Growing seedlings: warming seeds, soaking seeds, hardening seeds, how to distinguish good seeds? How to soak pepper seeds before planting? Soaking Methods Is it necessary to soak pepper seeds before planting, and why they do it
"Finally! Otherwise, we already thought that we would lose the whole month with these preparations! ”- everyone wants to see the first result as soon as possible: seedlings. We will see them soon. It is understood that we have finally waited ahead of the sunshine and it's time to start.
Why soak seeds? In nature, seeds are dormant for a long time under the influence of drought or cold, as well as under the influence of special inhibitory substances (inhibitors) in the seed coat. Consequently, warm water will wash the inhibitory substances out of their shells and make them hatch. “Won’t the same thing happen, we just plant the seeds in damp soil?” The thing is that the seeds can wake up quickly and amicably, or for a long time, one at a time, for a month. There is a difference, and it depends on the volume of water. Seeds somehow know how to distinguish small amounts of water from large ones. If they feel that a lot of water has “leaked”, then this is already reminiscent of their native 40-70 cm of the water column of annual precipitation - such soil moisture can not only be trusted, but necessary: the seeds give themselves the command to germinate immediately! And if it's just wet land - who knows, maybe an occasional rain, after which drought will come again ...
So, soaking seeds is not just a ritual, it speeds up germination. Although the seeds of many crops germinate easily without soaking.
The soaking technique also has its secrets. Spring melt, or draft, or rain water is “flowing”, that is, saturated with oxygen. It is this water that awakens the seeds. Therefore, there is a noticeable difference whether you soak the seeds under a thick layer of water in a jar or saucepan, or in a plate with a layer of water no more than 3-5 mm (I pour the layer even thinner so that the seeds lying on the bottom even protrude a little). In the second case, a thin layer of water breathes well and is all saturated with a high percentage of oxygen, here the seeds will germinate much faster, sometimes even when soaking in the evening, if the room is warm, the next morning some of the seeds have already hatched.
For soaking, we use snow water or settled tap water. If there are a lot of seeds, a flat container is desirable, like a tray or pot for indoor flowers. The seeds can be completely sunk, or you can just let them float on the surface (I experimented what would happen if the seeds were soaked floating on the surface, would they swell if they only touched the water on one side - yes, they were soaked and then germinated perfectly, probably because guaranteed to breathe while soaking in a warm place).
So that the water does not inadvertently evaporate during the daily soaking (say, near the battery), cover the container with glass on top or place it in a bag.
seeds different cultures it is customary to soak for different times depending on the "tightness" of germination, some -12 hours, some - 24 hours. However, for our convenience, in order not to break up the process and deal with all cultures at the same time, it is more convenient to soak everything together "from evening to evenings”, i.e. for 24 hours (It is unlikely that everyone will enjoy warming up the seeds or sowing in the morning before work!) With a layer of water, there can be no harm to any type of crop.
I propose to conduct such an experiment during the spring on some insignificant seeds: place them for soaking in a tray that stands slightly inclined (a book is placed at one end), pour enough water so that it forms a “shallow water” of 1-2 mm in the raised part ; now distribute the seeds evenly at the bottom throughout the tray - and then let them lie for 1-2 days: you will make sure that during this time the seeds have germinated in shallow water, and the seeds at a depth will remain unsprouted until they rot. This experience clearly shows how much more vitality water highly saturated with oxygen has. Only a few centimeters of depth - there is still oxygen there - but not that, it is no longer enough for the life of the seeds. And then what will happen to the seeds when soaked in a deep jar, and even if the water rots in the heat ?!
The yield of pepper depends on several factors: the quality and biological capabilities of the variety, the correct preparation of seeds for germination and adherence to agricultural technology for growing crops. In this article, we will consider only one aspect - the effect on germination and yield of soaking.
Is soaking necessary?
Opinions differ among growers. Some say that you can safely do without soaking, while others insist on carrying out this preparatory operation. Which of them is right? Oddly enough, both sides are right, but only under certain conditions.
If you live in warm regions of our country, then the date of planting pepper in open ground is not critical, there is plenty of time for the fruit to ripen. Soaking the seeds speeds up the emergence of seedlings, this is important only for regions with cold climatic conditions.
