Most people confuse germination with when you see the seed sprouting above the surface.
Germination is the waking of the seed, and confirmed by the emergence of the root from the seed. You will never see this, unless you are able to observe the actual seed. Don't confuse this with the swelling of a seed, which is the prerequisite absorption of water. Germination occurs most often one to seven days before sprouting above the soil. With certain species, germination will happen many months to a year before sprouting.
While some seeds need dark to germinate, no seeds need dark to continue to grow after germination. Thus, when your first seeds that require darkness emerge from the soil, many more have already germinated below, and will continue to emerge above the soil surface.
