Germination of cucumber seeds before planting can be done in various ways. The process helps to significantly increase productivity, speed up the process of fruit ripening and reduce the risk of many problems during cultivation.
How to speed up germination
On what day the first shoots will appear after sowing the seeds depends on many factors. If you follow all the rules, you can achieve results already on the third day. What to do to speed up the germination of cucumber seeds? All necessary conditions must be met:
- more pre-germinated seeds hatch;
- you need to choose a damp and warm place;
- growing cucumbers should take place in high-quality and clean soil, which is first spilled with boiling water or a weak solution of potassium permanganate;
- The shelf life of planting material should not exceed four years.
Germination after sowing, on the contrary, will increase the lack of oxygen. That is why the box with crops is covered with film until a large number of shoots appear.
Air temperature largely influences how many days seedlings can be expected to appear. The optimal germination temperature for cucumbers is considered to be from 19 to 25 degrees. In addition, it must be taken into account that the soil must warm up to these marks. At a soil temperature of 12-14 degrees, seedlings will have to wait a long time.
The speed of germination of planting material is also affected by the quality of the soil. If it lacks the necessary microelements, germination will take longer even in a warm room.
Whether it is necessary to germinate cucumber seeds depends on their quality. But you can't always be sure of this. Therefore, reviews from experienced vegetable growers indicate that before planting seeds in the ground, it is advisable to germinate them.
How long will it take to wait for the first shoots to appear? The maximum period for which seedlings should appear is two weeks. If sprouts have not appeared during this period, then it is better to start re-sowing.
If the seeds do not germinate well, the preparation rules may not have been followed. The reasons why cucumbers do not sprout may be associated with the following unfavorable factors: seeds planted too deeply (you need to sow no deeper than 2 cm), heavy, dense soil, dry or too wet soil, improper or too long storage of planting material.
If all the preparatory work at home was carried out correctly, you will be able to taste sweet and crispy cucumbers before the stated date.
How to grow seedlings
There are two options for planting cucumbers: without seedlings or seedlings. In the seedling version, seed sowing begins a month before transplanting into the ground. For planting, it is recommended to use swollen and sprouted seeds. Grown seedlings allow you to achieve a good harvest.
It is advisable to grow cucumber seedlings in individual, small containers. It is better to exclude the picking stage, since cucumbers do not tolerate transplantation well. It is better to transplant grown seedlings using the transshipment method.
Advice from leading gardeners: “I sort and soak the seeds for seedlings before planting. Growth stimulants will help them swell and hatch faster. I choose only proven drugs. This procedure helps speed up the hatching time and increase the number of sprouted seeds. You need to soak it for no more than a day.”
If you plan to grow cucumbers in open ground, then it is recommended to carry out a hardening procedure with the hatched seeds.
After most of the germinated seeds have hatched above the soil surface, thinning is carried out. The air temperature in the room should be 22 degrees, there should be no drafts, and additional lighting is recommended on cloudy days.
When the first pair of true leaves appear on the sprouts, fertilize. You can purchase ready-made mineral fertilizers or make a composition of urea, superphosphate and potassium sulfate yourself.
How to quickly germinate cucumber seeds
You can speed up the hatching of strong cucumber seeds by soaking and sprouting.Therefore, the answer to the question of whether it is necessary to germinate cucumber seeds is definitely positive. At the optimal temperature, germinated seeds hatch within 3-4 days.
At home, you can choose one of the popular methods so that as much seed material as possible germinates.
- The easiest way to germinate cucumber seeds is to use a damp cloth. Seeds are laid out on a material soaked in water and covered with another layer of damp cloth. To increase the air temperature and reduce the supply of oxygen, the wet material is placed in a plastic bag.
It is best to soak the fabric in rainwater, as it does not contain harmful impurities. If it is not possible to get it, then settled water, the temperature of which is approximately 25 degrees, will do.
- There is another modern method for germinating cucumber seeds before planting. To do this, you need to prepare plastic cups and toilet paper, this is an option for growing cucumbers without soil.
It will take no more than an hour to germinate seeds on toilet paper. You will need a film that is cut into strips approximately 9 cm wide. To grow cucumber seedlings in diapers, you will need to cut the film not into strips, but into squares.
Spread two layers of toilet paper on each piece of film and spray with water. The seeds begin to be placed at intervals of 2 cm, retreating from the top edge at approximately the same distance. Two more layers of paper are placed on top and moistened with water again. Cover the top with film and roll it up.
The resulting roll is placed in a glass, seeds facing up. Fill with settled water (up to half a glass) and place on a warm windowsill. The method of growing without soil in a rolled-up plant allows you to protect young shoots from infections that live in the soil.As soon as the first cotyledon leaves appear, the sprouts must be transplanted into the soil.
- Many experienced gardeners know another method for germinating cucumber seeds before planting. Germinate the seeds by placing them in coconut substrate. It contains many nutrients and has antibacterial properties. Protects roots from pests and infections. Seeds are sown in the prepared grooves and then sprinkled with substrate. The seeds germinate quickly, as they are warm and breathe.
Accelerated germination is observed when using the method of planting cucumbers in boiling water. Initially, the soil is poured into prepared plastic containers, lightly pressed down and watered with plain water. After this, the ground is watered with boiling water and the seeds are planted. The containers are covered with film and placed in a warm place. This tactic increases the chances of a large number of sprouts appearing in a short time.
Peat base for seedlings
Planting cucumbers is not difficult. You just need to make shallow grooves and drop the seeds there. How to plant cucumbers in a permanent place, with seeds or seedlings, the choice is up to each vegetable grower. If the second method was chosen, then it became popular to plant cucumbers for seedlings in a peat container. It is best to plant pre-sprouted planting material.
A convenient way is to grow cucumber seedlings in peat pots. It is best to choose a medium size individual or joined together peat cups.
You can put any soil and fertilizers into peat pots without deforming the container. For planting, both dry and germinated material is used. When transplanting seedlings to a permanent place, the peat base quickly disintegrates and does not interfere with the development of the root system. The only thing you need to pay special attention to is that the soil in such pots dries out quickly, so watering is carried out every day.
Before filling the pot with soil, you need to make several holes in the bottom. A sprouted seed is carefully placed in a hole 2 cm deep, sprinkled with earth and lightly pressed down. It is recommended to moisten the soil with a spray bottle.
If all conditions are met, after 4-5 days the first shoots should appear from the germinated seeds. During this time, the soil settles a little, so you need to add new soil.
Growing seedlings in peat tablets is becoming common. Planting cucumbers in peat tablets is convenient and simple. They contain not only high-quality peat, but also growth stimulants, as well as micronutrients. The composition is protected on top by a mesh, which must be removed before transplanting the seedlings to a permanent location.
Before planting cucumbers in peat tablets, they are filled with water. As it is absorbed, the liquid is added. After about a couple of hours, even columns with a hole in the upper part will form. This is where the seeds that have hatched are placed.
Peat columns are placed in deep containers and covered with film. Once every two days you need to moisten the composition by spraying with warm water.
