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Seed germination experiment
Hypothesis: Crop seeds will germinate on the ground before they will in the raised beds.
Variable: Height
Results
Ground plots
| crop | date planted | date of first rain | expected germination | actual germination |
| collards | 9/7/08 | 9/9/08 | 5 - 14 days | 9/15/08 |
| kale | 9/7/08 | 9/9/08 | 5 - 14 days | 9/15/08 |
| spinach | 9/7/08 | 9/9/08 | 7 - 14 days | 9/15/08 |
| turnips | 9/7/08 | 9/9/08 | 5 - 10 days | 9/15/08 |
Raised bed plots
| crop | date planted | date of first rain | expected germination | actual germination |
| collards | 9/7/08 | 9/9/08 | 5 - 14 days | |
| kale | 9/7/08 | 9/9/08 | 5 - 14 days | 9/15/08 |
| spinach | 9/7/08 | 9/9/08 | 7 - 14 days | |
| turnips | 9/7/08 | 9/9/08 | 5 - 10 days | 9/15/08 |
As you can see from the table, all the ground plots germinated after the rainfall event. Only half of the raised bed plots germinated. Therefore we conclude that plants germinate in ground plots earlier than raised beds. Our hypothesis is correct!
The variable in this case was height. We believe that rainwater drained out of the raised beds before it could soak the seeds. Rainwater drained more slowly in the ground plots. Seeds need moisture in order to germinate.
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