Soaking and sprouting pepper seeds. Soaking pepper seeds before planting - how to properly prepare the seed? Planting seeds and care

Nature endowed the seeds with a powerful craving for life, but the strength of their germination does not always ensure smooth, beautiful shoots. Pepper germs can and should be helped to hatch before planting using the soaking procedure. Find out from the article and the photos attached to it how to do it correctly and in what time frame in order to provide yourself with strong seedlings.

Why soak seeds

Unlike crops whose seeds wake up on their own and very quickly: wheat, barley, peas, pepper does not have a high germination energy. Its seeds will hatch unevenly and not all. As a result, the vegetable grower will receive uneven seedlings of different ages, which are inconvenient to work with. Part of the seedlings, in addition, will almost certainly be affected by fungal and bacterial diseases. Therefore, there are three reasons and, accordingly, technologies for pre-soaking pepper seeds:

• in disinfecting solutions for disinfection;
• in growth stimulants to accelerate awakening;
• in water for culling the weak and saving individual seedling containers.

Attention! Pepper has a negative attitude to picks that damage the root system, therefore, for sprouting shoots, it is advisable to prepare peat cups or tablets.

Soaking seeds for disinfection

The drug for the release of shells of pepper seeds from bacteria and fungal spores is selected based on price and availability. More often than others, ordinary potassium permanganate is used (a pale, slightly pink solution) and the microbiological preparation "Fitosporin", which perfectly suppresses the growth of fungi.

Soaking is conveniently done in disposable plastic cups. Previously, a piece of masking tape is glued to the outer wall of each cup, on which the name of the variety is written. Comparing the name on the package and on the cup, pour the seeds onto the bottoms and completely fill them with the Fitosporin working solution, which is prepared according to the instructions on the package.

Pepper seeds are kept in a disinfectant solution for about an hour, after which they are washed. To do this, the solution from each cup is drained through a strainer, poured with a small amount of water, shaken and drained again.

Attention! The seed purchased in the store is already pickled by the manufacturer, so the disinfection step can be skipped.

Seed treatment with growth stimulants

"Fitosporin" itself has a certain stimulating effect, however, to complete the effect, it is advisable to use one of the following drugs:

• "Zircon";
• "Energen";
• "Epin-extra";
• "NV-101".

Pepper seeds are poured with the prepared solution in the same cups in which they were disinfected. The exposure time depends on the selected preparation: for example, for "Zircon" it is 3-4 hours. After this time, the liquid is again drained through a strainer, but the seeds are not washed.

Many gardeners speak well of aloe juice as a growth stimulant. Juice must be prepared in advance. To do this, cut and wash a few leaves of the plant, wrap them in paper and put them in the refrigerator for two weeks. The juice squeezed out of the cold-treated leaves is squeezed out, diluted in half with water and the seeds are poured for a day.

The final stage is soaking the seeds in water

The most important thing when soaking pepper seeds in water is not to let them rot, as they will germinate for more than one day. It is important to follow the rule: there should be no puddles in the germination container.

The most convenient equipment for preplant soaking is cotton pads and Plastic container from pastries. The discs are soaked in water and squeezed lightly. Seeds are placed on one disc, evenly distributed and covered with a second disc. The resulting "sandwich" is lightly pressed down so that the wet cotton wool comes into contact with the seeds, and placed on the bottom of the container.

The filled container is placed in a T-shirt bag, tied and hung in the bathroom near the heated towel rail, which will provide warmth and humidity. Every day, the structure is opened and aired for 5-10 minutes.

Attention! Seedlings need to be transplanted into peat tablets as soon as the roots appear. Otherwise, they will grow into the cotton wool fibers.

Soaking seeds is a desirable procedure when growing peppers. It allows you to get an early and strong harvest with a minimum consumption of individual seedlings.

Preparing pepper seeds for seedlings: video

The qualitative and quantitative indicator of the yield of any agricultural crop depends on how carefully the seeds are prepared for the upcoming sowing. This process is quite troublesome, as it can include many stages: calibration, disinfection, heating, panning, germination, hardening, bubbling and stratification. The list is quite extensive, but we will only consider the process of soaking the seeds of the most common crop -.

Why soak pepper seeds?

Many people wonder what is the purpose of soaking seeds? This is done in order to:

• from the whole mass, select those suitable for sowing: if a seed has sprouted, then it is suitable for planting;
• choose the strongest and largest sprouts among the germinated seeds, which will have a good effect on the future;
• future seedlings were less susceptible to disease.

