Many amateur gardeners associate poor germination with the quality of the seed. Indeed, this factor can affect seed germination, but often the problem lies in improper preparation and sowing. Germinating watermelon or melon seeds is not difficult, the main thing is to follow the rules. Before planting, you need to properly soak the seeds at home so that they begin to germinate well.
Is it difficult to germinate watermelon seeds for planting?
Germinating seeds is not a difficult and time consuming process. It only takes stick to technology and comply with certain conditions that contribute to rapid germination. Then, from small seeds, strong seedlings grow, resistant to climatic surprises.
How to germinate watermelon seeds
First, the seed should be prepared. This process consists of the following steps:
- calibration - sorting into groups by size for uniform development of shoots;
- scarification - removal of a part of the seed nose on emery for quick sprout formation;
- warming up - exposure to elevated temperatures accelerates biochemical processes and stimulates shoot growth (water temperature - 50 degrees, holding time - 30 minutes);
- disinfection - destruction of harmful bacteria and microorganisms.
All stages, except for scarification, are mandatory.
It is not possible to moderately damage the seed surface during industrial cultivation of watermelons. And in small quantities, the work must be done carefully so as not to severely damage the seed.
The last stage of preparation for landing is considered soaking for sprouting... This measure is also not always carried out by gardeners, but most owners of small plots use it.
The process is quite simple - you need to wrap the seeds in a damp cloth and hold for several days until sprouts appear. It is important that the material always remains wet.
Seedlings are grown in containers, depth 12-14 cm, container diameter 10-12 cm... These can be regular flower pots. A humus-peat mixture, prepared in equal proportions, or a substrate of 3 parts of humus and 1 part of sod soil is used as a soil.
Watermelon love nutritious soil, therefore, superphosphate (a teaspoon) or wood ash (2 tablespoons) per 1 kg of soil must be added to the mixture.
Two seeds are buried in one pot by 3 cm. After germination, one shoot (weaker) will be removed.
The following conditions are considered optimal for seed germination:
- the temperature until the emergence of shoots is up to 30 degrees, the next 2-4 days the degrees drop to 18, after adaptation at night the plant is stored at 18 degrees, in the daytime - at 20-25 degrees;
- good lighting;
- regular ventilation, but no drafts;
- every 2 weeks complementary foods (mullein + water, mullein + water + superphosphate + ammonium sulfate + potassium sulfate).
With proper care and adherence to technology, shoots will appear 6-7 days after sowing... And after a month, the seedlings are planted in the beds.
Proper preparation, germination and sowing of zucchini seed for seedlings
To obtain equally developed seedlings, it is recommended to germinate seeds in greenhouse conditions or at home on a windowsill before planting seedlings in open ground. You need to start work with the selection of seed material, removing all spoiled and deformed seeds.
There are many ways to prepare seeds, one of which involves warming up... This can be done with hot water (50-55 degrees) and a thermos. For 4 hours, the seed is exposed to high temperatures.
The alternative is to warm up the material in direct sunlight for 6-7 days... Such processing speeds up biochemical processes, which means that germination will come faster than usual.
If you plan to seed in open ground, then the material must be hardened. For this, the seeds are placed on the lower shelf of the refrigerator for 2 days. You can also use the method of contrast exposure: keep the zucchini for 10 hours at room temperature 20-22 degrees, 16 hours in the refrigerator on the door.
Experienced gardeners recommend checking seeds for germination 1-2 months before sowing. This will save time, and will provide an opportunity to replace low-quality material with others.
Planting zucchini for seedlings is carried out in pots or cups without a bottom. Do it better in April or early May... The prepared molds (10x10 cm) are filled with a substrate of peat, humus, sawdust in proportions of 5: 4: 1. 5 g of ammonium nitrate and 2-3 tablespoons of wood ash are added to a bucket of the mixture.
