How to soak pepper seeds before planting?

Many gardeners, before planting peppers, soak the seeds to enhance germination, increase immunity and improve the yield. In this article, we will take a closer look at how to soak pepper seeds before planting: how to do it, what solution to prepare.

There are different points of view as to whether to soak sweet pepper seeds before planting or not. Some gardeners adhere to this treatment, others consider it unnecessary. You should pay attention to the seeds themselves. If they are plasma, coated or inlaid, then soaking is unnecessary. This material has already been processed at the factory. The manufacturer himself prepared the seeds for planting, making it easier for the gardener. In this case, preliminary soaking will lead to damage to the seeds: water will wash away the protective layer and nutrients from them.

If you plan to plant ordinary pepper seeds, then the soaking procedure is mandatory - without it, the germination level will be rather weak. The event has the following undeniable advantages:

• the outer shell becomes soft, which promotes rapid germination;
• disinfection is carried out - if you take hydrogen peroxide or potassium permanganate for soaking, microscopic eggs of pests, as well as microorganisms that lead to various diseases of pepper, will be destroyed;
• most preparations for soaking are growth stimulants;
• the germination rate increases, since in the process of soaking, essential oils are destroyed, which block the active development of seeds.

In order for the planting process to go better, so that the seeds sprout faster, it is recommended to treat them with a special solution. It is worth noting that various drugs can be used for the procedure.

Baking soda, also called sodium bicarbonate, is an excellent choice. It includes minerals that allow you to increase the yield, make future seedlings resistant to diseases such as root rot, black leg and others. It is necessary to adhere to the following algorithm of actions:

• one glass of water will require 2.5 g of soda, everything is thoroughly mixed;
• soak the seeds in the solution for 24 hours;
• then rinse thoroughly under running water;
• put on a napkin, wait a little for the water to be absorbed, and you can already plant it in the ground.

It is advisable to do top dressing with soda, then the ovaries will not fall off and the number of barren flowers will decrease. For top dressing, dissolve 2 tablespoons of sodium bicarbonate in 5 liters of water.

Hydrogen peroxide is an excellent disinfectant. It has a positive effect on germination, fruits grow large, plants become resistant to various fungi and bacteria. There are several options for soaking pepper seeds with hydrogen peroxide.

• Mix 1 teaspoon of peroxide and 200 ml of water. The seeds are laid out on a cloth or gauze, dipped into a solution and kept in it for 24 hours. Then the seed is taken out and washed under water. It remains to give half an hour for drying, after which you can proceed to planting.
• Soak the seeds in warm water for about half an hour, then make a solution: take 1 teaspoon of peroxide in a glass of water. Soak the seeds in this solution for half a day. Since the water softens the seed coat, the effectiveness of the peroxide effect increases.
• If it is not possible to wait a day while the seeds are soaked, you can pour 4 tablespoons of peroxide into a plate and dip the seeds in it for just 15 minutes. And then it remains only to thoroughly rinse the seeds under water. Peroxide disinfects seeds.

Ash contains about 30 biologically active components, so its use is quite popular. It allows for faster germination and also increases the yield. To soak pepper seeds in the ash, it is recommended to dissolve a tablespoon of it in 500 ml of warm water. Then insist the solution throughout the day, lower the seeds in gauze for 4-6 hours. After they are recommended to dry - and you can already proceed to planting.

To combat phytopathogenic microflora on pepper seeds, many gardeners use potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate). It is advisable to adhere to the following procedure:

• you need to soak the seeds in warm water throughout the day: they will swell, and their shell will become rather soft;
• you should mix 100 ml and 1 gram of powder, forming a 1% solution of potassium permanganate;
• it is recommended to soak pepper seeds for only 20 minutes;
• it remains to rinse under water, dry for 30 minutes and you can proceed to planting in the soil.

It should be noted that it is strictly forbidden to soak dry seeds in potassium permanganate. Otherwise, they will saturate a lot of potassium permanganate, and washing will not help: they will not germinate. If the shell is swollen from ordinary water, then the potassium permanganate is absorbed less - it will be easier to wash it off. In the second case, only microbes die, and the embryos remain.

