How to properly soak cucumber seeds before planting in open ground?

For a cucumber seed to sprout and grow into a strong, viable plant, you need to make some effort. Competent preparation of cucumber seeds for planting is the key to a successful harvest. Practice has proven that these techniques affect both the amount of "zelents" and their taste.

Rejection of empty seeds

You need to start by selecting empty seeds. Yes, in a bag you can often find them in the amount of only 10-12 pieces. But even among such a small amount, there are empty, incomplete seeds, and therefore they must be sorted.

The selection is still carried out in the tested "old-fashioned" way.

1. Add a tablespoon of salt to a liter of water, mix.
2. Dip the cucumber seeds into the solution.
3. We merge those that surfaced: they are incomplete and unsuitable for landing.
4. We wash and dry the rest on a napkin.

It is advisable to immediately calibrate. It may happen that the size of the seed is different for the same variety. This does not mean that small seeds are bad. Just sort them out. When planting, small ones will be planted to a depth of 1 cm, and large ones - up to 1.5 cm. If you have a large number of seeds in stock, then use only large ones.

Advice

When buying planting material, pay attention not so much to the attractive appearance of the package as to the shelf life of the seeds and their quantity. Use seeds that are 2-3 years old, they germinate best.

Rules for preparing seeds for open ground

Before sowing, a number of procedures are carried out to ensure that the small seed grows stronger:

• check for fullness of seeds;
• selection and calibration;
• disinfection, since pathogens may be present on the surface of the seed;
• warming up to get quick shoots;
• top dressing;
• germination to get seedlings faster;
• hardened for resistance to temperature extremes.

We checked for completeness and weight, calibrated the seeds for planting, and continue further development. We carry out the disinfection procedure. To do this, we disinfect our seeds in a dark purple (strong) solution of potassium permanganate. We put them in the solution for 15-20 minutes, then rinse them thoroughly.

The processed material is heated in two ways. If you prepare seeds for planting in advance, then they can be held for a month next to heating devices at temperatures from +25 to + 28 ° С. In the case when there is no time to delay the procedure, it is enough to warm up for 2-3 hours at + 50–55 ° С. Thanks to this treatment, the seeds do not just sprout amicably and well - many female flowers are subsequently formed on the plants, and the harvest can be obtained much earlier.

Advice

Some gardeners practice an interesting trick: they carry a bag of seeds near their bodies for about a week, warming them with their warmth. “With this method, the harvest is excellent,” they assure.

Further, it is important to feed the seeds. In gauze bags, cucumber seeds are soaked in a nutrient solution for 12 hours. Use a solution of wood ash or nitrophoska (1 tsp. Per liter of water). Natural stimulants can also feed the seed, such as sodium humate or Epin.

It is believed that melt water is a good stimulant for further growth. But here you should be guided by the "situation": if the area is ecologically clean, then the melt water is really useful.

After feeding, the seeds are washed and left in a warm place at a temperature of + 25 ° C until they swell. They will hatch on the second day. You do not need to germinate them strongly. It is enough for small roots up to 1-2 mm in size to appear.

We proceed to the hardening procedure: we leave the sprouted seeds on the lower shelf of the refrigerator for a day. This will be enough. Everything is a cucumber seed, after going through many trials, it is ready for sowing.

Advice

If you have purchased hybrid seeds, where on the package after the name of the variety is "F1", then you do not need to do all these manipulations. Typically, these seeds have already been processed. It is enough to feed and germinate them by selecting full-weight seeds.

Features of seed preparation for indoor ground

The procedure for preparing a cucumber seed for planting in a greenhouse does not fundamentally differ from the preparation for planting in open ground. But the greenhouse has a special microclimate, where there is crowded plantings, high humidity, and a different temperature regime.

Based on this, we will focus on several important points.

• Infections and fungal diseases spread faster in a greenhouse than outdoors, so disinfection is one of the most important techniques. In a gauze bag, the seeds are immersed in a strong solution of potassium permanganate or boric acid for 20 minutes. It is then important to rinse them in running water and dry them.
• Small seeds can be processed under a UV lamp for 2-3 minutes. Only then should they be kept in a closed bag, without leaving them in the open air.
• Disinfection can be carried out in garlic husks. The husk is poured with hot water for a couple of hours, filtered and the seed is placed in the broth for an hour, washed.
• Warming remains an important procedure so that a large number of female flowers form on the plant. We sew a cloth bag, put the seeds into it and hang it on a pipe near the battery for a month. But it is worth remembering that with rapid warming up, there is a possibility of overheating.
• Top dressing won't hurt either. It is better to use a natural substance such as wood ash, which contains many beneficial substances. It is enough to leave the seeds in the solution overnight.
• Germination is carried out with any growing method and accelerates the harvest. We lay out raw cheesecloth on a plate, pour out the seeds and wait 2-3 days. After that, the seeds are ready for sowing.

Advice

When germinating, do not completely fill the seeds with water, because in addition to moisture, they also need air. In water, they can deteriorate and not germinate at all.

Preparing cucumber seeds for planting requires additional time and effort. Many people neglect these techniques when sowing dry, untreated seeds in open or closed ground. Of course, even with this approach, the seed will sprout and grow. But with proper processing, the yield will be larger, and the fruits will be tastier. Try it and see for yourself.

Table of contents:

• Selection and heating of seed material
• Preventive disinfection of cucumber seeds
• How to germinate the seed correctly?
• Simple beds for planting cucumbers

Cucumbers are one of the most beloved vegetable crops. To get a rich harvest of these crispy green fruits, the owners need to properly prepare the seeds for planting. Of great importance for the growth and development of plants in the open field is also the high-quality preparation of the beds for cucumbers. What rules do novice gardeners need to know in order to perform these 2 operations well?

With sufficient light, cucumbers can be sown at any time.

Selection and heating of seed material

Presowing seed preparation includes the following sequence of operations:

• sorting and selection of quality material;
• warming cucumber seeds;
• etching or disinfection of material from diseases;
• seed germination;
• hardening of germinated material.

How can all these actions be carried out?

A high-quality cucumber seed is a guarantee that the plant sprouted from it will develop well and will delight you with an abundant harvest of fruits.

