Proper preparation of seeds of pepper and tomatoes for sowing is an important stage in obtaining healthy seedlings of these crops.
Their processing will stimulate germination, and also help protect plants from various diseases.
The topic of today's article is the preparation of seeds for sowing: pepper, tomato.
Culling unviable copies
Practice shows that not all seeds can germinate, some of them lack embryos. Before planting it is worth checking their ability to sprout. In addition, it is worth to reject too small copies.
Check on the germination of seeds collected independently is carried out two weeks before sowing. To do this, select 10 pieces and wrap them in gauze bags. Dip them in warm water for a day, then put them in a kind of container in a warm place.
Check the result in a week. Your task is to find out how many seeds that you selected sprouted. If at least 5 of each batch has germinated, feel free to use the batch for sowing.
IMPORTANT! If you buy seeds in a store, you only need to keep track of their shelf life. As a rule, fresh purchased sprout by 90-100%.
Further rejection immediately before planting is carried out by immersion in salted water. In a glass of water it is necessary to dissolve a teaspoon of salt and lower the seeds into the solution. Viable specimens sink to the bottom. Throw away all the floating ones - nothing will grow from them. Then rinse in clean water and dry.
Decontamination and germination stimulation
This is a very important stage of preparing the seeds of pepper and tomato for sowing on seedlings, so it is imperative to carry it out.
To prevent the development of various diseases in the seedlings, 15-20 minutes the seeds are soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate bright pink. After this time, they are washed several times with cool water. Alternative to potassium permanganate are drugs. Fitosporin, Trichodermin, Baktofit. They protect sprouts from various fungi and bacteria.
After disinfection soak in nutrient solution. Biostimulants not only promote rapid germination, but also increase their immunity to disease. Preparations for stimulation are divided into universal and specialized.
For seed used special. Good results, according to experienced gardeners, have demonstrated Zircon, Appin. They are kept in the stimulator solution for 24 hours.
Features processing hybrids
Hybrid and varietal species purchased in the store preparation of seeds of pepper and tomatoes for planting do not need. Buying a bag, carefully read the instructions. Manufacturers of hybrids carry out the treatment of material from pests and diseases before packaging, therefore, additional decontamination is not necessary.
If there is no processing information on the bag, then it is possible to determine if the processing was done by an unusual dark color. The fact that the seeds have undergone a certain preparation, says their coloring in any color. They can be red, blue or bright green.
Awakening growth by folk remedies
From time immemorial for germination used a kind hardening method. After treatment with potassium permanganate, they are placed in a refrigerator for a day, then taken out and moistened with water at about 40 degrees.
After one day of exposure to heat, they are again placed in the refrigerator. Then again on the day put in the heat. Last day before sowing, they are kept in the refrigerator, and then sown in heated soil. Read more about preparing the soil for seedlings of tomatoes and peppers.
An excellent growth stimulant is soaking planting material in aloe juice. Prepare a solution of a teaspoon of juice in a glass of water. Soaking in a solution of wood ash (a teaspoon in a glass of water) is also effective.
Seeds are placed in a solution in a gauze bag and kept in it for a day. Ash contains about 30 types of nutrients, and also has disinfecting properties. Therefore, soaking in the ash is an effective way of processing.
Bubbling
The germination of seeds of pepper and tomatoes increases significantly after the treatment with oxygen. It is performed using an aquarium compressor.. In the tank with water, lower the seeds and place the same compressor hose there. Processing is carried out within 36 hours.
Sparging is carried out before disinfection. Ensure that the seeds do not settle in the process, but constantly move as it were inside the liquid. If the water darkens during the process, it must be replaced.
IMPORTANT! Do not add growth stimulants to the water while bubbling; the water should be clean.
Germination
After processing the seeds spread on germination. For that their placed on napkins, moistened with warm water and left for two or three days.
Germination is very convenient to carry out in cotton pads. They are moistened with water, laid out on them the seeds and cover with a second wet disc. If the discs are placed in a plastic container with a lid, then the conditions for a kind of greenhouse will be created and germination will occur on the third or fourth day.
Do not neglect the process of preparing seeds before planting them in the soil, since it depends on what kind of seedlings you get as a result. After all, only healthy, strong seedlings can grow hardened specimens that can give maximum yield.
So, we told how to prepare the seeds of peppers and tomatoes for planting on seedlings.
Useful materials
Read other articles on pepper seedlings:
- Proper cultivation of seeds and whether to soak them before sowing?
- How to grow black pepper peas, chili, bitter or sweet at home?
- What are growth promoters and how to use them?
- The main reasons why the leaves are twisted at the shoots, the seedlings fall or are pulled out, and also why the shoots die?
- Terms of planting in the regions of Russia and especially the cultivation in the Urals, in Siberia and the Moscow region.
- Learn yeast based fertilizer recipes.
- Learn the rules of planting Bulgarian and hot peppers, as well as dive sweet?
