In order for the cucumbers to sprout faster, not to get sick and to bear fruit better, they must be germinated. I tell you how I do it

Germinating cucumber seeds is an agricultural technique that allows you to get a harvest of beautiful and healthy fruits one to two weeks earlier than usual. The procedure has its own nuances, which many may not know about. Therefore, I want to share my experience and tell you in detail about the preparation of cucumber seeds for sowing and how to germinate them.

Seedlings of cucumbers. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com

Advantages and disadvantages of the procedure

Cucumber seeds can germinate remarkably well in the soil. However, the preliminary procedure (before planting in the ground) has many advantages:

• earlier harvest;
• check of planting material for germination;
• excludes re-sowing in case of unsuccessful seed germination;
• strengthens the immunity of plants that can become infected with viral and fungal diseases;
• friendly shoots (appear after 8-10 days).

The disadvantage is that the procedure is quite troublesome, so not all summer residents resort to it. Remember that the viability of cucumber embryos lasts only for two years, so it is not recommended to acquire seed material that has been stored longer.

Preliminary preparation of seeds

Before proceeding with germination, it is necessary to perform a number of more manipulations to prepare the planting material for sowing:

1. Sizing means selecting the best seeds. If you bought them from a store, then there is no need to calibrate, as they have already been carefully selected from the manufacturer. Examine your own seeds carefully and set aside the black, small and damaged seeds, and leave the large and full ones. Then place them in a saline solution for 20 minutes (3-5 g of salt per 100 ml of water). Quality seeds will sink to the bottom, and they need to be sown. Rinse and dry them.
2. Sterilization. Diseases of the crop are transmitted along with the seed, so the sterilization step is very important. Dip the grains in a 1% manganese solution for 30 minutes, then rinse with plain water.
3. Hardening. Wrap the seeds in a damp cloth and refrigerate for 2 days. This is necessary to adapt the planting material to adverse weather conditions.
4. Sparging. For better germination, the seeds should be saturated with oxygen. To do this, immerse the aquarium compressor tube in a jar of water and seeds for 18 hours. This procedure increases germination up to 100% and guarantees fast germination of seeds (after 3-7 days).

Germination methods

There are quite a few options for germinating cucumber seeds. I offer you the simplest and most common among gardeners:

1. On the paper. At the bottom of the container, place a paper towel, folded in four, or toilet paper in several layers, moisten with a spray bottle, cover with a lid or plastic and put in a warm a place. After 2-3 days, the grains will hatch.
2. On the fabric. Spread the seeds on a damp piece of cloth, sprinkle with warm water, put a still damp rag on top. Keep the fabric damp at all times. Germination occurs within 3-5 days.
3. In peat tablets. Place peat tablets in a container and cover with water. When the tablets are swollen, spread over the seed into the holes, sprinkle with wet peat on top. Sprouts begin to appear in 2-3 days.
4. In a roll-up. Put 2-3 layers of paper on a strip of plastic wrap, moisten it well, spread the seeds at a distance of 4 cm, roll the strip into a roll and wait for the seeds to hatch.
5. In coconut substrate. Pour boiling water over the coconut briquettes and wait until they significantly increase in size and become crumbly. Fill containers with damp substrate, sow seeds and cover with cling film.

To speed up the germination process will help the use of drugs: "Epin-extra", "Zircon", "Kornevin", "Silk".

Optimal conditions for germination

To achieve successful germination of cucumber seeds, try to create favorable conditions for them:

1. Lighting. The crop grows best in well-lit areas, so the seedlings need sufficient lighting. In shade or shaded areas, they will not develop well.
2. Temperature conditions. Optimal for germination + 25-26 degrees. Do not allow the temperature to rise or fall, especially below +20, which will slow down pecking and sprout development.
3. Humidity. During the germination stage, the seeds should be kept in a humid environment. If you miss this moment, the sprouts that have hatched will die, and all your efforts will be in vain.

Potential problems and how to solve them

Sometimes, even if all the conditions for the germination of planting material are met, it is not possible to obtain the desired result. Problems that may arise:

1. Slow pecking of seeds - cucumbers are kept in a cool and dark place. Provide crops with more suitable conditions with the required temperature and sufficient lighting.
2. Seeds do not hatch - they were overdried after soaking. It should be immediately placed in the substrate or put on germination using any of the recommended methods. Expired seeds will also not sprout.
3. They rise slowly. Perhaps the seed sterilization solution was high concentration or the treatment was carried out longer than the prescribed time. Read carefully the recommendations for the use of disinfectants for planting material.
4. They sprout unevenly - the seed was stored incorrectly. When buying, pay attention to the packages, whether they are hermetically closed, which prevents the seeds from drying out. If they were stored in humid conditions, it is possible that they were infected with mold.
5. Sprouted strongly - the seeds were in conditions of excessive moisture. After setting for germination, immediately provide airflow by making small holes in the plastic that covered the containers.

If the sprouts do not hatch within a week, you will have to purchase other seeds and repeat the germination procedure again. But I think that this will not happen, provided that you adhere to all the above recommendations.

Read also: Let's figure out whether it is worth leaving the polycarbonate greenhouse open in winter or not.

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