For sowing, we select only large, full-weight seeds.

That is why it is so important at the very beginning to select healthy and strong seeds and weed out the weak and unadapted material. To do this, you need to take 50 g of table salt and dilute it in 1 liter of water. In the resulting solution, you need to lower the seeds and observe their behavior. Those seeds that quickly float to the surface can be thrown away, since their further use is pointless - these are low-quality raw materials. But with the seeds that have sunk to the very bottom, you can safely work further. It is from this material that cucumbers should be grown. Selected seeds are thoroughly washed with chilled boiled water and dried.

Novice gardeners need to know that those seedlings that have sprouted from 2-3-year-old seeds will give a greater yield. It is from them that low, but fertile shoots grow. If there are no such seeds in the house, last year's will do. In order to harvest more cucumbers in the summer, the seed should be kept warm and dry throughout the winter months, otherwise long lashes with many barren flowers will grow from the seeds. The ideal place for heating is a central heating radiator or a stove. A gauze bag with seeds is suspended next to them. The temperature should not be lower than 23 ° C and not higher than 35 ° C, otherwise the seeds may steam out and dry out.

You can warm up cucumber seeds just before sowing. In this case, it is better to use a thermostat. At a temperature of 50-55 ° C, the material heats up in it for about 3.5 hours, if the temperature is 60 ° C, 2 hours of time will be enough. Thanks to heating, it is possible to increase the germination of one-year seeds, ensuring an even greater yield of cucumbers in the future.

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Preventive disinfection of cucumber seeds

Cucumbers and tomatoes in the same greenhouse can perfectly coexist. Since the conditions for keeping these cultures differ, it is better to place them on different sides, some on the right, others on the left.

To protect plants from viruses and fungi, seeds, which are often breeding grounds for bacteria, must be pickled after heating. There is a wet and dry disinfection of the material. Wet disinfection is more familiar to gardeners.In this case, potassium permanganate is used, which is diluted with warm water to 30 ° C in a ratio of 10 g per 1 liter of water. Cucumber seeds are immersed in the resulting one percent solution of potassium permanganate for half an hour. After the expiration of the etching period, they should be thoroughly rinsed with water. Instead of potassium permanganate, you can also use streptomycin. The solution is prepared in a ratio of 50 units per 1 ml of water. The disinfection time is 24 hours. It is also recommended to rinse the seeds with water afterwards.

Garlic is a good disinfectant if potassium permanganate and streptomycin are not at hand. One large clove will be enough, which should be grated on a plastic (!) Grater, dilute the gruel with 200 ml of chilled boiled water, add another 800 ml of liquid and strain everything through cheesecloth. Cucumber seeds are placed in a gauze bag and dipped in the resulting solution for 30 minutes.

Dry etching is performed using special preparations of granosan NIUIF-2 or TMTD. The seeds are placed in a glass jar and powders are added there. Proportion of granosan: 3 g per 1 kg of seeds, proportion of TMTD: 4 g per 1 kg of material. The jars are tightly closed and shaken for 5 minutes. Since drugs are poisons, they must be handled very carefully. It is advisable to cover the nose and mouth with a gauze bandage, wear protective glasses over the eyes.

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How to germinate the seed correctly?

To increase the germination of cucumbers, it is recommended to germinate seeds before sowing. Additionally, they are treated with special biogenic and chemical fertilizers - stimulants, whose task is to accelerate seed germination and shoot development. Boric acid (20 mg per 1 liter of water), zinc sulfate (2 g per 1 liter of water) or baking soda (5 g of powder is needed per 1 liter) are used as stimulants. In one of the solutions obtained, the seeds are soaked for 24 hours. The temperature in the room all this time should not be lower than 20 ° C.

After a day, the cucumber seeds should be evenly placed on a sacking in a warm room, and covered with a thin layer of wet sawdust on top, which are pre-scalded with boiling water and washed with water so that no resinous substances remain in them. In this state, the cucumber material should be 2 days.

Aloe juice is a good biostimulant of germination. If there is this plant in the house, then you can do without purchased acids. The product is prepared 3 weeks before the day of germination. Several leaves of aloe (preferably lower, older ones) must be cut from the plant, washed, dried and put in a plastic bag. Place the bag in the refrigerator for 14 days at a temperature of 7 ° C, then incubate for another 6 days at a temperature of 2 ° C. On the day of soaking, juice is squeezed out of the leaves. It is in this juice that the cucumber seeds need to be kept for 6 hours. After that, the material is laid out on a gauze napkin moistened with water, where it swells for 3 days.

To prevent cucumber sprouts from dying due to planting seeds in open ground, where the temperature is clearly below room temperature, the seeds are usually hardened. In order to increase the cold resistance of the seeds, they are placed in a refrigerator for 2-3 days and kept at a temperature of -2 ° C. Hardening completes the preparation of seeds for planting.

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Simple beds for planting cucumbers

Planting seeds in open ground is carried out in beds prepared in advance for them. In the garden, the right place for future plants is selected. This should be the area where cabbage, potatoes or legumes grew last year. If the soil for cucumbers is prepared in the fall, then the following fertilizer is applied to it: 3 glasses of wood ash, 3 buckets of manure and 70 g of nitrophoska per 1 m² of land. In the spring, the soil is dug to a depth of 25-30 cm. A layer of fertile soil (10 cm) is added on top. Then the surface is leveled, the required number of beds for cucumbers is formed. On the sides of them, bumpers are made for irrigation.Each finished bed is covered with plastic wrap for several days to warm the soil on it.

You can prepare the ground in the spring. To do this, a week before sowing cucumbers, it is necessary to fertilize the soil with manure. Dry leaves, grass, straw, or sawdust can be used instead. Then you need to dig several grooves 35 cm deep and lay organic matter there almost to the brim. Then pour hot water over everything, and pour a 15-centimeter layer of fertile soil on top. Then the surface of the beds needs to be leveled and arranged on the sides for irrigation. The entire beds are covered with foil for 4-5 days to warm the soil. After completing all these procedures, you can safely plant well-prepared cucumber seeds in the ground.

