8 ways to prepare seeds for sowing
Contents ✓
- ✓ OPTIMUM SEED SOAKING TIME
- ✓ 1. SIZING THE SEEDS
- ✓ 2. HEAT TREATMENT OF SEEDS
- ✓ 3. DISINFECTION OF SEEDS
- ✓ 4. BUBBLING THE SEEDS
- ✓ 5. ALCOHOLIZATION OF SEEDS
- ✓ 6. SCARIFICATION OF SEEDS
- ✓ 7. TREATMENT OF SEEDS WITH GROWTH STIMULANTS
- ✓ 8. SOAKING AND SEEDING
- ✓ PROCESSING AND STIMULATION OF SEEDS BEFORE SOWING - VIDEO
SEED TREATMENT BEFORE SOWING
Today, stores are increasingly selling seeds fully prepared for sowing: pickled, encrusted, coated or arranged on a tape. They do not require any manipulation. But if we are talking about seeds of our own procurement or purchased from private individuals, then preparation is indispensable.
OPTIMUM SEED SOAKING TIME
- Carrot, tomato, beetroot, parsley - 48 hours
- Pepper, eggplant - 24 hours
- Cucumber, zucchini, watermelon, cabbage, lettuce, radish - 12 hours
- Black onion - 6-8 hours (in a thermos at 40 degrees)
- Peas, beans - 6 hours
1. SIZING THE SEEDS
First of all, sort the seeds by size: select the largest, whole, without signs of damage by pests and diseases. In this case, they will give friendly and uniform shoots. To calibrate small seeds, you can use a sieve with holes of the appropriate size.
Also sorting can be carried out in water or 3-5% saline solution. To do this, pour water or a salt solution into a jar, pour in the seeds, mix thoroughly. After three minutes, drain and discard any floating seeds. Strain the rest and dry well.
Inspect large seeds (peas, pumpkin, beans) one at a time. Damaged, small, atypically colored should be removed.
Proper seed treatment can increase the resistance of seedlings to diseases by 8o%
2. HEAT TREATMENT OF SEEDS
Seed germination can be accelerated by heat or solar treatment. If the seeds of cucumber, pumpkin, tomato, beet were stored in a cold room, then they should be heated in a dry form in a room for three to four days. In this case, heating in a thermos in water with a temperature of 50 degrees for two hours will be even more effective. After the seeds must be dried and stored at room temperature or germinated, and then sown in the ground.
3. DISINFECTION OF SEEDS
To remove the infection from the surface of the seeds, they are disinfected for 20-30 minutes in a 1% solution of potassium permanganate (1 g per 100 ml of water; pale pink solution). After that, they should be washed in clean water. You can also remove pathogens from the surface of seeds with boiling water. To do this, dip the seeds wrapped in cheesecloth in boiling water for 2 seconds, then dip in cold water for 1-2 minutes. Repeat the procedure 2-3 times in a row.
Among summer residents, seed treatment in Fitosporin-M solution is also popular.
4. BUBBLING THE SEEDS
Many gardeners believe that spending time bubbling seeds is not worth it. Indeed, the application of the method is not necessary for all seeds. It is justified primarily for seeds with difficult germination - carrots, onions, parsley, dill, celery, beets. Its duration for the named seeds should not exceed 18 hours. At home, it is better to use aquarium compressors for bubbling, the tip of which is lowered to the bottom of a tall 0,5-liter jar. Two-thirds of the water is poured there, the seeds are covered, and then the compressor is turned on. After processing, the seeds are dried.
5. ALCOHOLIZATION OF SEEDS
Recently, information has appeared in Internet sources about the advisability of processing seeds of carrots, onions, parsley, dill, celery, beets for 15 minutes in vodka. Despite the fact that many authors write almost about the miraculous effect of this treatment, I did not notice a tangible effect. Seeds after alcoholization sprouted at their usual time, and not a few weeks earlier, as they often write on the Internet.
See also: Disinfection and seed treatment - methods and folk remedies
6. SCARIFICATION OF SEEDS
For seeds with a hard shell (katran, sweet clover, fruit and berry crops), it is desirable to carry out scarification - artificially damage the seed shell, as a result of which the access of water and air to the embryos is facilitated, and germination is accelerated.
This can be done by wiping the seeds with coarse river sand, cutting them with a pruner, sawing with a needle file, or lightly hitting them with a hammer. A simple but effective method of scarification is to shake the seeds in a jar lined with coarse sandpaper on the inside. When using these methods, one detail should be remembered: the seed coat must be made thinner, but not completely pierced, otherwise there is a risk that harmful microflora will penetrate the seed. Mechanically scarified seeds cannot be stored, they must be sown immediately or laid for stratification.
7. TREATMENT OF SEEDS WITH GROWTH STIMULANTS
The vitality of seeds and their resistance to adverse conditions are also increased by treatment with solutions of various physiologically active substances. For example, a solution of Epin and Cytovit. For 1 liter of cooled boiled water, add 0,5 ml of Epin and 2 drops of Cytovit. Keep the seeds of pepper, tomato, eggplant and leek in this composition for 4 hours, the seeds of other crops - 2 hours. After the procedure, rinse them in cold water and dry.
8. SOAKING AND SEEDING
The last step in the pre-sowing preparation of seeds is their soaking and germination.
Seeds wrapped in gauze, pour water at room temperature so that the water slightly covers them, leave for several hours (see page 23), shake from time to time. Before sowing, dry the seeds in the shade to a free flowing state.
For germination, spread the seeds on a dense layer of damp gauze, cover with a thin layer of material. Make sure the gauze does not dry out. When they hatch, sow immediately.
METHODS OF SUPPORT OF SEEDS
onion peel | wood ash | trace elements |
A handful of onion peel pour 1 tbsp. boiling water, let stand until cool. Strain, dilute with water 1:1. Soak the seeds in the solution for 20 minutes. | 1 st. wood ash, pour 1 liter of water, strain after 6 hours.
100 ml of extract dilute 0,5 l of water. Fill the tomato seeds with a solution for 24 hours, and the seeds of cabbage, cucumbers, and pumpkins for 12 hours. |
To make the seeds of peppers and eggplants soar, hold them for 20 minutes in a warm solution of Fertika or Teraflex (according to the instructions). |
We also recommend reading: Treatment of expired seeds to increase germination
PROCESSING AND STIMULATION OF SEEDS BEFORE SOWING - VIDEO
© Author: Alexander Gorny, Cand. of sciences
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