Moisten a paper towel and squeeze out excess water. The towel should be damp, but not dripping wet.
Spread the damp paper towel out on a clean surface and fold in half.
Select at least ten seeds from the package you are testing.
Spread the seeds out on one-half of the towel, so they are not touching.
Fold the towel in half sandwiching the seeds between the two layers. Press down gently to make sure the seeds come in contact with the damp paper towel.
Place the paper towel and seeds in a zipper bag and seal it to keep it from drying out.
Mark the bag with the date and variety of seeds. Place the zipper bag in a warm place away from direct sunlight.
Every three days, check to see if the seeds have sprouted. Re-moisten the paper towel if it dries out.
After the predicted germination period, count the seeds that successfully sprouted and calculate the percentage that germinated out of the total tested. Example: if 9 out of 10 seeds sprout, you have a 90% germination rate