Cucumber seeds are distinguished by good germination; high-quality seed has a germination rate of 90%. Correctly harvested and stored in the right conditions, seeds germinate within 7 years when sown, but viability significantly decreases over time. Seeds from two to three years ago germinate best.

From seeds older than five years, without additional processing, the yield is low. Annual seeds give a lot of barren flowers when germinating, which also leads to a decrease in yield. But with the right preparation, even they can give a good harvest.

Which seeds need preparation?

The quality and quantity of the future harvest depends on the competent preparation of cucumber seeds for sowing. For the emergence and formation of strong and healthy plants, some effort is needed.

Varietal seeds purchased from the store or harvested by yourself must be pre-prepared.

The procedure for preparing seeds for sowing for seedlings, in a greenhouse (greenhouse) or open ground has no fundamental differences. But in greenhouse conditions, there is a special microclimate, high humidity, a special temperature regime and crowded plantings.

Infectious and fungal diseases in the greenhouse spread faster than in other conditions, therefore the most important technique in such conditions is the preparation of seeds, including disinfection.

Hybrid seeds with an indication on the F1 package do not need to be prepared in any way. They are already calibrated, warmed up, treated with fungicides and stimulants, and have an uncharacteristic color coloration. Such seeds can simply be germinated or immediately planted in the ground.

Soil preparation

For sowing cucumbers, you can purchase a ready-made soil mixture in the store or make it yourself from:

• 1 part sifted sod or leafy soil,
• 1 part peat
• 1 part humus
• 1 part sifted river sand.

Instead of peat, you can take steamed sawdust (spilled with boiling water). Based on 10 liters of the mixture, 100 grams of wood ash and 20 grams of superphosphate are added. The mixture is thoroughly mixed.

How to properly prepare seeds for sowing seedlings

Correctly carried out measures for calibration, disinfection, heating, hardening and germination of seeds help to get strong seedlings, and then a good harvest of cucumbers.

Calibration

Seed preparation should start with selection and calibration.

A tablespoon of salt is added to a liter of water and stirred. The seeds are dipped into the solution for 15-20 minutes. Floated, as well as dark, stained, deformed, damaged seed is removed.

The rest of the seeds are washed under running water and dried on a napkin. Calibration is then carried out. Small seeds are separated from large ones. When planting, they land at a depth of 1 centimeter, and large ones - 1.5-2 centimeters. If there is a large number of seeds, small ones do not need to be planted.

Disinfection

To protect seeds from diseases such as bacteriosis, root rot, viral mosaic, powdery mildew and tracheomycotic wilting, it is necessary to undergo a disinfection procedure.

The seeds are placed in a gauze or cloth bag and dipped in a strong (purple) solution of potassium permanganate for 20 minutes. Then they are washed with running water.

Small seeds can be disinfected under an ultraviolet lamp within 2-3 minutes.

Instead of potassium permanganate, you can use a solution of wood ash, a hot solution of nitrophoska and copper sulfate, boric acid (a teaspoon per liter of water) or Fitosporin-M solution. Seeds in any of the solutions are sent for 12 hours.

Seeds can also be disinfected in garlic hulls. For this, the husk is poured with boiling water for 2 hours, filtered. The seeds are placed in the infusion for an hour, then washed.

To increase immunity, seeds can also be placed in aloe juice diluted with water in a 1: 1 ratio for 6 hours.

Warming up

To increase the germination of seeds, they are warmed up in the oven for 3 hours at a temperature of 50-55 degrees before planting.

If there is time, the seeds can be warmed up in advance, a month before sowing. For this, they are laid out next to the heating device at a temperature of 25-29 degrees. Such a gradual heating evenly dries them out, increasing their germination.

Bubbling

Enrichment of cucumber seeds with oxygen (bubbling) is used for sowing material, the age of which has reached 6-7 years. This procedure increases the vigor of germination and increases the number of seedlings. Young seeds do not need this procedure.

The inoculum is placed in a gauze (tissue) bag and sent to a container with a warm solution of a growth stimulant, for example, Zircon, Kornevin, Epin, Cytodef, sodium humate (5 drops of solution per 1 liter of water). Then, with the help of an aquarium compressor, a stream of air is supplied to the seeds. The filter is removed on the compressor. The tube is located under the seed bag. Air bubbles surround the seeds on all sides. They are kept in water for about 18-24 hours. With a large number of seeds, in the middle of the cycle (after 9-12 hours), the water is replaced with a new one.

In the absence of a compressor, the seeds are poured into a container with a growth stimulator for 12 hours and regularly mixed with a wooden spoon. For additional saturation of the air, the water can be partially replaced with a new one, every 2-3 hours. It should be warm (20-25 degrees).

After bubbling, the seeds are poured onto a paper towel to dry.

Germination

The seeds are laid out in a damp cloth and sent in a transparent bag or on a saucer and exposed to a bright, warm place for 1-2 days. When the fabric dries, it is sprayed with water. At the same time, the seeds will swell and begin to germinate. In this case, the length of the roots should not exceed 2 millimeters. Otherwise, when landing, they may break off.

Sprouted seeds can be planted, but it is better to harden first.

Hardening

Seed hardening increases the resistance of future plants to any unfavorable environmental conditions.

The seeds are hardened in a swollen or hatched state. In a damp gauze bag, they are placed on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator (on the vegetable shelf) for 2 days.

Also, the seeds can be hardened for 3-5 days, alternating between heat and cold. At the same time, the seeds are poisoned in the refrigerator at night, and in the warmth for the day.

The pouch must not dry out when quenched. In order for the moisture from the bag to evaporate less, it must be wrapped in polyethylene.

Hardening makes plants stronger, resistant to diseases and temperature fluctuations.

Proper care of cucumber seedlings

For sowing seeds, individual peat pots or cups without a bottom are taken, with a diameter of at least 8 centimeters. Peat pots allow you to plant grown seedlings directly into the ground, without removing them and without damaging the roots. They easily germinate through the walls, and the peat structure serves them as an additional fertilizer. You can also use peat tablets, which are then planted in separate containers.

The pots are filled with soil mixture and spilled with a warm solution of potassium permanganate. After the moisture has drained off, the seeds are placed in the ground to a depth of 1.5-2 centimeters. Then they are watered with warm water and sprinkled with soil. The containers are covered with glass or transparent plastic wrap.