Many gardeners use aloe juice as a natural biostimulant. After soaking, the seeds become resistant to various negative factors, their germination improves, roots germinate faster, and leaves appear. It is advisable to adhere to the following actions:

• the leaves are cut off, then wrapped in cling film and placed in the refrigerator for a week (you must use aloe, which is more than 3 years old);
• aloe leaves should be twisted through a meat grinder or chopped with a blender, the juice must be squeezed out with gauze;
• it is recommended to soak pepper seeds for a day;
• after they need to be dried for 30 minutes and can be planted - there is no need to rinse.

To increase immunity, many gardeners use the Epin growth stimulator. With its help, you can get strong pepper seedlings that are not afraid of high temperatures, mistakes during watering, tolerates a lack of light well and does not get sick with root rot. If we compare the seeds soaked in ordinary water and in "Epin", then the second option rises 2 times faster.

It is recommended to adhere to the following algorithm of actions:

• to prepare the solution, you will need to dilute only 2 drops of "Epin" in 100 ml of water;
• then the seeds are poured with this solution: if fresh, then 12 hours are enough, if old - a day;
• then pulled out, not washed, dried for about 15 minutes and proceed to planting seeds.

For the destruction of spores of fungi and various kinds of bacteria, the treatment of pepper seeds with the disinfectant "Fitosporin" is excellent. The order of use is as follows:

• it is necessary to prepare a solution: mix 100 ml of warm water and 1 drop of the drug;
• soak pepper seeds for just 2 hours;
• remove the seed, dry it a little and proceed to planting in the soil.

Initially, it is necessary to prepare the seeds for planting, while it is imperative to complete several stages.

• Calibration. You need to take an ordinary dry sheet of paper, pour the planting material onto it. It is better to immediately select large and medium-sized seeds for further planting in the soil. Small grains, like black ones, are recommended to be removed immediately. To determine germination, you need to place the seeds in a special solution. To prepare it, you need to take 1 teaspoon of salt for 1 glass of water. The seeds are soaked for 10 minutes. All pop-ups are empty - they should be removed immediately.
• Disinfection. This stage is necessary to make the seeds more resistant to environmental factors. With the help of various solutions and preparations, fungus, various bacteria that are contained on the seed shell are destroyed. The above are the most popular solutions for processing planting material for growing pepper.
• Mineralization. This stage allows you to stimulate the growth of seeds and saturate them with nutrients, as a result, the fruits ripen faster, and also increases the yield. The most popular mineralization agents are aloe juice, wood ash and Epin.

It is recommended to use exclusively melt water for the preparation of solutions. With its help, plants become more resistant to various diseases, and are additionally saturated with microelements that are not in ordinary water.

It should be noted that before sowing, the planting material should not be thrown into a glass of water. They are living organisms for which air is also very important. Soaking technology should be carried out correctly as follows:

• prepare cheesecloth, fold it in several layers, cover a small saucer with it and moisten with water;
• take the planting material and pour it onto cheesecloth, distribute it evenly;
• take another gauze folded in several layers, moisten it and cover the planting material;
• it is advisable to place this entire structure in a bag, tie it tightly, so the moisture will evaporate for a long time, while air should remain inside.

In modern conditions, you can replace the gauze and saucer with a sponge for washing dishes and a plastic box. In this case, you must adhere to the following rules:

• take a sponge and moisten it with water, it should be completely saturated with it;
• then you can lay out the seeds on a sponge and cover with a lid;
• the structure should be placed in a warm place, but not on the battery itself.

Inexperienced gardeners are interested in the question of how long it is recommended to soak the planting material. You should wait for it to hatch. If the seeds have been previously processed, then the sprouts will appear within 2-4 days after soaking. The presence of a small root indicates that the grain is already ready for planting in the ground, but it can only be covered on top with a thin layer of soil so that it does not exceed 1–1.5 cm.

Experts recommend using various soaking agents for pepper seeds to get a large and tasty harvest. Thanks to pre-treatment, the planting material will be reliably protected from various diseases and pests.