How can you quickly germinate cucumber seeds before planting at home

It is much more pleasant to eat a fresh cucumber grown in your garden than a purchased one. That is why every owner of a dacha or vegetable garden necessarily grows these "green soldiers". To get a good harvest of cucumbers, it is extremely important to ensure that the first shoots are powerful, simultaneous, and friendly. To achieve this, the seed must be properly prepared. Study this article and you will learn how to properly germinate cucumber seeds.

• Germinating cucumber seeds

  When to start: targeting temperature conditions

• Seed selection
• Awakening
• Sorting
• Disinfection
• Soak

  Related video

Do I need to germinate cucumber seeds before planting

Some are interested in whether it is necessary to soak and germinate the seed before planting it in the garden. Many vegetable growers prefer to use dry and non-sprouted seeds during planting. Most often, people plant such seeds, because they do not want to spend time and effort on pre-sowing preparation, which must be done before planting vegetable crops in the ground.

Experienced vegetable growers know that cucumbers are a heat-loving crop that begins to sprout faster after soaking. It is necessary to germinate the cucumbers in advance so that they grow faster after planting. This procedure has certain advantages and disadvantages that need to be dealt with.

Benefits

The main advantages include the following:

• Selecting seeds that will grow well. When you soak cucumber seeds in water, you can see which ones will grow better than others. It is better to get rid of seeds that could not germinate immediately.
• Friendly germination. Sprouted seeds sprout at the same time - 8-10 days after planting.
• Disease protection. In the process of soaking, the seed is strengthened and is less likely to suffer from fungal and viral ailments.

disadvantages

The main disadvantage of pre-germinating vegetables is that it is quite difficult to do this. Therefore, some vegetable growers plant non-sprouted cucumbers on the site.

How many days to expect the first shoots

When creating optimal conditions after soaking, cucumber seeds hatch already on the third or fifth day.

Expert opinion

Stanislav Pavlovich

Gardener with 17 years of experience and our expert

Ask a Question

It should be borne in mind that different varieties and hybrids germinate unevenly over time. Place them in different containers.

Important! Planting seedlings into the ground is carried out only after the establishment of stable warm weather. In conditions of frequent temperature fluctuations, a film shelter is provided.

How to accelerate the germination of cucumber seeds?

There are several ways that help speed up the cultivation of seed.

Stimulation

To stimulate growth, special stimulants are often used, such as:

• "Epin-extra". A solution is made from the preparation, in which each seed is soaked for 20 minutes.
• "Zircon".To prepare a mixture for processing seed, add 5 drops of "Zircon" to 400 milliliters of water. Soaking is carried out for half an hour.

Soak

Soaking is considered the simplest method of accelerating the emergence of the first shoots in the beds. If you use this method, the sprouting time is reduced by three days. For soaking, all the seeds are placed in a container with warm water. It should be heated to 25-27 degrees. Cucumbers should not be soaked in cold water, as this will negatively affect germination.

Warming up

Another method used to accelerate the germination of planted cucumbers is pre-sowing warming. To warm up the seeds for a day, they are placed on a windowsill illuminated by the sun. You can also use an ultraviolet lamp, which is considered a good substitute for sunlight. Experts do not advise heating the seeds with a lamp for a long time, it is enough to irradiate them daily for 3-5 minutes.

See also

How to properly plant cucumbers in open ground with seeds, to what depth

To read

Calibration

Before planting a vegetable, you need to calibrate the seed. The procedure is carried out to select seeds that will grow well. For this, water heated to 20-25 degrees is poured into a small glass. Then the seeds are poured into a container with liquid and left to soak for 35 minutes. Quality seeds will settle to the bottom, while bad ones will remain on the surface.

Etching

So that the planted cucumber does not get sick in the future, it is pickled with potassium permanganate. Experts advise using a 2% solution that will not harm the seeds. It is not necessary to soak cucumbers in manganese for too long, 10-15 minutes will be enough. After etching, the material is washed with plain water and dried.