When to plant cucumbers for seedlings

After the first shoots appear, the seedlings are placed on a well-lit windowsill on the south side. The air temperature in the room during the day should be 20 degrees, at night it should not drop below 15 degrees.

Young plants need good lighting for 10-11 hours a day. In the absence, lack of natural light, additional illumination with a phytolamp is required.

Watering plants is carried out with warm water. Before the first leaves appear, the earth is irrigated from a spray bottle. After the formation of the first leaves, the seedlings need to be watered with a syringe or a teaspoon. At the same time, water should not get on the stems and leaves, but soak the soil.

Fertilizing of cucumber seedlings is carried out after the appearance of one main leaf. Then it is repeated every 10 days. A liter of mullein, 20 grams of urea or ammonium nitrate is taken per bucket of water.

A few days before planting the plants in the ground, they are fertilized with a solution of ammonium nitrate (5 grams of fertilizing per bucket of water).

Top dressing should be done in the evening, after watering. The solution should not come into contact with the leaves. If the top dressing does get on the foliage, it is immediately washed off with water from a spray bottle or watering can.

The term for growing seedlings is 25-30 days. Plants ready for planting have dark green, developed leaves, a strong dense stem and strong roots.

A week before planting seedlings in unprotected soil, seedlings are hardened. The time spent in the open air increases gradually.

When landing, the ground should warm up to 15 degrees, and the air up to 18 degrees.

Grown plants are planted in prepared beds. They are placed in the center or staggered, on average there are 4-6 seedlings per 1 square meter. The distance between the rows should be about 50 centimeters, in a row 30-40 centimeters, when planting in 1 row - 20 centimeters.

After planting, they are thoroughly watered with warm water. If necessary, a non-woven fabric is pulled from above for acclimatization. When the plants grow, the shelter is removed.

The plants are then cared for to ensure a good harvest.

Then plant the cucumbers? What to plant after cucumbers?

Preparing cucumber seeds for planting: video

Presowing preparation of cucumbers: video

Properly prepared seeds and planned maintenance will guarantee a good harvest of cucumbers. Not only the health and quality of the fruits depends on these measures, but also the quality of the seeds collected in the future, which can be collected for subsequent sowing. Many gardeners doubt the need to prepare seeds, but having tried it only once, they do it every year.

Before sowing seeds for seedlings, it is necessary to prepare the soil, choose a suitable container.

Sowing material also needs stimulating procedures.

Preparation of cucumber seeds for sowing seedlings ensures maximum germination, seedlings grow strong, healthy, viable.

…

Today we will consider such questions - soil for cucumber seedlings: composition, how to prepare the earth with your own hands? How to prepare cucumber seeds for planting, do they need to be soaked and how to germinate cucumber seeds for seedlings?

Soil preparation

Cucumbers love light, nutritious soil... Purchased mixes will not work. They have a lot of peat that is too acidic.

Ready-made substrates are not nutritious enough, they do not ensure the normal development of the root system of cucumbers.

It is better to make the soil for the cucumber seedlings yourself. It is worth trying one of the following options:

• a mixture of garden or sod land with humus, peat and rotted sawdust in equal proportions;
• sod land mixed with rotted compost;
• garden or sod land mixed with humus, vermicult or perlite;
• peat combined with old sawdust, humus, mullein and washed river sand.

For the mixture, it is better to use the ground into which the grown cucumbers will be transplanted. Light sandy soil preferred, heavy earth with an admixture of clay will not work. The substrate should be neutral or slightly alkaline.

Before mixing, the soil must be sieved and then calcined in an oven or microwave. Such a treatment, lasting at least half an hour at a temperature of 90 degrees, kills harmful microorganisms and insect larvae that weaken the seedlings.

Another processing option is steaming... The earth is laid out on a fine mesh and placed over a container of boiling water. Processing is carried out for 30-45 minutes, then the soil is cooled. If there is no possibility of heat treatment, the ground can be frozen, this procedure guarantees a good effect.

The sifted soil is laid out in plastic bags or cloth bags, after which it is placed in the freezer or on the balcony (in winter). The substrate is kept in the cold for several days, then brought into the room and left to thaw.

ADVICE! Mineral supplements will help to enhance the nutritional value of the soil.containing nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus necessary for seedlings.

Wood ash, superphosphate, urea, potassium sulfate or potassium sulfate are introduced into the substrate. All components are thoroughly mixed. The soil mixture can be prepared in advance. Some should be left for later pouring into cups with seedlings.

Seed preparation

For one hundred percent germination and getting strong seedlings before sowing, the seeds undergo a number of events.

The preparation process consists of:

• calibration;
• disinfection;
• germination;
• hardening.

Seeds collected within the last 10 years are suitable for planting. It should be borne in mind that germination decreases every year, in specimens of nine years ago, it can be less than 50%.

The best qualities are demonstrated by the material collected 2-3 years before sowing. To control the process, seeds harvested on their own are laid out in bags with the date of harvest.

First, the seeds are sorted by hand, hollow and deformed seeds are rejected. During the calibration process, the seed can be sorted by size (it depends not only on the quality, but also on the variety). It is believed that larger specimens have better germination and viable promising shoots.

After manual calibration the seed is filled with salted water and mix thoroughly. Good-quality seeds will sink to the bottom, unsuitable for planting will float. A high-quality material is removed from the saline solution, washed with clean water and dried by spreading it out on a napkin or paper towel.

The next stage of preparation is disinfection.

REFERENCE! Sometimes the seed goes through the necessary processing before being sold (there should be a corresponding mark on the bag).

If disinfection was not carried out, you will have to do it yourself. You should not risk the health of the seedlings and the future harvest.

The seeds are heated at a temperature of 60 degrees for about 3 hours. You cannot overheat them. Then theydipped in an aqueous solution of potassium permanganate for 30 minutes, after which they are thoroughly rinsed with clean water.

There are also alternative disinfection methods... The seed can be treat with an ultraviolet lamp within 5 minutes. The procedure is performed immediately before sowing. If it is impossible to plant seeds immediately, after irradiation they are packed in a light-tight bag.

