Soaking the seeds before planting

Often, beginning gardeners ask such a question: "Is it necessary to soak seeds before planting and for what it is generally necessary?". Soaking the seeds before planting contributes to more stable shoots, which is pleasant for every gardener, because everyone wants seed planted to grow as much as possible. In general, soaking seeds is not an obligatory action, but it is desirable, as it will undoubtedly be of use. So let's take a closer look at how to properly soak seeds before planting.

Terms for soaking seeds

So, the seeds are usually soaked in the amount of water, which is fifty to one hundred times the amount of the seeds themselves. Since the seeds do not need oxygen during swelling, one can not worry about the fact that seeds can suffocate under such a quantity of water. But when the seeds are already swollen they will need oxygen, so you always need to know exactly how much to soak the seeds, because too long stay in the water can simply ruin them.

The time for soaking seeds depends on the speed with which the seeds swell. This speed in all types of seeds is completely different. For example, large mealy seeds swell for five to seven hours, and the seeds of onion and celery need about thirty-six hours to be soaked with water. But for most seeds, eighteen hours will be needed for swelling.

Also do not forget that if the seeds release a brown substance into the water, the water will need to be changed several times during soaking.

Solution for soaking seeds

Seeds can be soaked in perfectly ordinary water, but for a more tangible effect, water is often added to further stimulate the growth of seeds. Let's look at what you can soak seeds.

  1. Soaking seeds in Épinè. Epin is a plant-based substance that is a powerful and safe growth stimulant. This substance will help the seeds to adapt to various factors, for example, to variations in temperature, humidity, and lighting quality. Also, the seeds appear resistant to hypothermia, lack of light, waterlogging. That is, the seeds will be more calm to perceive that in general they can act on them fatal.
  2. Soaking seeds in Zircon. Zircon is a drug that is secreted from echinacea, and its active substance is chicory acid, and gave the drug the name. This drug is also a powerful growth stimulant. Zircon makes stronger the ability of seeds to germinate, and it also promotes root formation.
  3. Soaking seeds of manganese. Marganzovka disinfects the seeds, and also after the seeds are soaked in manganese and dried, they can be stored for a very long time and they will not deteriorate. But potassium permanganate does not have such properties as epin or zircon, so after soaking seeds in manganese, it is desirable to soak them afterwards before planting in a growth stimulant.
  4. Soaking seeds in vodka. Vodka, like manganese, disinfects seeds, and in addition, vodka has an easy scarifying effect - the seed coat softens somewhat. Vodka can be used instead of potassium permanganate. Soak seeds in it is best not more than half an hour.
  5. Soaking seeds in aloe. Aloe is in general a unique tool - it simultaneously and disinfects seeds and stimulates their growth, acting on the seeds no worse than epin or zircon. True, fresh aloe can not be bought anywhere, so if you want to use it for soaking seeds, you'll have to grow aloe in advance.

There are a lot of different solutions for soaking seeds and each of these solutions will be unique in its own way, so it is better to choose a means for soaking seeds, relying directly on what you need - disinfection, growth stimulation, protection.