How to soak carrot seeds for fast germination?

A novice gardener will say that growing carrots is easy and simple, and he will be wrong. Something and somehow grows just like that, and you can get a cool harvest of vitamin root crops only if you follow the rules of agricultural technology and some techniques, among which are the soaking of seeds.

To grow carrots, it is necessary to prepare not only the soil, but also the seed. Soaking the seeds is considered the best way. Seeds saturated with moisture sprout faster, yield more and better crops. There are many options for such a procedure, and all of them are effective to one degree or another. It should be noted that in this case, as in many others, when it comes to folk methods, there are ongoing disputes. However, the procedure is not time consuming and does not require physical strength, so why not conduct an experiment for those who always sow dry seeds.

It has long been known that carrots take a very long time to sprout - on average, it will take 20 days from the moment the grain got into the soil until the first shoots appear. The fact is that each seed is covered with a dense shell of essential oils that does not allow moisture to pass through. This can be explained by the achievement of evolution, which made sure that the plant germinated in the most favorable conditions for procreation. However, such a long germination rate can do a disservice in a short summer, and the culture simply does not have time to give a full-fledged ripe crop. Soaking helps to destroy the ether shell, accelerates germination, reduces the risk of diseases... Although the procedure requires a certain amount of time, it compensates for this by reducing labor costs in subsequent care.

In the southern regions, a few days in the difference between the emergence of seedlings does not matter much, since a long warm period in any case will allow the root crops to grow and reach the desired condition. But all the other factors inherent in wet sowing are still relevant.

As for germination, its indicators have two parameters:

• time - the period between sowing and germination;
• number - we are talking about the indicators of the difference between the number of seeds sown and hatched.

Both in the first and in the second case, you can improve the performance with the help of stimulants such as "Epin Extra", "Zircon" and others. Climatic features also have an effect on the rate of seed germination - cold slows down the processes, heat and moisture, on the contrary, provoke the activation of internal forces in the seed. Minimize this effect and allow soaking.

Carrot seeds have a 70% germination rate even after soaking, therefore, 100% does not exist in principle. The plus is that pre-treatment with special solutions will allow the culling of frail, non-viable seed even at the initial stage before sowing. So, summarizing the comparative results of dry and wet sowing, the results are clearly shown in the table.

As mentioned above, carrot seeds have a low germination rate - about 55-75%. To increase the result, use the soaking method... Before the procedure, it is necessary to prepare the grain. To reject non-germinating grains, they are immersed in a glass of water diluted with a teaspoon of salt and kept for a quarter of an hour. During this time, empty grains float up and must be removed.

The remaining mass is well washed and dried. Seeds that have a shelf life of more than one year should not be used as their germination rate is even lower. The grain needs protection from infections, therefore, disinfection is carried out in a solution of potassium permanganate for half an hour. Alternatively, the procedure can be carried out using boric acid (1 g / 5 l of water), flooding with the solution for 10 minutes.

The uncomplicated procedure requires no effort. You need to prepare a soaking container, a piece of gauze and a kitchen thermometer. The algorithm of actions requires consistency.

• The dried seed must be slightly moistened, for which it is sprayed from a spray bottle.
• Seeds are laid out in an even layer on gauze, and again cover with gauze.
• After that, the envelope with grains should be placed in the prepared container and filled with warm (+40 degrees) with a solution for up to two days.

The container should be in a cool, dark place. During this time, moisture will penetrate into the grain, filling it and activating the growth processes. After the first 24 hours, the seeds will be visible. This way you can soak the carrot seeds for quick germination in the spring before planting.

For 0.5 liters of warm water add 1 tbsp. spoon of hydrogen peroxide and mix thoroughly. Although the seeds are usually laid out on gauze or cloth, the material can be replaced with a napkin and paper towel if textile materials are not available at hand. After filling the bag with the grain with the prepared solution, leave it in this form for 12 hours. Every 4 hours, the solution is changed to clean. Peroxide stimulates disease defenses and activates germination.

The use of a two percent solution of potassium permanganate is one of the most popular methods among the people. A teaspoon is diluted with 2 cups of warm water and the seeds are poured into a gauze envelope or bag. In a strong solution, you can soak the grain for only 20 minutes, after which the planting material is dried on a canvas surface. Thus, the grain is pickled from diseases and ready for the beginning of vegetative processes.

