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Novice gardeners very often ask questions: “How to prepare seeds before growing seedlings? Are measures for the germination of planting material mandatory and how to germinate cucumber seeds in such a way as to get a high-quality and stable crop?
Note that the germination of a cucumber seed at the initial stage of preparation for planting in the ground is a guarantee of obtaining 100% germination and germination of seedlings. That is why it is recommended to germinate the seeds before planting, regardless of whether you will be growing cucumber seedlings in a greenhouse or outdoors.
Preliminary preparation of cucumber seeds for germination
To prepare for sowing, you can use cucumber seeds from previous harvests, or you can choose new varieties of hybrids in the store. It is believed that planting material for the germination of self-pollinated varieties undergoes sanitization and hardening in the manufacturer’s laboratories. But experienced gardeners advise pre-sorting these seeds before planting.
Preparation of cucumber seeds for seedlings, for germination and planting is carried out according to the following scheme:
Calibration
- Sort planting material by size and color. Choose large grains with a smooth, shiny surface. The color of the seed should be uniform, without spots and inclusions;
- In a solution of table salt (2 tablespoons per 1 liter of water), lower the calibrated cucumber seeds. A full-fledged seed will remain at the bottom, empty grains will immediately emerge. After the procedure, be sure to rinse good seeds with running water;
- Carry out disinfection by placing the planting material in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. After 20 minutes, take out the cucumber seeds and dry them in a warm room on a dry cotton cloth.
All these activities are considered preparatory for the germination of seedlings of cucumbers, but they must be carried out. Seedlings from hardened and germinated cucumber seeds are stronger and more resistant to sudden changes in temperature and viral diseases.
Soaking and dressing before planting
In order for the seeds to hatch faster, it is recommended to carry out pre-sowing soaking. This procedure stimulates the rapid swelling of the grain and pecking of the entrance.
There are several options for preparing a solution for soaking planting material. They both perform equally well, so the choice is up to you. The amount of mineral and chemical substances is indicated based on 10 liters of water:
- Methylene blue – 250-300 gr
- 7 mg of succinic acid and 20 mg of boric acid;
- Zinc sulfate – 2 grams;
- Drinking soda – 5 grams.
How long to soak cucumber seeds
Before planting, cucumber seeds are soaked in one of these solutions for a day. Then the planting material is dried and prepared for the next procedure – dressing.
Germination of cucumber seeds without dressing is not recommended, since it is this event that allows you to protect seedlings from possible fungal diseases and soil pests. By transferring cucumber seedlings grown from pickled seeds into the ground, you can be completely sure that they will be resistant to cold air and soil.
For dressing, drugs such as TMTD (4 grams per 1 kg of seeds) or fentiuram (3 grams per 1 kg of seeds) are used, the procedure time is 3-5 minutes.
How to properly germinate
Very often, on packages with Dutch or Chinese cucumber seeds, you can read information that the planting material has been treated with thiram and cannot be soaked. Beginner gardeners confuse the procedure for germination and soaking, and plant seeds in planting containers without pre-treatment. This is a common mistake that cannot be overlooked.
But the germination procedure itself consists only in the fact that all cucumber seeds are determined for a while in a humid environment. It can be rags spread on the table or sterile (non-synthetic) cotton wool laid out in a saucer. Recently, gardeners have been using even ordinary toilet paper to germinate cucumbers, unrolled with a ribbon on a windowsill, previously covered with polyethylene.
Preparation of a solution that stimulates growth
The second important step is to prepare the solution so that the seeds hatch and the germination period takes as little time as possible.
They must be diluted in warm settled water, strictly following the instructions.
For example:
- Novosil is diluted at the rate of 1-3 drops of the drug per 1 liter of water:
- Radiance-2 is diluted as follows: 15 g of the drug, 15 g of granulated sugar per 1 liter of water.
How to germinate cucumber seeds on a windowsill
Another way to germinate a seed before planting is to keep cucumber seeds “under the hood”. Most often, it is used by those gardeners who grow seedlings of cucumbers at home. Having moistened a thin layer of cotton wool in the prepared biostimulant solution, it is necessary to spread it on a saucer, then lay the cucumber planting material on a wet surface and cover with a glass cap or plastic bag. This will create an atmosphere of high humidity in the sealed space and will help the seedlings to hatch faster and sprout.
Seeds are kept in such a small greenhouse for as long as necessary for full hatching and germination. As soon as the sprout reaches a length of 1,5-2 cm, it will be possible to proceed to the last stage of material processing – hardening.
Another method of germination is that all cucumber seeds are determined in a spacious cotton bag, which is moistened with a stimulating solution 1-2 times a day, as it dries. When using this method, remember that you should regularly review the planting material to prevent tangling of emerging shoots.
Pros and cons of sprouting before planting
Stimulation of cucumber seed spitting before planting is an important, but far from safe way to get strong seedlings with stable active growth. The main thing to understand when performing the germination procedure is that the solution must be prepared in compliance with the proportions indicated on the package. The drug must be moderately active so that the seeds hatch at the same time. Most often, all seeds laid out to stimulate growth sprout with an interval of a maximum of 1 hour, which is very convenient when working with simultaneous planting of seeds in planting containers.
However, like any procedure that affects natural processes, the germination of planting material has its drawbacks:
- Cucumber is a heat-loving plant, so all seeds must be in a temperature regime of at least 23-250C. Lowering the temperature can not only slow down the pecking process, but completely destroy the seedling;
- In the process of germination, it is necessary to observe the seeds every day. It is very important to plant the hatched seed in time to prevent the sprouts from tangling;
- In no case do they take the sprouted cucumber grain with their hands, only with pre-disinfected tweezers;
Germination of cucumber seeds must be approached very carefully and carefully. Do not forget that seeds, like seedlings, need good natural light, stable humidity and appropriate temperature conditions.
Another question that interests beginner gardeners: “How long does it take to germinate a seed?” It all depends on how well the cucumber seeds were stored, and what calibration and disinfection measures were taken. If you have chosen purchased planting material for seedlings, it is very important to understand that a lot depends on how conscientiously the manufacturer treats the quality of the proposed material. Under favorable conditions, the cucumber seed hatches in the interval from 2 to 10 days.
If you are going to grow seedlings in a greenhouse or plant cucumber seeds in open ground, remember another important step in seed preparation – hardening. Be sure to keep the hatched planting material in a clothes bag in the refrigerator for at least a day.
Watch a short video about how our grandfathers used to germinate cucumber seeds.
