Do I need to soak cucumber seeds before planting and how do I do it?

When growing cucumbers, most vegetable growers soak the seeds before planting. This procedure eliminates poor-quality planting material and reduces germination time. There are several ways to soak cucumber seeds before planting. You can soak them in plain water or a solution of biologically active compounds, use household items, or use folk remedies.

Do I need to soak cucumber seeds before planting?

Self-assembled cucumber seeds Vegetable growers typically soak their seeds. But store-bought ones are a different story. The manufacturer usually notes the need for soaking on the packaging. The instructions specify that the seeds should be soaked in plain water or a weak solution of potassium permanganate before sowing.

Some hybrid varieties labeled F1 undergo disinfection and special treatment beforehand, even during production. They don't require soaking. Therefore, the packaging is marked accordingly.

Generally, soaking seeds is done to improve germination. Without proper treatment, germination in soil is very slow. Some cucumber seeds don't germinate at all without additional stimulation. To speed up germination, cucumber seeds are soaked in warm water for 25 to 35 minutes. The liquid softens the seed coat, increasing germination by 2-3 times.

Another reason for soaking is the need for disinfection. Dangerous pathogens often live on the surface of seedlings, which can kill the seedlings. To prevent infection, selected seeds are disinfected. A solution of potassium permanganate is commonly used as a disinfectant.

Preparation

The purchased seeds are poured out onto the table and carefully inspected. Any specimens with visible damage, chips, or spots are immediately discarded. The seeds are then calibrated by size. The smallest ones are also discarded, as they will not produce strong, well-developed plants.

Next, to test for germination, the seeds are dropped into a glass of water with one tablespoon of salt dissolved in it. Seeds that float to the surface quickly are empty and will not germinate, so they are also discarded. Those that sink to the bottom are rinsed in clean water and dried. They are ready for planting.

Sometimes, cucumber seeds are soaked in potassium permanganate. This procedure is used to disinfect the seeds. To do this, dissolve a few crystals of potassium permanganate in boiling water until the water turns pink. Once the solution has cooled to room temperature, the seeds, wrapped in cheesecloth, are soaked in it for 15 minutes. Then, they are removed from the liquid and dried.

It's helpful to warm the selected planting material before soaking. To do this, pour the prepared seeds into a plate in a single layer and place them in a room maintained at 35 degrees Celsius. Keep them in these conditions for a week. After this, the material is ready for further processing.

Soaking time

Soak cucumber seeds for 1-2 days before planting them in open ground or a greenhouse. Before soaking, you need to decide how to plant the seeds and what conditions to maintain them in. This will help you choose the optimal time to begin pre-planting treatment:

1. If sowing is done in a greenhouse or hotbed, soaking is done at the end of April or at the beginning of May.
2. If cucumbers are grown in unprotected beds, wait until warm weather sets in. In temperate climates, the best time to prepare seeds is the second half of May.

Soak the seeds three days before the intended sowing date. Some vegetable growers determine the best time for this procedure by the lunar calendar.

Common methods

There are several correct methods for soaking seeds. All of them promote rapid germination and early emergence. In addition to plain water, seeds are soaked in solutions of biologically active preparations or home remedies prepared according to traditional recipes.

The easiest way to germinate seeds is in warm water. To do this, place the selected seedlings in a single layer in a small container and add a small amount of clean water heated to 35 degrees Celsius. Cover the container with a cloth and place it in a warm, dark place. Rinse the seeds daily and replace the water with fresh water. You can learn more about soaking seeds in the video.

Soaking on fabric

Another proper way to soak cucumber seeds involves using a cloth. Line the bottom of a flat plate with a thick, clean cloth and moisten it with warm water. Then, spread the seeds in a single layer on the cloth and cover with another layer of cloth. Moisten the cloth thoroughly with warm water. Place the container in a dark place with a temperature of 23 to 25 degrees Celsius.

To speed up the emergence of the first sprouts, you can cover the plate with plastic. This creates a greenhouse effect and accelerates germination. Keep the seeds under the plastic for no more than 18 hours. Otherwise, they will die.

You may be interested in:

What are the best cucumber seeds for open ground? Reviews
With the arrival of spring, it's time to plant seedlings of various crops, including cucumbers. Speaking of…Read more…

Use of biologically active drugs

https://youtu.be/_Mf8r4967ro

Seeds are often germinated in a special solution. After treatment with a biologically active solution, cucumber seeds planted in the ground for seedlings germinate faster and grow more vigorously. The harvest also ripens earlier.

Good results are achieved by using the following medications:

1. Soaking cucumber seeds in Epin will enrich them with nutrients and speed up growth. This product strengthens the plant's immune system and increases its resistance to temperature fluctuations and excess moisture. To mix the nutrient solution, add 2 drops of the product to 100 ml of water. Germinated seedlings can be seen within 20 hours.
2. To speed up seed germination, some vegetable growers use the product "Zircon." A working solution is prepared by adding 2 drops of the product to 300 ml of warm, settled water. The seeds are soaked in the prepared solution for 8 to 16 hours. This time is enough for the first sprouts to appear.
3. Vegetable growers often use it to speed up germination. drug "Gumate"A stock solution is prepared by mixing 100 ml of warm water and 1 g of powder. Before use, the concentrate is diluted with clean, warm water at a ratio of 1:100. The selected seed material is soaked in the solution for 18 to 20 hours.

Folk remedies

If pre-planting treatment wasn't done in advance, you can soak the seeds in vodka on the day of sowing. To do this, wrap the selected seedlings in cloth and place them in a jar filled with the alcohol for 20 minutes. Once dry, place the seeds immediately in the soil.

A honey solution can speed up the germination of seedlings. Prepare the nutrient solution by mixing 200 ml of warm water and 1 teaspoon of honey. Soak the seedlings in the prepared solution for 6 hours.

Potato juice promotes rapid germination. To obtain this nutritious liquid, several tubers are placed in the freezer until completely frozen. They are then removed and allowed to thaw. After this treatment, the tubers are squeezed for juice. The seeds are then soaked in this juice for 6 hours.

An ash infusion disinfects cucumber seeds and promotes their germination. To prepare the working solution, dissolve 2 tablespoons of wood ash in 1 liter of warm water and let it sit for 2 days. Then, soak the seeds in the solution for 5 hours.

Aloe juice is squeezed from the plant's old leaves. They are cut and left in the refrigerator for two weeks, wrapped in parchment. The extracted juice is mixed with an equal amount of water. The seeds are then soaked in the solution for six hours.

Soaking cucumber seeds is easy. This procedure is not mandatory, but it is recommended to improve germination and speed up seedling emergence. To simultaneously protect the plants from disease and speed up ripening, use a stimulating solution as a soaking solution.