Soaking the seeds of any crop, including pepper, before provides more favorable conditions for their germination.

Imported seeds and hybrids, which are marked F1 on the packaging, are not subjected to such a procedure.

As a rule, such seeds are treated with a special gel containing pesticides. Despite this, some gardeners still soak hybrid pepper seeds, and the pepper grows beautifully. So do as your instinct tells you. If you decide to experiment, try it, what if your efforts lead to a good result? Just keep in mind that seeds of varieties and hybrids cannot be sown in one container: seeds of varietal peppers germinate much faster than hybrid ones.

You need to start the germination process at the end of February or at the very beginning of March. If there is still snow, collect it in some container and melt it.

It is best to germinate the seeds in melt water, as it has a special "living" structure. Melt water contributes to the activation of biological processes occurring in the seed, and stimulates its growth.

And now we will carry out, which will help to significantly speed up the process of the appearance of sprouts.

Preparing Pepper Seeds for Soaking

Experienced gardeners advise treating the seeds with a solution of potassium permanganate before germination. It will help get rid of harmful microorganisms and some diseases that accumulate in seeds and begin to appear during plant growth.

To do this, dilute 1 gram of potassium permanganate in a glass of water and dip the seeds into the resulting solution (it should be slightly pink). After 20-22 minutes, carefully drain the water, covering the glass with gauze to keep the seeds in the glass. After that, the seeds should be rinsed and laid out on paper to dry.

It is worth subjecting to such a procedure only "home" seeds, those that are collected with one's own hand. Purchased seed material usually goes on sale already processed chemicals And just soak it in water.

After the seeds have been disinfected, they need to be warmed up by laying them out on a windowsill in a sunny place or placing them in water heated to 40 degrees. Some gardeners keep seeds in a thermos with warm water. Under the influence of more high temperatures pepper seeds begin to activate the ability to grow, which significantly increases germination.

Preparation is over, let's start germination

Gently spread the seeds on the surface of a napkin or gauze folded in several layers and cover from above. Moisten the surface well with water, press lightly and place in a container with a lid. Place this container in a warm place.

Every day, while the seeds germinate, open the lid to ventilate. The seed germination process will take a long time, so be patient. Different kinds peppers sprout in different dates, some even need at least 22-25 days.

Withstand containers with seeds in a warm room, where the temperature does not fall below +24 degrees. On the heater should not be set, since the upper earthen layer dries quickly and the delicate root system pepper. It is better to keep crops on the windowsill on the south side.

As soon as the seeds sprout, they need to be transplanted. To do this, use peat tablets or ordinary plant pots. Be sure to plant germinated seeds on time, otherwise they will grow into gauze or cotton pad and then when transplanting them, it is easy to injure them.

Plant germinated seeds in prepared soil. Take small containers or pots filled with soil and carefully plant germinated seeds at some distance so that they do not interfere with each other as they grow. The container with crops should be placed in a place where there is diffused light. Seedlings should be watered periodically, preventing the topsoil from drying out.

Experienced gardeners note that it is much easier to grow from soaked seeds. Plants are less susceptible to disease, grow better and give a good harvest.

Most often, pepper seeds are soaked before planting in order for seedlings to appear earlier; ordinary warm water is used for the procedure. If it is necessary not only to get early shoots, but also to disinfect the seeds, then special solutions are purchased for soaking or they are made by themselves, for example, potassium permanganate is bred.

Seed soaking is most often used in areas where weather conditions are severe and summers are short. The procedure helps to get healthy fruit-bearing plants faster before inclement weather sets in. In areas with a warm and humid climate, soaking is not often resorted to, it simply is not necessary (except that the seeds were purchased from an unverified supplier, and the lack of soaking the seeds in a disinfectant solution can cost the seedlings to die in the future).

As mentioned above, soaking the seeds before sowing allows you to get seedlings earlier. For example, soaking pepper seeds in warm water allows you to get seedlings within 5-7 days after planting (naturally, if temperature regime), while with a "dry" planting, the germination time can be delayed up to two weeks. It is worth noting that if not just water is used for soaking, but a special solution with nutrients, then the seedlings are distinguished not only by active growth, but also by special immunity, resistant to all kinds of diseases, crown splendor, stem strength.