Hardening

Before planting, the cucumbers must be hardened so that they get used to temperature extremes. For this, the seed is moved to a refrigerator for 10-15 hours, in which the temperature is 1-2 degrees above zero. Then they are taken out and transferred to a room with a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius. This procedure must be repeated 2-3 times two weeks before planting in open ground.

Bubbling

They are engaged in bubbling so that the cucumbers begin to hatch faster. The essence of this technique is to soak the seeds for a long time in a container with water. At the same time, they are affected by air bubbles that are saturated with oxygen. The time for bubbling cucumbers should not exceed three hours.

When should you start?

The timing of the start of the preparation of cucumber seeds depends on the period of the proposed transplantation of germinated seeds to a permanent place.

If you plan to cultivate cucumbers in open ground, then by the time of planting it should warm up to at least 15 degrees. It is also important to avoid the threat of recurrent frosts.

Expert opinion

Stanislav Pavlovich

Gardener with 17 years of experience and our expert

Ask a Question

The time is calculated, taking into account that, on average, 3-5 days pass from the time of sowing the seeds to their hatching. If germination is performed for further obtaining seedlings, then the sowing period is assigned two to three weeks before the seedlings are moved to the garden.

What drugs to treat to stimulate plant growth

There are several medications that can speed up the germination of cucumber seeds. These include:

• Kornevin. This is a popular drug used not only to stimulate plant development, but also to protect seedlings from ailments. To create a solution, add 2 grams of "Kornevin" to a liter container with liquid. The seed is processed once 2-3 days before planting.
• Silk.It is used for processing seeds of tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. Silk improves the development of vegetable crops and increases their yield. Also, the drug enhances the immunity of vegetables and protects against fungal pathologies.
• Sodium humate. To prepare a solution for germinating seeds, 55 grams of the drug is added to five liters of heated water. Before use, the mixture should be infused for about 5-6 hours.

How to quickly germinate seeds: methods and technologies

For the quick germination of cucumbers, they use special technologies and techniques, which you must familiarize yourself with in advance.

Landless method on toilet paper

Toilet paper contains components that have a positive effect on the growth of cucumbers. It contains cellulose and other polysaccharides, which act on plants in the same way as organic fertilizing. Before germination, the paper is spread on a flat surface and sprayed with water. Then seeds are laid out on it in a row, after which they are covered with a diaper and rolled into a roll. After a few days, the cucumbers will begin to hatch.

We plant seeds in peat tablets

Peat pellet is compressed peat that has the shape of an oval washer. On the surface of each tablet there are small holes in which the seed is placed. Before use, peat tablets are placed in a container with water and soaked for about 10 minutes. When they increase 2-3 times, seeds are placed in the holes and sprinkled with peat on top.

We plant cucumbers in peat pots

Some gardeners use a special peat pot for growing seedlings. It is filled with soil mixture, which consists not only of soil, but also of organic and mineral dressings. Then holes are made in the ground, in which sprouted cucumber seeds are planted.

On a damp cloth

Another common way to germinate cucumbers is by using a damp cloth. The seed is carefully spread out onto the surface of the fabric. Then everything is poured from above with warm water. It is very important that it is not boiling water, which can ruin the seeds. Cover the top of the seed with another piece of damp cloth. Germination in tissue lasts 4-5 days.

See also

Description of the best varieties of Chinese cucumbers, planting, cultivation and care

To read

Cultivation of roll-rolled cucumbers

Rolling seedlings is a relatively recent technique that allows you to grow strong seedlings.

This method can be used not only when planting cucumbers, but also other vegetable crops.

A plastic film is spread on the surface, which is covered with paper on top and poured over with water. Then, seeds are spread at a distance of 4-6 centimeters from each other. After that, the paper-plastic strip is carefully rolled into a roll.