Disinfecting seeds and at the same time nourishing them with valuable trace elements will help soaking in ash infusion (2 tablespoons of ash are infused in 1 liter of warm water for 3 days). Processing lasts 30 minutes, then they are dried.

The last but very important stage is hardeningthat increases the immunity of plants. First, the seeds are germinated in a damp cloth. Then they are moved to the refrigerator for several days.

First, the seeds are placed in a colder area, then transferred to the lower shelves. During hardening, the seed should not dry out; the cloth in which it is wrapped is often moistened with a spray bottle.

How to germinate cucumber seeds for seedlings?

IMPORTANT! Some gardeners prefer to plant dry seeds. The main motivation is germinated material is very vulnerable, tender young shoots are easily injured, which slows down the growth of seedlings.

However, most hobbyists still soak the seeds in an attempt to speed up the development of seedlings and ensure the germination of the seed. If the shoots do not hatch, they can not be planted in the ground, do not occupy pots with a substrate and a scarce space on the windowsill.

How to soak cucumber seeds for seedlings? Soft water is used for soaking: rain, melted or boiled. Do not use hard chlorinated tap water. It is not worth pouring in the seeds, a damp cotton cloth works much better.

Some gardeners use cotton wool, but this method is not safe. Delicate sprouts can become entangled in long fibers, and it will be very difficult to remove them without breaking.

The seeds are wrapped in a cotton cloth or mat, abundantly moistened with warm water, and then placed in a plastic bag. It will keep moisture from evaporating and provide the necessary warmth. They will germinate in 3 days.

Instead of a bag, you can use a glass jar with a tight lid that creates a greenhouse effect. A jar of seeds is placed in a warm place. Do not place it on heating appliances.trying to speed up the pecking process.

To improve germination before germination, cucumber seeds can be soaked in an aqueous solution of a growth stimulant... Processing takes 10-12 hours. The procedure is especially important for expensive and rare varietal seeds, it guarantees almost one hundred percent germination of the seed.

Sowing preparation can take a lot of time, so you need to start it in advance. The disinfected soil, enriched with nutrients, can be stored for a long time, and the seeds must undergo the necessary procedures immediately before sowing. Important preparatory measures cannot be neglected, because the future harvest depends on them.

Useful materials

Explore other helpful articles on growing and caring for cucumber seedlings:

• How to grow properly on a windowsill, balcony and even in the basement?
• Tips for growing in various containers, in particular in peat pots and tablets.
• Find out the pick-up times by region.
• The reasons why the seedlings are stretched out, the leaves dry and turn yellow, and what diseases are they susceptible to?
• All the secrets of picking, watering and feeding young shoots.

Useful video

Find out how to properly soak your seeds for a good harvest:

The seed soaking method is used by vegetable growers to accelerate germination and increase crop germination. In the case of nightshade plants, peppers and tomatoes, soaking is indispensable, these species are difficult and take a long time to emerge. But do cucumbers need soaking, because even without water treatment, the seeds of this culture germinate on the third day? How to properly soak cucumber seeds before planting, and whether contact with water will harm the planting material, let's figure it out together.

Soaking cucumber seeds - good or bad?

A viable dry-sown cucumber seed emerges on the third day if the temperature is maintained at + 25 ° C. So should cucumber seeds be soaked?

There are two opinions: about the harmful effects of water before sowing and the undoubted benefits of soaking.

The following arguments are put forward in defense of the theory about the dangers of soaking:

1. The seeds of hybrid varieties should not be soaked; they have already been trained by the manufacturer. Soaking is harmful, as the water will wash off the protective layer.
2. Cucumbers grown from soaked seeds are less resistant to external factors: drought, prolonged precipitation, temperature extremes.

Adherents of soaking cucumber seeds claim that the procedure:

1. Accelerates seed germination.
2. Helps prevent diseases in cucumbers.
3. Eliminates the consequences of improper storage, helps to identify viable seeds.
4. Cucumbers sprout more amicably and faster, which contributes to the cultivation of seedlings.

Each of the theories has a right to exist. And, if you've decided to soak cucumber seeds, we'll show you how to do it right.

When are cucumber seeds soaked?

Cucumber seeds germinate quickly, in general, the preparation of planting material takes no more than three days. If the seeds are planted directly in open or greenhouse soil, they begin to soak in three days. If cucumbers are grown through seedlings, it is taken into account that the transplantation of seedlings is carried out at the age of 25 - 30 days, which means that the preparation of the grains is carried out in 28 - 33 days.

Seedlings and seeds are planted on the beds when stable temperatures are established after recurrent frosts. This period for middle latitudes occurs approximately in the second and third decades of May. In the southern regions, planting of seeds and cucumber seedlings begins earlier, in the last decade of April - the first half of May. In the northern regions, the dates are shifted to the end of May - the first ten days of June.

Cucumbers are sown in heated greenhouses already in March. In greenhouses, unheated greenhouses and under a film - two weeks earlier than in open ground beds.

Preparing cucumber seeds for planting

Seed preparation is a step-by-step process and consists of the following procedures:

1. Selection of viable planting material.
2. Disinfection.
3. Treatment with nutrient solutions.
4. Hardening.
5. Germination.

On a note! There is no need to soak the seeds of hybrid cucumbers marked F1, since they have already gone through a full processing cycle during the production process.

Seed selection

Viable seeds are first determined visually and then with a saline solution.

Empty and broken seeds are separated by hand, the rest are placed in a solution of 100 g of salt / 1 l of water for 10 - 20 minutes. The floating grains are discarded, the grains that have sunk to the bottom are taken out, wrapped in gauze and washed with water at room temperature.

Disinfection

Soaking in disinfectant solutions is performed to destroy pathogenic microorganisms and fungal spores, which in the future can cause diseases of cucumber seedlings. To prepare an antimicrobial solution, use:

• potassium permanganate;
• hydrogen peroxide 3%;
• brilliant green;
• boric acid;
• infusion of garlic with aloe.

A strong solution is prepared from potassium permanganate: 5 g of substance / 250 ml. The grains wrapped in cotton cloth or gauze are kept in the prepared solution for no more than 20 minutes, then they are taken out and washed, so the planting material does not need excess manganese.