How and in what to soak pepper seeds before sowing

Most affordable option, which requires the least amount of time spent on preparation, - plain water. For soaking, warm water of about 40 degrees is used, while the seeds are placed in gauze, tied, then completely immersed in water and soaked for about three days. During this time, most of the seeds germinate, and it is necessary to start sowing. Sowing should be carried out carefully, because if the sprouted sprouts are damaged, then you will not wait for full-fledged seedlings from them.

Special soak solutions planting material in recent times began to be in special demand among gardeners. This is not surprising, because these products, enriched with phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen, and others, help not only to spit the seeds more quickly, but also have a beneficial effect on the further growth of plants and their fruiting. As for soaking the seeds in such a solution, it is similar to the previous one, that is, soaking in water.

If you are against new chem. substances, then you can soak the seeds in potassium permanganate and in a solution of ash. This is done very simply: dilute a couple of grains of potassium permanganate in a glass of water (use water at about 40 degrees), then dip the pepper seeds wrapped in gauze or cotton into the resulting solution and leave for 30 minutes. In the meantime, prepare another solution: dilute a tablespoon of ordinary ash in a glass of water, strain. Transfer the bag of seeds to the ash water and leave for 2-3 days. After the specified time, you can proceed to boarding.

Beginning gardeners, in fact, are worried about many problems. For example, the question arises as to how important it is before sowing soak pepper seeds. Is it necessary to do this at all? What will change from this? What is soaked in, and for how long?

Soak seeds before sowing or not?

To reduce germination time, it is customary to soak pepper seeds in water or special solutions. Most often, this is done in those regions where the summer is harsh, short and you need to grow seedlings as soon as possible so that in the future the plant will fully develop and have time to give a good harvest.

In those parts where the summer is warm, it is quite possible to do without pre-soaking. Seeds will sprout quickly anyway, and will have time to give high-quality fruits during the garden season.

What does seed soaking do?

Seeds that are soaked in water before planting give early shoots. For example, soaking planting material in ordinary warm water, seedlings in warm room conditions you can already get it within a week, while with a “dry” landing, the deadlines are sometimes delayed up to forty days! Of course, this is taking into account the fact that the house is cool, low humidity air. But, even when these indicators are normal, the first shoots in best case appear 10 days after sowing.

Soaking planting material in special solutions allows not only to accelerate seedlings, but also to enrich future plants with nutrients, allowing you to get strong, healthy seedlings that are resistant to diseases and pest attacks. These grow quickly, have a strong bush and correct form crowns.

What are pepper seeds soaked in and for how long?

The easiest option is plain water. The liquid should be warm or at least room temperature. Planting material, placed in gauze, lowered into the water, completely covering. Put in a warm sunny place for three days. During this period, you need to check the water level and make sure that it is enough, that is, the planting material is constantly wet.

It is important to “not follow”, if the room is very warm, then they can “hatch”. Although, if the sprouts have already appeared, there is nothing to worry about. When landing, you need to be especially careful not to break them off. Damaged sprouts will not germinate.

Especially popular is the soaking of pepper seeds in various solutions, which are sold specifically for this in gardening stores. Such substances are enriched with nitrogen, phosphorus and other mineral components that speed up germination. They also include vitamins. Using such drugs, you need to carefully read the instructions and follow them clearly.

Many soak the planting material in a weak solution of potassium permanganate, lowering it literally for 30 minutes. This treatment allows you to disinfect future shoots. Soaking also takes place in so-called biostimulants. Similar substances can be prepared independently, for example, by mixing boric acid With wood ash and diluting such a powder in ordinary water.

Growing vegetables is a laborious process that requires not only diligence, but also certain knowledge. Each culture should have its own special approach. Any vegetable production begins with seeds. Their quality depends on the correct collection, as well as the conditions and terms of storage. Vegetable growers have different approaches to seed material. Many in vain neglect very much milestone when growing vegetables - pre-sowing preparation of seeds. These are processing methods such as calibration, disinfection, heating, soaking pepper seeds before planting, germination, bubbling, hardening. It is these techniques that improve the quality of crops and allow you to get healthy and strong plants.

What you need to know when growing peppers?

In the vegetable garden you can find a wide variety vegetable crops. But among the most popular and favorite can be considered pepper. This is a heat-loving plant with a long ripening period - from 150 to 200 days. Because of this feature, pepper is grown in seedlings.