Experienced summer residents advise not to be lazy and soak the seeds in all cases. It takes a little time, and the effect is very positive. It is recommended to soak the seeds of both sweet and hot peppers.
When and Why to Soak Seeds
The process can be done without preparation, but in this case the effect of such actions is significantly reduced. The quantitative and qualitative indicator of the pepper yield depends on the careful observance of the recommended technology. Despite the fact that the process consists of several operations, preparation cannot be called troublesome.
Practical advice. Seeds of hot and sweet pepper quickly reduce germination, after a year this figure can be reduced by about half. Conclusion - never take them "in reserve" and use the services of only trusted stores.
Responsible distributors carry out pre-sale preparation, treat seeds with antifungal drugs, give microelements, growth stimulants, etc. There should be information about this on the package, such seeds do not require additional preparation before soaking. But this does not apply to seeds collected independently from ripened fruits. Such material can be infected with spores of pathogenic fungi and various bacteria; their germination rates are not clear. As a result, the pepper harvest received at the end of the season will bring disappointment instead of joy.
This question interests many vegetable growers. It seems that even so it will be seen which seeds have sprouted and which have not. But not everything is so simple, with the help of soaking it is possible:
In addition, as a result of soaking for seeds, the most favorable conditions for germination are created - the process of growing seedlings is accelerated.
Checking seed germination before soaking
First, you should check the germination of seeds, this is done in the old proven way. In a liter of water you need to dissolve 30-40 gr. salt. Throw all the pepper seeds into this solution and wait about 5-7 minutes. Those seeds that have sunk to the bottom of the container have a normal embryo and can be used for further sowing. Everything that floats on the surface should be thrown away without regret. quality seeds should be washed in warm running water. This method does not check imported seeds and hybrid varieties.
Simultaneously with the germination test, the seeds must be calibrated. The smallest and largest must be removed, medium-sized seeds are left for sowing. It does not hurt during calibration to pay attention once again to their fullness, hollow ones are unsuitable for sowing.
Preparing seeds for soaking
During preparation, several operations must be performed.
Etching
Seeds should be treated with any disinfectant solution. It is best to use a 1% solution of potassium permanganate, but at present it is quite problematic to find this drug.
- First, it is sold only by prescription.
- Secondly, not all pharmacies have it in their implementation.
No potassium permanganate - no problem, you can use hydrogen peroxide or boric acid. In a 2–3% hydrogen peroxide solution, the seeds are kept for no more than seven minutes, removed and washed. A solution of boric acid should have a teaspoon of concentrate per 200 ml of water, the duration of pickling should not exceed three hours.
Another way is to seed the seeds with phytosporin. It is sold in specialized stores without restrictions, you need to prepare a solution at the rate of four drops per 200 ml of water. Phytosporin - effective drug from natural bacteria Bacillus subtilis, destroys pathogenic fungi and pathogens. It is completely harmless to humans. Pepper seeds with this preparation before soaking give healthy seedlings, large crops are harvested from them. It must be borne in mind that after disinfection, the seeds should be soaked no later than a day later.
Processing with trace elements
Due to this, the germination of seeds increases, the sprouts have important elements for development, which allows them to grow in favorable conditions. It is best to sprinkle pepper with ordinary wood ash, it contains more than 30 essential trace elements.
Treatment with growth stimulants
It is advisable to treat the seeds with growth stimulants. There is a sufficient choice of them in stores, you can buy any, they all do their job perfectly. Seed treatment should be done according to the instructions recommended by the manufacturer.
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Biopreparation "Phytospectrum" 
Practical advice. Most decontaminants or growth promoters need to be diluted in water to achieve the desired concentration. As a rule, the number of drops per 100 ml of water is indicated. It is better to measure with a pipette. If not, then you can use a syringe without a needle.
After the seeds are fully prepared, you can start soaking them.
seed soaking
For soaking, you need to prepare water. City water supply should be defended for at least a day, during which time chlorine will be removed from it. But to increase the effect of soaking the seeds, it is better to use melt water. You can cook it in two ways.
It is believed that such water has a beneficial effect on the seeds. It is from melt water that they begin to awaken in nature.
Step 1. Pour water into a shallow dish or other container. The size of the plate should correspond to the number of seeds. If you have several varieties of pepper, you will need to prepare a separate plate for each.