Hydrogen peroxide concentration of 3% is purchased at the pharmacy. It is not necessary to dilute the product with water; it is used in its pure form. The seeds are kept in peroxide for 10 - 12 hours.

Disinfection of seeds in brilliant green is carried out for 10 hours if the agent was diluted in a 1: 1 ratio. If brilliant green is used in its pure form, 1.5 - 2 hours is enough for disinfection. After brilliant green seeds are not washed.

A solution of 1 g / 5 l is prepared from boric acid crystals. The seeds are soaked for 12 hours. The advantage of this method of disinfection is the feeding of the grains with boron.

To prepare an infusion of garlic with aloe, you need 3 - 4 cloves of garlic and 5 drops of fresh aloe juice. If aloe is not available, only garlic can be used. The ingredients are poured into a glass of boiling water and insisted for several hours at room conditions. Next, filter the garlic infusion and soak cucumber seeds in it for 10 - 12 hours.

On a note! After disinfection, cucumber seeds are dried and left to warm up near a heat source with a temperature of + 50 ° C for a day.

Treatment with nutrient solutions

At this stage, the grains are soaked to saturate with various nutrients. To prepare the nutrient solution, you can use any complex mineral fertilizer, for example, nitrophos.

Lovers of natural farming prefer processing in an infusion of wood ash or sunflower ash. The infusion is prepared from two tablespoons of ash diluted with a liter of settled water. The tool should be infused for 2 days, after which the seed is soaked in it for 4 hours.

Hardening

Seed hardening is necessary to prepare vulnerable seedlings for possible temperature extremes. Cucumbers are tempered in the vegetable section of the refrigerating chamber at -2 - + 2 ° C during the day.

Germination

Seeds are germinated in thawed or settled tap water, to which, if desired, growth stimulants are added: Epin, Potassium or sodium humate, Zircon. These products are made from natural ingredients, designed to activate the emergence of seedlings and the formation of roots, help seedlings better adapt to external factors, resist diseases and insects parasitizing on cucumbers.

For germination, you will need a shallow container into which a solution with biostimulants is poured. Grains wrapped in gauze or any cotton cloth are placed on the bottom. It is necessary to ensure that the seeds and fabric are constantly moist. When the grains swell and hatch, they are immediately sown into the soil.

On a note! Cucumber seeds often germinate during the soaking step in the nutrient solution and during hardening. If this happens, do not allow the roots to overgrow more than 5 mm, immediately plant the grains in the soil mixture.

Landing

The hatched seeds are planted in greenhouses, open ground and seedlings at home. In room conditions and in heated greenhouses, the temperature is maintained at + 25 ° C until the emergence of friendly shoots. In open ground and unheated greenhouses, grain is sown when the soil warms up to + 15 ° C.

Ideally, the soil should be even warmer, since + 15 ° C is the minimum acceptable value. To speed up the heating of the soil and, accordingly, the germination of seeds, organic fertilizers are laid in the beds of open ground, and immediately before planting, the soil is spilled with boiling water. Seedling beds are covered with foil to create a greenhouse effect. Every day, planting is aired, the shelter is removed with the appearance of the first shoots.

The successful cultivation of plants largely depends on the competent preparation of the seeds for sowing. Soaking and germinating cucumber seeds are simple procedures, they do not require either time or money. You will see the result immediately, because your beds will be decorated with friendly, strong shoots of future cucumbers.

Cucumbers are one of the most popular vegetables grown by almost every gardener. Owners experience a lot of annoyance when the time and effort invested did not bring the expected results. The main factor in the successful cultivation of zelents is considered to be the correct preparation of cucumber seeds for planting, including soaking.

Mandatory check of cucumber seeds for germination, whether they will germinate

Calibrated Cucumber Seeds

Before sowing, it is imperative to check the seeds for germination. It is not known how much of an old or low-quality seed material has a life reserve, so you can not wait for sprouts on the soil surface. To save time and money, it is recommended to do germination test procedures for the seeds. This gives hope that the seedlings will be viable. During the soaking process, attention is paid to important factors:

• modification of seeds in a humid environment;
• germination intensity;
• the number of suitable grains from the selected number.

The easiest way to check the quality is to wrap the seed in a damp cloth (linen, cotton). This method is used by almost all gardeners.

The process looks like this: 10-15 seeds are selected from the total mass of seeds, after which they are laid out on a napkin moistened with warm water, laid out on a saucer. The top should be covered with plastic wrap and the saucer should be placed in a warm place protected from drafts (temperature range from 20 to 23 degrees). Several times a day you need to check the condition of the seeds so as not to miss when the sprouts begin to hatch. At the same time, it is worth paying attention to the napkin, if dry, you will need to moisten it again... To do this, it is enough to spray with warm water from a spray bottle so as not to disturb the grains.

Sprouted cucumber seeds

Seeds are considered suitable for sowing, which germinated in 60% (that is, out of 10 grains, 6 copies formed keys). The faster the process took place, the more vitality the seed has.

How to soak properly:

• the procedure should be carried out only after disinfection of seeds;
• the liquid used must be sufficient, there is no danger in the complete immersion of the grains;
• when immersing the seed in the solution, mix them several times by hand or with a spatula;
• after soaking, the seed must be immediately planted in the ground or set aside for germination;
• processing time depends on the solution used.

The correct ways of home germination for planting in the ground

The seeds are soaked for 15-20 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate

In preparation for sowing, one of the known germination methods is used. The most popular and effective methods to germinate seeds are as follows.

Soak in saline for a while

The saline solution is considered universal, it allows you to determine the germination and show which specimens will germinate and which will not for almost any culture. The working solution is prepared from 6-10 g of table salt and an incomplete glass of warm water. The process itself involves filling the bowl first with seed, then filling the container with the prepared liquid. After 6-8 minutes, the floating seeds are collected, as they are found unsuitable for planting. Those that have held out all the time at the bottom have good life potential. This process also allows the seed to be disinfected. After that, you can safely plant seeds.

After soaking, the grains must be rinsed with clean water and dried under natural conditions at a temperature of at least 20 ° C.