The grain is scattered on the surface of a cotton or gauze lining, then covered with the same material on top, after which the resulting envelope bag is dipped in vodka for half an hour. After the expiration date, the grain is taken out and washed well in water at room temperature. Using vodka as a stimulant, it should be remembered that a long exposure in an alcoholic beverage can preserve the seed, and then there will be no shoots at all.

To use this method, you will have to prepare the solution itself. This will require 2 tbsp. tablespoons of wood ash and 1 liter of water at room temperature. The resulting mixture is infused during the day, stirring occasionally. Then the infusion is filtered, cleaning it from ash impurities. In the finished composition, the seeds are kept for up to three hours. Ash infusion perfectly stimulates growth processes, feeding seeds with potassium and magnesium.

To prepare the herbal solution, use the lower leaves of aloe, while choosing dense and healthy shoots. Before use, they are kept in the refrigerator for a week. Then the juice is squeezed out. The resulting amount is diluted with water in proportions of 1: 1. In this solution, the seeds are kept for a day, after which they are rinsed and dried. The juice of the life-giving plant accelerates the metabolic processes in the seed cells.

In this case, water is no longer needed at room temperature, but much hotter. It is heated to 60 degrees and above, after which it is immediately used for soaking. The seeds are kept in boiling water for 30 minutes. The effect is so obvious that changes in the seed are noticeable within 10 minutes.

Biologically active additives (dietary supplements) are popular not only in the segment of human consumption, but also in the cultivation of cultivated plants. Various stimulants, such as "Kornevin", "Epin", "Zircon", humate, "Fitosporin", HB101 and others, also belong to dietary supplements. Today, very few people do not use them. The effect is powerful, noticeable even to skeptics and conservatives.

• Seed treatment with "Epin" stimulates rapid and friendly germination. 3-4 drops of the preparation are added to the solution for soaking seeds before sowing in "Epin". With its help, the processes of development and growth are activated. Spraying grown seedlings and growing vegetables and fruits on the leaf leads to the growth of a more powerful root system, increases the quantity and has a positive effect on the quality of the crop. At the same time, it is important to comply with the consumption rates indicated in the recommendations: a concentrated solution is capable of destroying both the seed and the plant.
• With the help of "Kornevin" provide almost 100% survival rate of seedlings and seedlings.
• Fitosporin very effective in the fight against powdery mildew and other fungal diseases.
• The effect of the drug HB101, consisting of extracts of cypress, cedar, pine and sycamore, is noticeable almost immediately - weak plants are more willing to gain vegetative mass, grow, flowering keep the color longer.
• Humate increases plant endurance, positively affects yield indicators. If humate is used when soaking, then prepare the composition in proportions of 1 tsp. for 1 liter of water. The grains are kept in the composition for 24 hours. The drug, containing a large amount of macro-, microelements, increases the rate of maturation, immunity and adaptive properties.
• Zircon concentration in water for soaking - 2 drops per 300 ml of water. Grain holding time: from 8 to 18 hours.

It is common for people to make mistakes even in interpersonal communication, and what can we say about working with the plant world. The plant itself will not say anything, and the mistakes made are visually manifested much later, when it is no longer possible to correct them. Let's list the main ones, the most common, especially those characteristic of novice gardeners.

• Using running water. It is not recommended to do this, because in its "raw" form it contains many harmful impurities, and can give a negative effect, the opposite. The water must be boiled, cooled and allowed to settle. Alternatively, you can use melt water, or take it from a spring, if there is one in the nearest access.
• Expired planting material... The expired shelf life deprives the seeds of life and the opportunity to germinate, and time will be wasted. When buying seeds from the store, you should always pay attention to the expiration date.
• We must not forget about the need to soak the grain in water before soaking in a solution, especially when it comes to potassium permanganate. Dry seeds absorb manganese, which leads to the death of the embryos. For disinfection with such a solution, the grain must be prepared before, and thoroughly washed after the procedure.
• Exceeding the possible temperature when using the "boiling water" option... The meaning of the event is to "wake up" the seed, activate the necessary processes in it and stimulate germination. Too high a temperature will simply weld the embryo. If there is a kitchen thermometer, use it, if it is impossible to determine the temperature of hot water, then preference should be given to other options, of which there are many.
• Overexposure... Too long stay in the solution can deprive the embryo of oxygen, and it suffocates. Therefore, it is so important to follow the recommendations for the time interval for soaking.