Step 2 Wet a small piece of cloth in water, it is better that it be a natural material. If the rag could not absorb all the water, then the excess should be drained. The plate must be empty.
Step 3 Sprinkle pepper seeds on a damp cloth, use a match or toothpick to correct their position. Seeds should only lie separately, and not in "two floors". If you have several varieties of pepper, then for each you need to prepare a separate soaking place. It is not necessary to place different varieties on the same plate, your marks may get lost over time and it will become impossible to understand where which variety is.
Step 4. Cover the seeds with the edges of a cloth, put it in a plate, stretch the film. If there is no film, then the plate can be put in a plastic bag of a suitable size.
The container with seeds is covered with a film
Step 5. Remove the plate of seeds in a warm place.
Important. To accelerate germination, the temperature should not be lower than + 25 ° C. Maximum +30°С. At low temperatures, the germination time increases significantly, and if the temperature is below + 18 ° C, the seeds may rot and not germinate at all.
Practical advice. Instead of plates, you can use plastic glasses. Glue paper construction tape to them, it is easy to write the name of pepper varieties on it.
About a day later, you need to check the seeds. As soon as sprouts appear, peppers are transplanted into the ground for growing seedlings or immediately transferred to the garden.
Before transferring to the garden, seedlings must be hardened. To do this, place them in the refrigerator, the temperature in the chamber should be within + 5 ° C.
Transplant the sprouts into a nutrient mixture, do not forget to feed once a week. It is better to use sapropel, biohumus and other natural nutrients for these purposes.
Very important. The first sprouts do not like drafts very much. It is necessary to control the soaking process indoors with the windows closed, exclude the possibility of drafts.
Experienced growers are advised to use one of the soaking schemes listed below.
The soaking process lasts quite a long time, depending on the varieties, the emergence of seedlings will have to wait up to 25 days. A lot depends on soaking, but not everything. What needs to be done next so that the future harvest will please you?
Seeds are transplanted as soon as sprouts appear, it is better to use peat tablets, if they are not available, then use ready-made soil mixtures.
Crops should be placed where there is enough light, preference is given to scattered. To achieve this effect, you can install aluminum foil and use additional artificial lighting. Pepper does not tolerate a pick, it must be immediately planted in separate containers. After picking, development can slow down for two to three weeks.
Experienced gardeners claim that peppers grown from soaked seeds are less likely to get sick, more resistant to weather fluctuations and give maximum yields. Under each bush of seedlings, it is necessary to prepare a pot with a volume of at least one liter. It's not true that good seedlings can be obtained in small plastic cups, in such conditions the root system will be underdeveloped. And this will definitely have a negative effect on adult plants.
And the last. Soaking periods are selected individually. The main thing is that the seedlings are planted in open ground in a timely manner. Too early, as well as too late, disembarkation is not good for pepper.
Video - Soaking pepper seeds before sowing
More than half of the seeds sold are of poor quality. Neither beautiful packaging nor the presence of quality certificates serve as a guarantee. There are even bags that are filled with dust instead of seeds. And if everything is clear with them when opening the package, then low-quality seeds are more difficult to distinguish.
Salt test
Large seeds such as cucumbers, zucchini, beets and pumpkins are easy to sort with a 5% salt solution (50 g per 1 liter of water): the seeds are poured into the solution, mixed and left alone for 5 minutes. After that, the "waterfowl" seeds are thrown away. "Drowned" can be considered high-quality. They must be washed in clean water and dried, scattering in a thin layer.
However, this procedure does not guarantee that the seeds have good germination. It must be checked separately, taking a little for germination. For this purpose, feeble, floating seeds will also fit ...
It is undesirable to carry out a salt test on seeds coated with a protective coating of fungicides. They can be distinguished by their red or green color. Dyes are specially added so that the seeds are not accidentally used for other purposes. Unfortunately, the seeds and falsifiers began to dye. Visually, they are not always possible to calculate. The presence of puny seeds or uneven coloration should raise suspicion.
Comb check
You can also relieve your soul by buying small-seeded crops. To check, you only need a plastic comb and the seeds themselves. Scatter the seeds in a thin layer on paper and pass over them with an electrified comb. The feeble ones will stick to it, and the rest can be safely used for sowing. They will provide a harvest - unless, of course, they have been stored for 20 years in a store. Germination can also be tested with discarded seeds. Frail - do not sprout so amicably and give a smaller percentage. But if at least some of the seeds have sprouted, then you can sleep peacefully ... Or rather, calmly wait for the sowing season, the rest will sprout even better.