Soak in biologically active preparations for fast germination

Soaking seeds in a liquid enriched with biologically active preparations is considered multifunctional. The most famous are:

• Zircon;
• Potassium or sodium humate solution;
• Ivin;
• Epin-Extra.

The method of processing seed with Zircon provides for the preparation of a working solution from 300 ml of water and 2 drops of the drug and takes time. Soaking the grains in it lasts for 8-18 hours, during which time sprouts should hatch. The tool acts in such directions as stimulating germination, strengthening the immune system.

A good result is obtained if treated with Humate material. When using it, powder (1 gram) and 100 ml of water at room temperature are taken to prepare the mother liquor. Store the product in a cool place (for example, in the refrigerator on the door). Before use, 1 ml of the solution is diluted with 100 ml of water. The seeds are soaked in the resulting liquid for 24 hours.
Ivin's drug has an excellent stimulating and anti-stress effect. For soaking, a solution is prepared from 2 drops of the product and 2 liters of water at room temperature. Processing time is 18-24 hours. Which drug to choose depends on you.

Soda solutions will help the sprout to hatch faster.

Baking soda is useful not only in the kitchen, but also for gardening. It has an antimicrobial effect and helps to prolong the fruiting period. For soaking, a working solution is prepared from 1 liter of warm water and 1 teaspoon of soda. Seeds need to settle in such a solution for at least a day.
Disputes over the advisability of using soda have been going on for more than one year. The only thing that is not in doubt is it is the ability to soften the surface of the grains, allowing moisture to freely penetrate into the seed... To enhance the effect, various recipes have been developed that include the addition of other biostimulants:

• aloe juice (200 ml of water, 5 ml of aloe juice, 1/4 teaspoon of soda);
• Cytovita (5 drops of water, 1/5 teaspoon of baking soda, 350 ml of water).

Preparing a soda solution

The complex effect provides fast seedling formation, resistance to various infections and high yields with proper care.

Soaking in Epin will allow cucumber seeds to germinate faster

The drug Epin has a wide spectrum of action. It is a regulator and adaptogen capable of controlling the balance of substances in a plant. The active components of the product ensure the rapid germination of seeds, strengthen the culture's immunity, resistance to a humid environment, which occurs as a result of heavy rains or flooding.
For germination of cucumber grains, prepare a solution of 100 ml of water and 1-2 drops of the drug. It is necessary to keep them in a biostimulator for at least 18-20 hours at a temperature of 20-23 ° C, that is, the process is quite long.

Folk recipes for processing seedling material

For a long time, before planting, seeds were also germinated to obtain quick shoots. From generation to generation, long-term proven folk recipes are passed on, which are still used to this day. Carrots, pumpkin, beets, radishes, squash are just a part of the plants, the seeds of which can be soaked in these solutions before planting. Here are some simple and powerful options.

Recipe # 1 - allows you to germinate in 6 hours

Honey dissolved in water is considered an excellent stimulant. For cooking, use a glass of warm water and a teaspoon of the sweet component. The procedure is performed by filling a bowl with honey solution and immersing the seed in it for 6 hours.

Recipe number 2 - will bring the landing closer

Cucumber seeds germinate well in pure potato juice. To obtain it, you need to select several root crops and put them in the freezer for freezing. Once removed from the refrigerator, the potatoes should be thawed. You need to squeeze the juice manually, it is not difficult at all. Soaked seeds in the juice settle for at least 8 hours.

Recipe number 3 - soak in ash

Making an ash solution - 1 teaspoon of ash in a glass of water

Wood ash has a valuable chemical composition, rich in nutritive minerals and trace elements. You can also use such a component for germinating cucumber seeds. First, an infusion is prepared from boiled water (1 liter) and ash (2 tablespoons). The liquid should be infused for at least 2 days, after which the grains are immersed in it for 6 hours.

Recipe number 4 - treat with aloe juice

Soaking the seed in aloe juice not only stimulates growth, but also strengthens the plant's immunity. After such treatment, it will be easier for a young shoot to resist various diseases and pests. To extract juice from a home plant, you need to cut off the mature leaves from the bottom of the stem. Having wrapped them in paper (preferably parchment), they should be put in the refrigerator for two weeks. After that, the juice is squeezed out by hand very simply.The extracted liquid is diluted with a small amount of water and seeds are poured into the solution for a day.

To soak the seeds of cucumbers, take settled water. However, experienced gardeners have noticed that using rain or melt water is much more effective.

Aloe juice is readily available - found in almost every home

The preparation process is really not difficult. When planting cucumbers, you should not be guided only by the information about the expiration date indicated on the package. Spending no more than a few minutes, you can verify the quality of the purchased material.

Every gardener, before sowing seeds, looks for ways to prepare them to improve the yield. The key to high yields is in the quality of seeds and pre-planting measures. So how do you prepare your cucumber seeds for planting? And how do you select the best seeds?

An important point in the selection of cucumber seeds:

• if the shelf life is up to 2 years, mainly plants with a large number of male flowers will grow;
• from seeds that are more than 3 years old, plants with female flowers will receive for the most part.

Table: Shelf life of seeds of various crops

There is no point in collecting and sowing seeds from F1 hybrids.

When buying seeds from producers - carefully read the packaging, it may be indicated that pre-sowing preparation is not required! In this case, only soil preparation is needed.

These are, for example, plasma seeds. Please note that they differ in color, and you can also find pelleted seeds.

Storage conditions for seeds:

• dry cool place,
• temperature 10-12 degrees,
• humidity below 60%.

General stages of preparation

Preparing seeds for planting is a multi-step process. Below we will look at its main points.

Sorting and culling

First you need to select the best and large seeds, discard deformed, unnatural colors (for example, with spots).

This stage is especially important when buying seeds from your hands or using harvested ones yourself.

Then, using a saline solution, you can sift out the empty seeds - the so-called weight test. The solution is prepared as follows: mix 23 teaspoons with 100 milliliters of water.

You need to keep the seeds in water for about 20 minutes, you can stir a couple of times to speed up the process. Floated seeds can be thrown away - the most fertile will be those that remain at the bottom.

An important point! If too many seeds have surfaced, it is highly likely that they were simply stored for a long time and dried out. At the same time, seeds do not lose their germination capacity.

