Cucumbers are a fairly popular crop that many summer residents grow on their plots. To get a good harvest, it is recommended to prepare the seed for planting in advance. That is why most vegetable growers soak cucumber seeds before planting.
Do I need to soak the seeds?
Some gardeners wonder whether it is necessary to soak cucumber seeds before planting them in the soil.It is definitely necessary, since this procedure allows you to improve the germination of planted seeds several times. Also, soaking improves the yield of cucumbers planted in a greenhouse.
Often, failure to pre-soak the seeds is the main reason why cucumber seeds do not germinate.
Calibration
Before you start germinating seeds, you should do some preparatory work.
Before planting in the ground, it is necessary to carry out calibration. This procedure is carried out in order to select for planting only the largest seeds, which contain the most nutritional components. First, all planting material should be selected according to its size. To do this, all the seeds are passed through a fine sieve to sift out the smallest seeds.
After this, you need to use a saline solution. To prepare it, add 20-40 grams of salt to a liter of water. The mixture is thoroughly mixed, after which selected cucumbers are added to it. If the seeds float within 10 minutes, then they must be disposed of, since the floated seeds are unsuitable for planting. All other seeds are quickly washed with water and dried.
How to soak cucumber seeds for disinfection
To ensure that the sprouted seedlings do not suffer from certain diseases in the future, it is necessary to disinfect the seed material. Quite often, a solution made from manganese is used for this. Before soaking cucumbers in potassium permanganate, you should familiarize yourself with how to do it correctly.
First, all the seeds are laid out on the surface of gauze or fabric material. After this, manganese is added to the boiling water so that the liquid turns a little pink. It is necessary to ensure that the mixture is not too concentrated, as this can spoil the seed.
When the solution has cooled to room temperature, all the cucumbers in gauze are placed in a container with liquid. Some people are interested in how much time should be allocated for soaking in potassium permanganate. 15-20 minutes will be enough for disinfection. After processing, all cucumbers are quickly removed from the container, washed and dried.
Also, before planting in open ground, cucumbers of hybrid F1 varieties are soaked in hydrogen peroxide. To do this, the day before planting, all the grains are placed in a small gauze bag and dipped in a weak solution. They need to be soaked for 20-40 minutes. This time should be enough to clear the grains of bacteria. After this, every single grain is taken out of the bag and dried.
How to properly soak seeds in biologically active solutions
Many people are interested in whether it is possible to soak seeds in biologically active solutions before planting in open ground. It’s definitely possible, since they promote better bush growth when growing cucumbers.
To make the seedlings germinate faster, it is recommended to use the following preparations:
- Epin. Epin contains a large number of nutritional components that contribute to better germination of cucumber seedlings. If you soak cucumbers in this liquid, they will become more resistant to diseases and weather conditions.
- Zircon. Some vegetable growers claim that vegetables should be soaked in Zircon before planting. This drug is made from chicoric acid, which accelerates the development of adult bushes and allows seeds to germinate quickly.
- Humate. This product contains humic acid and potassium salt, which accelerate seed germination by 2-3 times.To use the drug, simply pour it into a small container and place the seed in the liquid.
How to soak cucumber seeds using folk recipes
Sometimes vegetable growers refuse to use commercial soaking products. In such cases, it is recommended to find out in advance what else you can soak cucumber seeds in.
Aloe juice
To ensure the fastest germination of cucumbers, you can use aloe juice. This liquid contains a large number of immunostimulants, which not only improve plant growth, but also protect it from diseases.
Before preparing a solution with aloe, one lower leaf is cut off and wrapped in newspaper or a towel.
Then the cut leaf is placed in the refrigerator for a week and a half, after which you can start squeezing the juice. This must be done by hand, without using any metal tools. When all the juice has been squeezed out, it should be mixed in a one-to-one ratio with boiled water. The prepared mixture is poured into a small plate, after which the seeds can be placed in the tissue. During the procedure, it is better to move the container with soaked cucumbers to a warm room.
Ash
Gardeners use ash solutions for soaking. The ash contains minerals that stimulate the growth of vegetables. Making your own ash solution is easy. 100 grams of straw or wood ash are added to a liter container of water. The prepared liquid is infused for two days, after which it is used to process grains. Soaking lasts 5-8 hours.
Mushroom decoction
Fans of traditional recipes often soak cucumber seeds in mushroom broths.For its preparation, dried mushrooms are used, as they are rich in beneficial microelements that promote the germination of seed. While preparing the decoction, add hot water to the pan with dried mushrooms. Cover the container with the mixture with a lid and leave until the water cools completely. Soak the seeds in mushroom broth for no longer than six hours. After finishing the processing, we plant the prepared cucumber seeds in the soil.
Potato juice
Potato juice products are often used during the germination of vegetable grains before planting. To prepare a remedy from potato juice, 2-3 raw potatoes must be frozen in advance in the freezer. After two days they are taken out and completely thawed. After this, you can squeeze out all the juice from them. It is poured into a plate where the soaking will be carried out.
Vodka
Some summer residents prefer to soak seed material in vodka. It is not recommended to use an overly concentrated solution, so as not to damage the seeds.
To prepare the liquid, add 500 ml of vodka to a liter of water. The mixture should not infuse and therefore you can immediately place the seeds selected for cultivation into it. They should be soaked in the solution for no longer than 20 minutes. This time is enough to completely dissolve the essential oils that cover the seeds. After the procedure, it is recommended to rinse the seed several times and dry it thoroughly.
Conclusion
Almost all lovers of fresh vegetables grow cucumbers. It is no secret that it is necessary to prepare all planting material for sowing in advance. To do this, you need to familiarize yourself with the main methods of processing grains and determine how many days you should soak them.