Only when checking it is necessary to maintain the height: draw a comb no closer than 1-2 cm above the surface of the seeds. Otherwise, the entire “strategic reserve” will stick to it. If the height is chosen correctly, a few seeds will stick. But to guarantee the operation, repeat the operation several times, more and more electrifying the comb against the hair. 20-30% are rejected - it's not scary, the strongest and most productive will remain.
live seeds
More difficult with medium sized seeds. They are like tin soldiers - they do not sink in water, and they do not stick to the comb. However, there is no need to sort here. If you notice signs of poor quality - take a check, seeds and demand a replacement, or better - a refund.
Tomatoes are harder to calculate. Sometimes they are polished, inlaid - what they do with them. Here you can get into a mess - by demanding the replacement of elite seeds that have gone through a full cycle of fine-tuning to standards. But there are patterns. The main thing is to know the chosen variety well. So, usually large-fruited tomatoes differ in the average size of seeds, hybrids are small, and gray seeds are either of poor quality or polished.
Even harder to guess with eggplant. Here it remains to trust the conscience of the manufacturer. Although experienced gardeners and here a low-quality seed is immediately determined by eye, noticing a suspicious shade.
But with pepper, everything is simple - straw-yellow seeds are alive and healthy. Grays and other colors of the rainbow are unusable or etched (red and yellow). If desired, they can be tested with water. Unlike large-seeded crops, salt is not necessary, otherwise potential “divers” will also emerge.
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- one of the first vegetable crops, which gardeners plant for seedlings. This is due to the long vegetative period and the ripening period of the fruits of this southern plant.
One of the constant questions that concern summer residents is whether to soak pepper seeds before planting or sow them immediately into the ground? From proper preparation before germination depends on the final result - the yield.
Is it necessary to soak pepper seeds before planting, and why they do it
Soak- the process itself is optional, the seed will germinate without it, and maybe even give an excellent harvest. This allows proponents of sowing to claim without preparation that soaking is a hassle.
Accommodation in warm climatic conditions makes it possible to sow pepper even immediately in open ground, anyway, it will have enough time to ripen. The inhabitants of temperate zones value every day, and if there is an opportunity to speed up the process and gain time before the finish line, they readily use it, because the pepper ripened on the bush is much healthier and tastier than the one that came later. In moderate conditions, pepper seeds must be soaked; without this procedure, the fruits will not have time to ripen before the onset of frost.
However, summer residents - residents of warm lands, will also benefit from such a head start: firstly, the harvest is more abundant, and secondly, it is nice when the pepper ripens ahead of the expected time. This also applies to spicy varieties.
Benefits of soaking seed before planting:
- allows you to win 7–10 days, since seedlings from treated specimens appear on the 5–7th day, while those sown “dry” sprout up to 2 weeks;
- makes it possible to select the strongest plants, while providing them with immunity, high resistance to and m and giving Better conditions already at the start.
Important! Be sure to soak the pepper seeds before planting, when there is no confidence in the quality of the seed. This will help you immediately see what you are dealing with and not have any illusions.
The main stages of preparation of pepper seeds
Seed preparation begins with the acquisition phase. You need to carefully consider the manufacturer and carefully study the information indicated on the package, choosing the characteristics of the variety you need. A self-respecting manufacturer indicates what treatments his product was subjected to. The seeds processed by the manufacturer and pelleted cannot be subjected to any additional influence, they can only be sown in the ground. It should be noted that, although they will ascend a couple of weeks later, they will subsequently catch up with their "relatives", and then overtake them, while they will suffer less from pests and diseases.
Did you know? At the end of the 16th century, pepper came to Russia, or rather-on the territory of modern Astrakhan region. According to various sources, Türkiye and Iran are considered to be the source of penetration.
It is better to prefer the material of those manufacturers whose packaging indicates compliance with GOST - it is more reliable.
The packaging should not have any mechanical damage. By all means, you need to pay attention to the year of collection of raw materials and the deadline for sowing - this information must be present without fail.
Pepper seeds planted in the second year after harvest lose their germination capacity and yield by half. 
