Content
Cabbage has been grown for 40 centuries and is one of the most common agricultural crops. In Russia it can be found in every area. To improve germination, cabbage seeds are soaked in water, growth stimulants and folk remedies are used.
Are cabbage seeds soaked before sowing?
Enough is known about the plant, so the importance of soaking the seeds is undeniable, because this is a necessary condition for growth. To do this, use a special solution based on mineral substances. This procedure will allow the seeds to form in a short time and form large heads of cabbage.
For soaking, you can use not only tap water, but also rainwater and melted water.
Preparing cabbage seeds for sowing seedlings
A good harvest depends on the storage conditions of planting material. Below are the basic content requirements:
- use a room with a humidity of 40% (deviation is possible - no more than 10% in any direction);
- avoid exposure to sunlight;
- maintain the temperature within 18 °C.
If the seed material was purchased in a store, you must read the storage conditions on the packaging. Depending on the variety, the seeds may vary slightly. As a rule, this is already processed planting material, ready for planting in open ground.
Calibration
If manual processing is necessary, calibration must be performed. When collecting samples, you need to separate them into good and bad, large and small. For seedlings you will need material with a diameter of 2 mm.
You can use a sieve of the appropriate size
When suitable seeds are selected, they are immersed in water with the addition of 40 g of salt. The liquid is stirred, periodically adding new specimens. Some samples may float. If this happens, cabbage will not grow from them. The good material will remain at the bottom. After calibration, the seeds are washed with tap water and placed on the windowsill to dry.
Germination test
To determine whether the seeds can germinate, they are wrapped in a cloth bundle and placed on a plate. It is advisable to use as many samples as possible. This will allow us to determine the suitability of the entire batch, and not just individual copies.
Experts recommend soaking cabbage seeds two days before planting.
The dishes are placed in a room with a temperature of 18 °C. You can use a refrigerator or cellar. You need to wait for three days. If 85% of the seeds have sprouted and are suitable for sowing, such a batch can be safely used.
Disinfection
In the early stages of development, cabbage seeds are susceptible to fungal diseases. To disinfect them, you need to:
- Prepare a container with hot water (temperature not lower than 48 °C), place the samples in a gauze bag.
- Immerse the bag in water and leave for 20 minutes.
- Remove the seeds, cool with tap water for 1-2 minutes, spread the material on a towel and place in the freezer.
Samples are kept at sub-zero temperatures for 20 hours. After this, they are soaked in warm water with potassium permanganate for about 30 minutes. This treatment not only disinfects, but also accelerates growth processes.
How to soak cabbage seeds before planting seedlings
After treating cabbage seeds, they are re-soaked before planting as seedlings. This must be done with purchased copies as well. Processing can be carried out in three ways:
Soaking in water
The seeds are placed in water with Zircon (4 ml per 1 liter of water) and wait for 20 hours. After this, they are washed in cold water and dried. Then they are soaked again until they swell. Then they are laid out on a plate and filled with cold water (18 °C). After 12 hours, dry in a warm place.
If disinfection is not carried out, only store-bought soil should be used for planting; it does not contain fungal bacteria.
Gardeners recommend subjecting samples to vernalization. The procedure is performed after 14 days from the moment the sprouts appear. Planting material is placed in the freezer for a couple of hours, it is believed that this will improve the yield of the variety.
Use of growth stimulants
To provide cabbage with all the nutrients, improve immunity and resistance to pests, the seeds can be soaked in solutions with growth stimulants. Preparations are available for purchase at garden centers or pharmacies.
Fitosporin protects the crop from fungal infections. Epin and Energen are complex supplements. They improve the development of specimens and protect against common diseases and cold weather. Instructions for use are usually indicated on the packaging. Below is a diagram for preparing a solution for different drugs:
- To create a solution, dilute 15 drops of Energen per 50 ml of warm liquid.
A batch of seeds is kept in water for about eight hours
- The seeds are kept in 100 ml of water with the addition of one drop of Epin.
In Epin, the seed is soaked for 120 minutes
- Three drops of Baikal EM-1 are added to a container with 100 ml of plain water.
Baikal EM-1 agent accelerates ripening up to 15 days
Preparing cabbage seeds for planting as seedlings using growth stimulants includes observing the following points:
- Prepare a saucer, place cotton pads on the bottom, having previously moistened them in water, spread out the seeds, cover the top with additional
- Using a spray bottle, spray with water or a chemical solution.
There is no need to spray it generously, just wet it lightly. After processing, the samples are soaked in cold water for 1-2 minutes.
Folk remedies
To make a solution, you don’t have to go to the store; you can use whatever you have on hand. Folk remedies include hydrogen peroxide, potassium permanganate and aloe. Even if they are not there, finding the goods will not be difficult in any store.
Soaking increases yield by about 25%
It is not difficult to treat cabbage seeds before planting seedlings; just prepare hydrogen peroxide at a 3% concentration, pour it into a container and spread the seeds into it.
Soak the seed in hydrogen peroxide for 1/3 hour
You can also dilute potassium permanganate crystals in clean water until the liquid turns red. Place planting material and soak for 20 minutes.
You can use aloe juice, add a couple of drops to 50 ml of water, add the seeds and wait 17 hours.
After soaking the seeds in the preparations, all that remains is to rinse them with clean water and begin planting.
Conclusion
Cabbage seeds are soaked in plain water with the addition of growth stimulants or using folk remedies. During processing, the largest and most resistant specimens are selected. Disinfection is an equally important stage. Thanks to him, it is possible to avoid being affected by various diseases.
