2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Information for florists and vegetable growers about the intricacies of working with seeds, methods of calibration, about the timing of germination by species. How to speed up the germination process. Germination rules, the possibility of using last year's "strategic stocks" and actually grown ones
What is seed germination. Timing
For each culture, a certain interval of "awakening" is allocated. Germination is the percentage of the number of seeds sown and germinating within a certain period. By the way, old seeds take longer than indicated in the characteristics.
Seed germination period
Each plant has its own period for hatching, usually 7-14 days. Here are examples of the most popular cultures established in laboratory (ideal) conditions:
• Cabbage, eggplant, beans, carrots, tomatoes, lettuce - 10 days.
• Beans, radishes, corn, peas, turnips, radishes - 6-7 days.
• Cucumber, beets, Swiss chard, melon - 8 days.
• Onion sets, watermelon - 12 days.
• Celery, parsnips, dill, parsley, spinach - 14 days.
• Pepper - 15 days.
Expiry date of seeds
• Celery, parsnips are stored for 1-2 years.
• Rhubarb, spinach, pepper, corn - 2-3.
• Pepper, onion, chicory - 3.
• Onions, lettuce, basil - 3-4.
• Beets, tomatoes, turnips, Swiss chard, cabbage / kohlrabi - 4-5 years.
• Corn, legumes - 5-6.
• Watermelon, cucumber, pumpkin, melon, vegetable marrow, carrot, eggplant - stored 6-8.
Germination test. Calibration
Experts recommend that before checking the germination, do the calibration of the seeds. Half-empty and small specimens are doomed to unsuccessful sowing - this is a low-quality material that must be disposed of in advance. Calibration makes it possible to use only full-fledged seeds that will give amicable shoots and then productive, powerful plants.
Large and medium-sized seeds contain a great potential of nutrients, it is this factor that affects the strength of growth and the quality of the future seedling. Therefore, sizing is an important step in helping to get decent seedlings.
We do the calibration
It is difficult to visually determine the mass and power reserve in the seed. There is an effective selection method: immersion in a special solution. Take half a liter of water, add 3 tsp. salt, immerse the seeds for two hours. As a result, all full-bodied specimens will be at the bottom, hollow and small ones remain afloat - they need to be removed. Then drain the liquid, rinse and dry. After this check, you have quality material for sowing. By the way, the small size may also work.
We identify the percentage of germination
It is useful to know that no seeds have 100% germination. Each culture has individual criteria for vitality. Here is an example of the average% germination rate:
• 40-50% - carrots, parsley, peppers, parsnips, dill.
• 50-80% - black onion, leek, batun, spinach.
• 60-80% - sorrel, celery, radish, beets, tomatoes.
• 65-90% - white cabbage / cauliflower, cucumber, eggplant, salad.
• 80-95% - beans, zucchini, peas, watermelon, melon.
You can independently set the germination percentage in a simple way. Take, for example, 10 seeds, place them on a damp material (paper towel, gauze, toilet paper) and leave in a room at a temperature of 18 … 22C. Make sure that the surface does not dry out. Then they count how much has sprouted. The number of hatching will be the percentage of germination, if 7 out of 10 have sprouted, then 70%. For sowing, 50% is enough. At 30%, it is better not to plant the seeds.
How to increase germination and accelerate seed germination
Pre-treatment will not only speed up the hatching process, but will also improve further growth. Experts advise not to be limited to calibration and sorting, you need to use other techniques.
Warming up
When working with seed, the artificial heating method should be used. Dry seeds, heated at + 40 … + 50C, germinate faster, grow better and produce mainly female flowers. Attention! Do not heat the seed of tomatoes, cabbage, carrots.
Trace elements
The impact of solutions with boric fertilizers is useful for carrots, tomatoes, radishes, cabbage, beets. With copper elements - for carrots, onions, beets. Molybdenum activates zucchini, tomatoes, pumpkin, cucumbers. It is important to know that using trace elements, you cannot make a high concentration, you need a weak solution (0.1%), the procedure should not exceed 12-20 hours.
Growth stimulants
Soaking in growth stimulants, for example, "Energen", "Athlete", "Ecopin", "Agricola", gives a positive effect.
Hardening
After 12-18 hours after the start of soaking, the seeds of tomatoes and peppers must be refrigerated, an interval of 10-12 hours is enough. For parsley, cabbage, carrots, black onions, cooling lasts a week (0 … + 8C).
Disinfection
Reception of disinfection helps to neutralize the development of microorganisms present on the seed coat and hindering the development. For this, a 1% (strong) solution of potassium permanganate or 20% solution of hydrochloric acid is used. After such a procedure, a thorough rinsing is required: the container is placed under running water.
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