The protector consists of the following components:

• 100 ml of water;
• 2 g of potassium permanganate.

The resulting solution is quite concentrated and has an almost black color. The processing time for pepper seeds is twenty minutes. This procedure is completed by high-quality washing of the seeds with running or prepared melt water. Then they are dried to a state of flowability.

warming up

How to prepare pepper seeds for sowing using heat treatment? This technique involves placing the seeds in water heated to fifty degrees. Seeds are poured into tissue envelopes, which are dipped in a heated liquid. Thermos is used to keep the water temperature. The processing time is from forty to fifty minutes.

Soaking pepper seeds before planting

This technique significantly increases and accelerates the germination of seed. It is preferable to use rain or melt water. In the absence of such, use frozen in the freezer tap water, which is used after melting. Such a liquid is an excellent stimulator of the seed germination process.

How long to soak pepper seeds? The procedure time depends on the rate of swelling of the material. Pepper seeds can be soaked for eighteen hours, while they are completely immersed in the liquid. Periodically it is replaced, and the seeds are mixed.

The use of biostimulants

You can soak pepper seeds before planting using biologically active substances, of which there are quite a few varieties. Among the most common are "Epin" and "Gumat". The processing time is from 10 to 12 hours. The solution is prepared from the calculation:

• 200 ml of water;
• 2-3 drops of the drug.

You can also prepare a nutrient solution of the following composition:

• 500 ml of water;
• 2 teaspoons of ash;
• 2 g of boric acid.

All ingredients are dissolved in hot water. Use the drug after cooling. The processing time is 12 hours.

Application of such biological stimulants will speed up the process. They also help to increase the resistance of the grown planting material to adverse weather conditions and diseases. Quite often as nutrient apply It is also a good biostimulant with similar properties to mineral counterparts. Please note that the fluid used must be room temperature and not less than twenty degrees Celsius. At lower temperatures, the method used will be ineffective. After the soaking procedure, the seeds should not be washed. They are slightly dried, and then sown in seedlings or proceed to the next stage of pre-sowing treatment.

How to germinate pepper seeds

For the following components will be needed:

• plastic or glass container;
• plastic bag;
• gauze cut or rag flap;
• swollen seeds.

Pepper lasts until sprouts appear. Seeds are packaged in tissue envelopes and placed in containers. They are marked with an indication of the variety of pepper. Envelopes moisturize. Prepared containers are placed in plastic bags and placed in a warm place. Germination of pepper seeds is carried out at a temperature not lower than 25. The containers are checked daily. You need to make sure that the envelopes are moist. Drying out is unacceptable. After the seeds have hatched, they are sown in seedlings.

How to germinate pepper seeds? How long will this stage last? In our case, sowing seeds can be started after the partial appearance of sprouts. You can also wait for the mass germination of seed material. Usually this process takes three to five days. This technique accelerates the emergence of seedlings of pepper by 5 days. After sowing, the first sprouts appear within two days.

In addition to the methods described above, other methods can be used. effective ways pre-sowing preparation.

bubbling

How to prepare pepper seeds for sowing if valuable varieties have exceeded their shelf life? Here the method of saturating the seed with oxygen will come to the rescue. Reception is quite simple, but quite effective. He is able to reanimate valuable seeds. In this case, a compressor is used - equipment for aquariums. Seeds are placed in a container with water, the ratio of filling the vessel is maintained at 1:5. With the help of a compressor, the liquid will be saturated with oxygen. During processing, the seeds are periodically mixed. The whole process is 24 to 36 hours. Complete the reception by drying the seeds.

hardening

This method is used for many heat-loving vegetable crops. However, for the treatment of pepper seeds, hardening is rarely carried out. It is considered more rational to harden the grown seedlings.

In our article, we told you about how to grow peppers from seeds, and also looked at how to process them. The use of the above methods will definitely contribute to obtaining fast and high-quality seedlings. However, these procedures are not mandatory. As a rule, each vegetable grower uses one or another technique or completely refuses this troublesome business. If desired, you can use one or more methods. Most often, seeds of unknown origin are processed, the quality of which is in doubt, or seed of their own harvest. It should be noted that many manufacturers sell processed seeds. When purchasing such material, you should carefully study the packaging on which this information will be indicated. In this case, you can limit yourself to mechanical calibration.