Pour the seeds into the gel and mix around to distribute the seeds evenly. Once seeds start to germinate take the bag outside and get ready to plant. Cover lightly and voila you have planted a row of pre-sprouted seeds.