Disclosed is a method of priming dry seeds, wherein said seeds firstly wetted in a manner such that the seed absorbs at least 75 wt.% of the amount of water required by the seed for entering phase II of water uptake. Subsequently, the moisture content of the seed is reduced by at least 1 percentage unit, and in manner such that the resulting moisture content of the seed still is at least 25%. At last is the seed incubated in such a manner that: the weight of the seed during the incubation remains at least 80%, such as at least 90% or at least 95%, of the weight of the seed before the incubation; and the moisture content (dry weight based) of the seed during the incubation remains at least 25% during at least 25% of incubation time.