Calibration
Calibration is a test of seed for germination. When soaked in a saline solution, hollow specimens float, while those capable of germination sink to the bottom.
Did you know? There is one caveat:material from large manufacturers is almost always subjected to drying, so immersion in a saline solution of such seeds will show that they are all unsuitable, but this is not true.
Before immersing in the solution, visually evaluate the material laid out on paper and immediately discard specimens that seem unsuitable, as well as too small or too large. After that, you need to dilute a teaspoon of salt in a glass of water (or 40 g of salt in a liter of water) and lower the seeds there for 3-4 hours. Some gardeners are limited to a few minutes. Floating seeds should be discarded, and sunken ones should be dried for further use or sow directly.
If you bought a bag of ten seeds of a rare variety of pepper, perhaps you should not calibrate them - germination will clearly show everything. But the self-collected seed, which you have in a decent amount, should be checked in a similar way in order to immediately get rid of the unusable ballast. 
Etching
Pickling, or disinfection, is carried out in order to save the prepared raw materials from possible infection with pathogens that can harm the future. In its essence, this is disinfection.
Important! The treatment method is one of the main ones in preparation for sowing, all other manipulations are carried out after it.
Such processing is all the more relevant, the less reliable the source of raw materials. The material of a large firm with a reputation may not be subjected to pickling, especially if the packaging contains information that it has already been carried out. But the seeds collected personally, received from friends in exchange, and even more so the seeds bought on the market, should certainly be pickled.
To do this, use different drugs: potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate), hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, boric acid and even formalin; There are also special ones that you can buy in the store. Each of these methods has both advantages and disadvantages, and the gardener himself chooses which one to give preference to. 
Despite the fact that potassium permanganate is not so easy to find on sale, this technique remains the most popular: it has an unlimited shelf life, and a bubble bought many years ago or on occasion is enough for a very long time.
Some seed treatment methods:
- In a dark pink 1% solution, pre-soaked in warm water for 2-4 hours, the seeds, which can be placed in a gauze bag for convenience, and left for 15 minutes, after which they are immediately thoroughly washed under running water and immediately sown or laid out on paper to dry.
Important! Seeds can get a chemical burn if they are not soaked before the procedure and not washed after it.
- The solution for disinfection requires 2–3%, while it must be heated to 38–40 ° C without fail. Keep the seeds for no more than 7 minutes, rinse thoroughly.
- The drug is diluted at the rate of half a teaspoon of acid per glass of water. Solution temperature 25–30 °C, treatment time 2–3 hours.
Important! When treating seed with any acid, keep in mind that if there is the slightest crack in the seed, the acid will causeto him harm.
- This is a commercial product that contains natural bacteria and fights pathogens. It is diluted at the rate of 4 drops from an eye dropper in a glass of water.
Decontaminated raw materials cannot be stored for longer than a day, it is advisable to immediately plant or begin to germinate.
Processing with trace elements and growth stimulants
Treatment with microelements and growth regulators is needed in order to have a positive effect on the quality of seedlings and germination, increase resistance to negative effects and resistance to sudden temperature changes, as well as increase productivity.
To enrich the seed material, an infusion of ash, juice, as well as purchased preparations "Ivin" and others are used. 
- This technique is used only after disinfection, but in no case before it.
- It is necessary to dissolve microelements in hot water 40-45 ° C, and place the seed in a solution that has cooled to a warm state.
- Raw materials can be treated with growth stimulants only once and only with one preparation.
- It is necessary to strictly observe the rules for preparing the solution and the terms of keeping in it, so as not to cause harm.
Several options for seed enrichment with microelements:
Important! Be careful: aloe juice is very bitter, besides, it leaves stains, so it is advisable to cover it when handling it. workplace cellophane.
Soak
How to soak pepper seeds in order to give the embryos the best for future lush growth and active fruiting at the start? To increase the likelihood of germination, they must swell, saturated with moisture.
Pre-treated seeds are placed on a substrate and filled with water so that it barely covers them. Raw pepper should be kept for two days in a warm place, during which time the water should be changed 2-3 times. After swelling - germinate or sow. 
Important! In heat, a thin layer of water evaporates quickly, so you need to carefully monitor so that its level does not drop, but you can not pour more water so that the seeds do not suffocate. You can cover the container with the material with a film to prevent evaporation.
