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The potential environmental toxicity of zero‐valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) and three types of nanosilver differing in average particle size from 1 to 20 nm was evaluated using seed germination tests with ryegrass, barley, and flax exposed to 0–5000 mg L⁻¹ nZVI or 0–100 mg L⁻¹ Ag. For nZVI, germination tests were conducted both in water and in two contrasting soils to test the impact of assumed differences in bioavailability of nanoparticles. Inhibitory effects were observed in aqueous suspensions at 250 mg L⁻¹ for nZVI and 10 mg L⁻¹ for Ag. Reduction in shoot growth was a more sensitive endpoint than germination percentage. Complete inhibition of germination was observed at 1000–2000 mg L⁻¹ for nZVI. For Ag, complete inhibition was not achieved. The presence of soil had a modest influence on toxicity, and inhibitory effects were observed at 300 mg nZVI L⁻¹ water in soil (equivalent to 1000 mg nZVI kg …