After this procedure, the planting material must be washed and dried.

Warming up, will help increase germination

This part of the preparation will help to obtain more friendly seedlings with more female flowers.

Only varietal cucumbers are required to warm up.

There are several options. The easiest (and longest) one is unhurried warming up on the battery for 20-30 days at a temperature of 25-28ºC.

There is also a faster way - calcining for 2-3 hours at 50-60 degrees Celsius. However, you should be careful - in this case there is a chance to "overexpose".

Disinfection, from diseases and pests

The second stage will be the disinfection of the planting material. This will help destroy pathogens that may be on the seeds (powdery mildew and others).

To do this, you need to soak the seeds for 20-30 minutes in a strong solution of potassium permanganate (1/3 teaspoon per 1 tbsp. Warm water). Then they should be rinsed with running water and dried.

The solution should be saturated. If, when looking into the bowl through the solution, the bottom is visible, you should add potassium permanganate, but a little.

An alternative method of disinfection is ultraviolet irradiation of seeds for 1-5 minutes. Important! After treatment with ultraviolet light, store the seeds in a dark bag.

Seed dressing

At this stage, you can use industrial drugs, for example Fitosporin-M - they will help in the fight against diseases hidden in the embryo of cucumber seeds.

They are soaked in these funds for 1-2 hours, but you should not use them unless absolutely necessary.

Growth stimulants for feeding

So that the planting material is saturated with nutrients, you can use special plant growth stimulants (for example, "Epin", "Zircon" and others) or simply prepare an ash solution:

• 30 g of wood ash,
• a liter of warm water.

Having insisted such water for a day, you can immerse seeds in it. After a couple of hours, the cucumber seeds should be dried.

Some gardeners believe that melt water is also a stimulant. If you decide to try, consider the environment.

Soaking, activating germination

To do this, wrap the planting material in a damp cloth or bandage and leave at a temperature of 20-25ºC for 8 hours.

Be sure to ensure that the material does not dry out or be excessively damp.

This procedure is only suitable when planting cucumbers for seedlings or in the ground in warm weather.

After soaking, the seeds react extremely negatively to cooling or drying.

Read the labels on the seed packages! They may have already been treated by the manufacturer from infections, then you will see the inscription: "Do not soak!"

Hardening, increase immunity

Also, the seeds should be hardened and prepared for the conditions of street growth.

After soaking, place in the fridge in the coldest place. After a few hours, transfer the package to the warmest place in the refrigerator, for example, in the door for a day.

Cucumbers do not need to be seasoned if you plan to plant them during the warmer months.

Germination of cucumber seeds

Sprouted cucumber seeds with sprouts of 3-5 mm are considered. This procedure is mainly used by gardeners if they doubt the germination of cucumber seeds.

Cucumbers germinate at 20-28 degrees in about 3-4 days. Do not place the container on heating devices!

Seedlings are long and easily damaged.

Next, we will consider special cases of how to prepare cucumber seeds for planting seedlings, in a greenhouse and open ground.

Preparing for planting seedlings

The main feature of seedling preparation will be soil preparation. Cucumbers love loose and nutritious soil, so it is better to make a mixture for seedlings yourself - so you will be confident in the composition and vitamin complex contained in it.

More information on when to plant seedlings in 2018

You need to mix in equal proportions:

• garden land (this will prepare the seedlings for transplanting into the garden).
• sawdust (they will provide looseness of the soil).
• humus (it will add nutritional value to food).
• river sand (will help the mixture to better maintain moisture).

The resulting mixture must be sieved. After sifting to eliminate harmful microorganisms that can destroy the seedlings, the ground should be calcined.

To improve it, you can also steam the soil by placing it in a sieve over boiling water. The last step will be freezing - you need to put the soil in the freezer.

The second feature will not be the need to feed the seeds, since the prepared mixture is already nutritious and rich in vitamins.

You can also exclude the germination of the seed in a damp cloth. The planting material will sprout directly in the ground.

Cucumber seeds are planted to a depth of 1.5-2 cm.

It is advisable to plant seedlings in peat pots, so that later, when transplanting, the plant does not need to be removed. Do not worry - peat containers will rot in the soil and provide additional top dressing.

Preparation for planting in open ground

Some gardeners believe that seeds are best planted outdoors. However, even when sowing directly into the ground on the street, it is worth preparing planting material.

Be sure to harden the seeds. For hardening, you do not need to wait until they germinate. It is enough just to wrap them in cheesecloth and put them in the refrigerator, on the shelf closest to the freezer. Then move it one shelf away from the freezer every day.

Useful information: after which you can plant cucumbers, and then not worth it.

It is also imperative to disinfect the seeds. It is important to shed the planting site with a solution of potassium permanganate or Fitosporin before sowing to prevent contamination of both the seeds and the land in which they will grow.

Features of preparation when planting in a greenhouse

As you know, the greenhouse has a special microclimate, high humidity and greenhouse effect. This increases the likelihood of fungal infections, so the preparation of future cucumbers has its own characteristics.

Be sure to disinfect the seeds. To prevent damage to seedlings by fungus and mold, it is necessary to prepare a manganese bath with boric acid for the seeds. The solution is prepared simply: you need to mix a teaspoon of boric acid, with a teaspoon of potassium permanganate and pour a liter of boiled water. Insist the seeds in this solution for 3 hours and dry.

The solution should be dark purple but not brown.

The seeds need to germinate. This will help pre-estimate the germination rate and help the crop emerge better.

Reviews

Experienced gardeners, talking about how to prepare cucumber seeds for planting, are advised to disinfect them in a garlic infusion (pour 100 grams of garlic peel with a liter of water, leave for 2 hours). They like the naturalness of the method and the absence of any chemical attack.

To improve germination, some advise to wear the germinated material closer to the body. For this, the seeds in a wet bundle are placed in a calico bag and carried "closer to the heart." They say that this is how the harvest grows simply from the heart!

Many gardening experts advise using seeds that have been stored for 2 to 3 years when planting. Since it is during this period that the percentage of germination of seeds is highest.

Also, gardeners are advised to harvest planting material on their own. They say that this way you can control the quality at every stage of preparation.