Many gardeners know a way to soak pepper seeds and sprout them at the same time before planting. To do this, the seeds are placed in an envelope made from a square of dilapidated natural fabric, moistened with water and placed in some kind of container. Excess water from the container is drained or blotted and, having covered it with a film, put in a warm place.
Water for this purpose is better to use melted or spring water. If there is no access to a spring, no snow has fallen, and all you have is tap water, you will have to turn it into melted water. To do this, the settled water is placed in the freezer for a couple of hours, the middle, which is not frozen, is poured out, and the ice formed on the walls is allowed to melt. After that, the water is carefully drained, leaving a sediment in the container. Drained melted water is used for germination.
There should be no excess water in the container where the moistened tissue envelopes with seeds are located, but if the container is large, you can place a “reservoir” there in the form of a moistened piece of foam rubber or several cotton pads. 
There is no clear answer on how long pepper seeds should be soaked before planting. Every day you need to look under the film, sprinkle the envelopes with melt water and check if they have begun to peck.
Important! For the germination process, the temperature should be carefully monitored, it should be around 25-30°C. If it is lower, germination will be delayed, and at temperatures below 18 ° C the seeds will completely rot.
After waiting for pecking, each living seed is placed in a seedling box with tweezers. A day later, another audit is carried out, the revived ones are selected and landed. Ungerminated seeds are not used - they will be of little use.
It is conceived by nature so that the seed is not exposed to external influences and does not deteriorate for a long time. This is due to the protective layer located on their surface. But the same layer prevents rapid germination. 
One of the technologies that reduce the germination time is bubbling. This is the effect of oxygen for a specific time on the seeds of a certain type. Using this method allows you to get seedlings a week earlier.
To carry out the bubbling procedure at home, you need to have a container with a volume of about a liter and an aquarium compressor.
The jar is filled with water at a temperature of 20 ° C a little more than half, a compressor and seeds are placed there, no more than ¼ of the volume of water.
The compressor turns on, the material is processed. Pepper seeds will need a day for this.
After the procedure, the seeds are dried to a loose state and, if it is not possible to immediately plant them, they are finally dried, laid out in one layer on paper in a ventilated room away from sunlight. 
Hardening of planting material
It makes sense to harden the seeds if there is an intention to sow them under a film a week ahead of schedule. If hardening is used for seeds for seedlings, then subsequently the seedlings themselves will need to be hardened for quite a long time.
Did you know? There is a hardening method in which seeds wrapped in a bag are placed in a snowdrift for three days, but this is only possible if the outside air temperature is around zero degrees.
The heated and pickled seeds are hardened. They are soaked until swelling in warm water, mixed with sand or wet sawdust.
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Seed treatment before planting is the key to healthy and strong plants. Most diseases are transmitted with seed, so it is necessary to properly prepare the seeds for sowing.
Consider in detail the methods of preparing seeds before sowing.
Before sowing, the seeds must be decontaminated, except for encrusted and coated seeds.
F1 hybrid seeds- undergo processing before hitting the counter in the store. Processing is carried out against pests and diseases. Hybrid seeds are completely ready for sowing. They are sown dry immediately into the ground or pre-treated with growth stimulants if desired.
Seed sorting before sowing
The collected seeds in your garden must be sorted out before sowing, leaving large and healthy ones. To select empty seeds, we need a solution of table salt (2 grams dissolved in 100 ml of water).
Dip the seeds in the solution, stir and after 10 minutes empty seeds will float to the surface, throw them away, they are not suitable. Rinse the remaining seeds in running water and dry.
How to treat seeds?
Varietal seeds, purchased and collected in the garden, must be treated against diseases and pests. Flower seeds are also treated before sowing.
Video - We process seeds before sowing
The seeds are placed in a bag and dipped in a thermos with hot water for 20-30 minutes. Then immediately rinse cold water within 1 minute. Follow the heat treatment regime, otherwise most seeds will become unusable.
The temperature and processing time are indicated in the table.
Attention: during the heat treatment of seeds, about 30% may lose their germination. Everything is in order, non-viable seeds die.
To combat viral diseases, soak the seeds in a weak solution of Immunocytophyte (1 tablet per 100 ml of water) for 3 to 12 hours. You can also hold in Fitosporin solution according to the instructions.
