Preparing cabbage seeds for sowing seedlings
Cabbage is capricious and requires constant care, starting from the moment of purchasing raw materials for planting. Preparing cabbage seeds for sowing seedlings is the first stage of care, which directly affects the quality and quantity of the harvest.
Preparing cabbage seeds for sowing seedlings
Why Soak Cabbage Seeds
High-quality preparation of the material before planting is a guarantor of an increase in yield by 20-30%. Soaking cabbage seeds is necessary for disinfection, which increases the vegetable's resistance to viruses and bacteria. Plants grow at the same time and develop faster.
Before soaking cabbage seeds before planting, carry out preparatory work:
- selection of seeds;
- calibration;
- germination test;
- warming up;
- disinfection.
How to choose seeds
The preparation of cabbage seeds is carried out after the choice of material according to a number of criteria:
- type and grade;
- the region in which the landing will take place;
- soil condition;
- ripening time;
- disease resistance;
- shelf life.
These rules are suitable for both white cabbage and cauliflower. Presowing treatment will be ineffective if you ignore any of the factors.
Calibration
To carry out the calibration, it is necessary to prepare a solution of sodium chloride and place the seed there. Light seeds will float upward, while heavier ones will remain below. The seeds at the top can be collected and discarded. They are not suitable for sowing.
All remaining seeds are collected from the bottom and washed with clean water to remove salt. After that, they are dried so that they do not start to germinate ahead of time. Medium seeds are also suitable for sowing if they are soaked before planting.
Germination test
The calibrated grains are checked for germination quality. To do this, take 100 units of material and put them on a damp cloth. A damp piece of cloth is placed on top.
Germination is carried out for 7 days at a temperature of 23 ° C-25 ° C. The grains are inspected and counted daily. On the third day, the uniformity of germination is determined, and after a week - germination in percent.
Disinfection
Seeds must be disinfected
Soaking cabbage seeds is carried out for disinfection. The procedure is aimed at destroying the causative agents of viral diseases. Preparation of cabbage seeds for sowing without disinfection is ineffective.
For the procedure, a solution of potassium permanganate is used, after which it is washed with water.
Heat treatment is considered a more efficient method. The essence of the operation is the effect of warm water on the grains. The inoculum is wrapped in a gauze bag and immersed in water at a temperature of 50 ° C for 25 minutes. At temperatures above 50 ° C, the seeds will lose their germination, and below 48 ° C, the treatment will not give results. For this, a large amount of water is used, which reduces the rate of temperature change. A suvidnitsa is perfect for this method.
Disinfection can be done with garlic. 30-40 g of the plant is crushed and stirred in a glass of water. Grains are dipped into the mixture and kept there for 1-2 hours. After the procedure, the grains are thoroughly dried.
How to soak seeds before planting
Soaking is carried out both in plain water and in special solutions to stimulate culture growth. It is better not to use tap water for processing.
Soaking in water is carried out according to the following principle:
- They use settled melt or rain water, as well as boiled tap water or purchased non-carbonated water.
- The seed is spread out so that the water does not completely cover it. The container should be in a warm but dark place.
- Soaking is carried out 2-3 days before sowing. Do not pull with planting in the ground, since the grains germinate quickly.
- You can soak cabbage seeds in water using growth stimulants. To do this, choose any of the organic stimulants.
Use of special drugs
The most popular purchased products are:
- Epin;
- Epin-extra;
- Zircon.
Their use accelerates germination, improves the resistance of the crop to frost, drought, diseases and harmful insects. Processed seedlings are easier to plant in open ground.
To properly soak the seeds with Zircon, dissolve 2-3 drops of the product in 300 ml of water. Soak for 15-20 hours. The drug promotes the penetration of water into the grain. The result can be determined visually: the grain swells.
A solution of nitrophoska or other complex fertilizers can be effectively used for processing by soaking. For this, 1 tsp. the funds are dissolved in 1 liter of warm water, the seed is kept there for at least 12 hours, after which it is thoroughly washed with clean water.
You can do without chemicals. To do this, prepare an ash infusion of 2-3 tbsp. l. wood ash and 1 liter of warm water. This solution is kept for a day under a lid, and then filtered. The grains are immersed in liquid for 3-4 hours and then washed.
Additional processing methods
Seeds for seedlings are processed by bubbling. This method is similar to soaking, but differs by using oxygenated water. It can be obtained using an aquarium compressor.
For seeds that germinate for a long time, use the stratification method. The essence of the operation is to create approximate natural conditions. Grains mixed with soil are susceptible to high and low temperatures.
After soaking, the material is hardened. For this, the processed grains are kept in the refrigerator for 24 hours. The temperature inside should be in the region of 1 ° С-3 ° С: this increases the grain's resistance to cold and accelerates germination.
Conclusion
Soak cabbage seeds before planting or not, each gardener decides for himself. By correctly soaking the seed, you can eliminate the need for calibration and ensure maximum germination.