Planting seed in cups

Many vegetable growers sow seeds in cups. Before that, small holes are made in each container through which oxygen will penetrate into the soil. Then the cups are filled with soil mixed with fertilizers. The seeds are planted to a depth of 1-2 centimeters.

Sowing cucumbers in a coconut substrate with boiling water

A good option for growing cucumber seedlings is a coconut substrate, which is made from shavings and coconut fibers. Before use, coconut tablets are soaked in boiling water to swell. Then the seeds are planted.

Benefits of pre-germination

Plants can grow and bear fruit without germinating seeds. Some gardeners do just that. The same cucumbers are sown as often as possible, then, after they sprout, they are thinned out so that the plants do not interfere with each other. Then they wait for the harvest. With such a sowing, many seeds simply do not germinate, since they were of poor quality. Germination is not one-time - the spread in time can be up to a week.Due to unfavorable growth conditions, unavailability of seeds, plants develop slowly with such sowing: they grow weak and give a low yield. It is very important to help the plants at the initial stage of life when sprouting and the development of the first shoots. This can be done by artificially stimulating germination before placing them in the soil.

Cucumber seeds with sprouted roots. ready to board

Using germination, the gardener achieves the following goals:

• Sows only high-quality seeds, rejecting non-viable ones.
• Reaches a germination rate of 100%.
• Simultaneous germination: germinated seeds germinate almost in one day.
• Simplification of the care of seedlings and adult plants, since they are all at the same stage of development.

There is only one argument against germination: the relative laboriousness of the process. The gardener should painstakingly perform all the necessary procedures, withstand the temperature, and carefully monitor the process. It is necessary to plant the germinated seeds in the ground on time and very carefully, without damaging the delicate sprouts and roots. But, the one who wants to have a good result must work hard to get it.

How to germinate cucumber seeds correctly at home

It is necessary to familiarize yourself with the main features of sprouting cucumbers at home.

Optimum temperature

When growing cucumbers, you need to take care of the temperature regime. It is necessary that the temperature indicators do not fall below twenty degrees Celsius. You also need to ensure that the air temperature does not exceed 25-26 degrees above zero. High temperature readings slow down the pecking of seeds and prevent seedlings from developing normally.

Humidity and lighting

Cucumbers are a light-loving vegetable crop and therefore should be planted in well-lit areas. In vegetable gardens, plots are chosen that are constantly illuminated by the sun. Shaded areas are not suitable as seedlings grow more slowly in them.

The humidity of the air should not exceed 80%, since with very high dampness, plants are more likely to get sick.

Top dressing and watering

Cucumbers need periodic moistening of the soil, since without this they will not grow. Water the seedlings three times a week with warm water. Too hot or cold water should not be used, so as not to damage the root system.

Fertilize the bushes with mineral dressings, which contain a lot of phosphorus, phosphate, calcium, magnesium and potassium.

Protecting crops from pests and diseases

So that the cucumbers do not get sick and are not attacked by insects, they are regularly treated with "Baktofit", "Fitolavin" or "Ordan". Seedlings are sprayed in the evening or morning.

Sterilization

Usually all plant diseases are seed-borne. Therefore, it is important to carry out the sterilization procedure.

Store-bought beans do not need to be sterilized. The producers have already carried out all the measures to prepare the grains for germination. They can be safely planted.

But if the grains are harvested on their own, traces of pathogens and various diseases may remain on them. Therefore, they must be sterilized and, if necessary, warmed up.

Sterilization will work correctly if you follow the following principles:

1. Take a 1% solution of potassium permanganate.
2. Submerge the seeds there.
3. The water in the solution should be warm enough - about 20-26 ° C.
4. Keep the grains in the solution for 15-20 minutes. Then rinse them under running water.
5. Sterilization completed.

Another sterilization method is heating. To do this, immerse the grains in warm water. The temperature should be around 50 ° C. The duration of the dive is 20-30 minutes. This will be enough to get rid of viruses or fungus remaining on the seeds.