A solution of potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate) works well. To do this, the seeds are preliminarily heated in hot water (45-50 degrees) for 2 hours. It is better to use a thermos for this procedure. After warming up, place the seeds for 30 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate (1-2% solution).
For crops such as onion, radish, tomato, physalis, lettuce, legumes, corn- pickle in a 1% solution of potassium permanganate for 45 minutes.
Carrots, eggplant, peppers, dill, cabbage and pumpkin- use a 2% solution of potassium permanganate for 20 minutes.
Also use special preparations for dressing seeds - Bunker, Commander, Winner, Baitan, Fundazol and others.
Attention- after processing chemicals be sure to rinse the seeds with room temperature water.
Seed treatment with hydrogen peroxide
An effective way to treat seeds before sowing, disinfect and prepare the seeds. You will need 10% hydrogen peroxide. Seeds spread out on gauze are soaked in a dish, or you can put the seeds in a bag and dip them in peroxide. Soak for 12 hours, no more.
For rapid growth of seeds, they are soaked in any growth stimulator or warm water (it is better to soak in melt or rain water).
Pre-freeze the water, then place the ice in a bowl and let it melt completely, then lower the seeds, they should be completely in the water. Cucumbers and tomatoes are soaked for 19 hours, legumes for 7 hours, celery and onions for 35 hours.
Biological products stimulate the germination of seeds more strongly.
At home, you can prepare growth stimulants like this:
Dilute 1 tablespoon of wood ash in 100 ml of water, leave for a day (solution temperature 17-20 degrees), in this way seeds are enriched with microelements;
- 20-25 drops of liquid peat Potassium Humate diluted in 100 ml of water, soaked for 12 hours;
- Epin preparation (2 drops per 100 ml of water), soak for 18 hours;
-- Fertilizer New Ideal or Signor Tomato (20 grams per 1 liter of water), soak for 30 minutes.
There is also a verified old way: soak seeds in aloe juice for a day. Then dry the seeds on paper.
Attention: when soaking the seeds for more than 10 hours, change the water every 3-4 hours to enrich with oxygen and so that the water does not deteriorate.
After the soaking procedure, dry the seeds a little and immediately sow in the ground.
Video - Super way to soak seeds
To increase the cold resistance of crops, it is necessary to harden them first. Seeds are placed in bags and soaked in water for 12 hours. After soaking, keep at a temperature of 15-20 degrees for 12 hours, then place in a refrigerator with a temperature of 3 degrees for 12 hours.
Seed vernalization
Cooling or vernalization of seeds accelerates the germination of cold-resistant crops. This method is used for parsley, carrots, parsnips. Pre-soak the seeds at room temperature until completely swollen, germinate in wet gauze until 10-15% of the seeds hatch. Then place the seeds for two weeks in a room with a temperature of 0 to 1 degrees.
Attention: beet seeds, spinach, lettuce it is not recommended to prepare in this way.
Video - Super seed soak and germinator
For rapid germination of seeds, they are saturated with oxygen. You will need a regular aquarium compressor or a special bubbler.
Seeds of perennial crops with a pronounced dormant period need stratification. These seeds need cold to germinate. The container is filled with sand and seeds are placed in it.
The container with seeds is placed in the refrigerator, it can be buried in the snow for a period of 2 weeks to six months, it all depends on the type of crop.
Seed scarification
Seeds of perennials with a dense shell are scarified. The dense shell prevents the appearance of sprouts, so the seeds are ground with sand or between sheets of sandpaper.
Stratification and scarification not carried out for all crops, so it is not necessary to process all seeds in this way.
Looks red, yellow and of blue color. Such seeds are treated with polymers, which ensures germination to seeds and reliable protection from pests.
There is no need to further process these seeds. They are sown dry in moist, ready-made soil.
The seeds are covered with a peat-mineral mixture. The mixture creates a nutritious and protective shell, the processed seeds are larger and round in shape.
It is economically profitable to sow coated seeds, seed consumption during sowing is small, thinning is not necessary.
Seeds are sown dry, laid out in prepared pits or furrows. Water the soil well before sowing.
Video - Three ways to soak seeds
You have learned all the ways to prepare seeds before sowing in the ground. The main types of processing are sorting, dressing and soaking, without which you will not be able to get healthy and strong plants and, accordingly, a good harvest.