Optimal conditions for growing marrow seedlings:
- temperature regime before germination - 18-25 degrees, after 12-14 degrees at night, 16-20 degrees during the day;
- before disembarkation, a few days in advance, the temperature is night and day raise by 2-4 degrees; v
- water the pots once every 5 days with warm water (not lower than 25 °), before planting, water for 2 days with water not lower than 30 °;
- introduce complementary foods twice, the first - a week after the emergence of shoots (for 1 liter of water, 0.5 teaspoon of urea), the second - a week after the first fertilization (for 1 liter of water, 1 teaspoon of nitrophosphate).
If the technology is followed, the first shoots in pots appear 4-5 days after sowing... On open ground, seedlings are transplanted after the formation of 2-3 full sheets.
Ignoring the temperature regime when growing seedlings leads to their crushing, worsens survival after planting in the ground, and reduces productivity.
How to germinate pumpkin seeds at home
Preparation of pumpkin seeds for germination begins with calibration. Only large healthy specimens are selected from all planting material.
To accelerate their germination placed in a thermos with hot water (50-55 degrees) for 2 hours. Such a bath stimulates all biological processes, which increases the germination and development time of the shoot.
Not mandatory, but an important procedure is considered hardening... After wrapping the seeds in a damp cloth, leave them in the bottom of the refrigerator (vegetable drawer) for 3-4 days. You can also use the contrast hardening method: store the material for 10 hours at room temperature, 14 hours in the refrigerator.
Growing seedlings allows you to get a quick harvest.
The technological process provides for the following conditions:
- the seeds are wrapped in a damp cloth and aged for 2-3 days before the sprout appears on the spout;
- the seed is placed in a peat tablet and moistened;
- for containers, boxes or flower pots 10x10x10 cm are used, a light-structured soil is poured into them and a peat tablet is installed;
- temperature before emergence - up to 23 degrees in the afternoon, up to 14 degreesat night, after the emergence of shoots, the regime is lowered by a couple of degrees;
- after 1.5-2 weeks, the seedlings can be placed in a room with a stable temperature of 22-24 degrees during the day, 14-17 degrees at night;
- water the pots sparingly, but regularly (Once a week);
- a week after the emergence of seedlings, the seedlings should be fed with nitrophos, diluted with water (15 g per 10 l).
With proper care, seedlings appear 4-5 days after sowing... After 3-4 weeks, the seedlings can be sent to the open ground if the weather is favorable.
What if the seed doesn't germinate?
Seed germination should be checked before starting to disembark them for seedlings or in open ground. It happens that unscrupulous sellers sell old or low-quality material, which is why the seeds sprout for a long time.
One of the reasons for the absence of the appearance of a sprout from the nose of the seed is non-compliance with the temperature regime of maintenance and watering... Therefore, the recommendations should be considered carefully.
If the seeds are carefully selected and go through all the stages of preparation for sowing, and germination does not occur, experienced gardeners advise adding nutrients to the water that stimulate growth when soaking.
To do this, you first need to warm up the material, disinfect it, only then soak it in a solution with the addition of universal fertilizers. They include: boron, copper, magnesium, iron, zinc, cobalt and many other substances useful for plants.
Nutrients are diluted in warm water (35-40 degrees), the seeds are immersed after the liquid has cooled down to 20-22 degrees. It is not necessary to rinse the grains after the procedure, it is enough to simply dry them under natural conditions (the use of heating devices is excluded).
Other ways to speed up the seed germination process include:
- soaking in potassium permanganate, boric acid;
- aging in a solution of water and wood ash (for 1 liter 2 tablespoons);
- treatment with a composition based on nitrophoska (1 teaspoon of fertilizer per 1 liter of water);
- soaking with Kalanchoe, aloe juice.
Are used to stimulate growth and modern drugs:
- Potassium humate;
- Zircon;
- Novosil;
- Epin, Epin-extra.
The rules for germinating seeds are simple and understandable, it remains only to follow all the recommendations, and then the good germination of the planting material is ensured. And this is one of the main keys to the successful cultivation of watermelons and a good harvest.