How to germinate the seeds of watermelon, pumpkin and zucchini for planting

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Many amateur gardeners associate poor germination with the quality of the seed. Indeed, this factor may affect seed germination, but often the problem lies in improper preparation and seeding. To germinate the seeds of watermelon or melon is not difficult, the main thing is to follow the rules. Before planting, you need to properly soak the seeds at home, so that they begin to germinate well.

Is it difficult to germinate watermelon seeds for planting?

Sprouting seeds is not a difficult and time consuming process. Only required stick to technology and comply with certain conditions that contribute to rapid germination. Then from small seeds grow strong seedlings that are resistant to climatic surprises.

How to sprout watermelon seeds

To begin seed should be prepared. This process consists of the following steps:

• calibration - Sort into groups by size for uniform development of shoots;
• scarification - removal of a part of a nose of a seed about a sandpaper for fast formation of a sprout;
• warming up - exposure to elevated temperature accelerates biochemical processes and stimulates shoot growth (water temperature is 50 degrees, dwell time is 30 minutes);
• disinfection - the destruction of harmful bacteria and microorganisms.

It is not possible to moderately damage the surface of the seed in the industrial cultivation of watermelons. Yes, and in small quantities to do the work you need to carefully, so as not to greatly damage the seed.

The last stage of preparation for landing is considered soaking in order to obtain a seedling. This measure is also not always carried out by gardeners, but most owners of small plots use it.

The process is quite simple - you need to wrap the seeds with a damp cloth and hold for several days until the sprouts appear. It is important that the material always remains wet.

Seedlings are grown in tanks, depth 12-14 cmtare diameter 10-12 cm. These can be ordinary flower pots. As the soil is used humus-peat mixture, prepared in equal proportions, or the substrate of 3 parts of humus and 1 part of sod soil.

Watermelons love nutritious soiltherefore, it is necessary to add superphosphate (a teaspoon) or wood ash (2 tablespoons) to 1 kg of soil in the mixture.

The following conditions are considered optimal for seed germination:

• temperature until the emergence of shoots - up to 30 degrees, the next 2-4 days, the degrees decrease to 18, after adaptation at night the plant is stored at 18 degrees, in the daytime - at 20-25 degrees;
• good lighting;
• regular airing, but without drafts;
• every 2 weeks lure (mullein + water, mullein + water + superphosphate + ammonium sulfate + potassium sulfate).

With proper care and adherence to technology, shoots will appear 6-7 days after seeding. A month later, the seedlings are planted in the beds.

Proper preparation, germination and seeding of squash seed for seedlings

To obtain equally developed shoots, it is recommended to germinate seeds in greenhouse conditions or at home on a windowsill before planting seedlings in open ground. It is necessary to begin works with selection of a seed material, having removed all the spoiled and deformed kernels.

There are many ways to prepare seeds, one of which provides warming up. This can be done with the help of hot water (50-55 degrees) and a thermos. For 4 hours, the seed is exposed to high temperatures.

The alternative is to heat the material. in direct sunlight for 6-7 days. Such processing accelerates biochemical processes, and therefore, germination will come faster than normal terms.

If sowing is planned in open ground, then the material should be hardened. To do this, the seeds are placed on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator for 2 days. You can also use the method of contrast exposure: 10 hours withstand zucchini at room temperature 20-22 degrees, 16 hours - in the refrigerator on the door.

Planting squash on seedlings is carried out in pots or cups without a bottom. Do it better in April or early May. Harvested molds (10x10 cm) are filled with a substrate of peat, humus, sawdust in proportions of 5: 4: 1. 5 g of ammonium nitrate and 2-3 tablespoons of wood ash are added to the bucket of the mixture.

Optimum conditions for growing zucchini seedlings:

• temperature regime before germination - 18-25 degrees, after 12-14 degrees at night, 16-20 degrees during the day;
• a few days before disembarking, night and daytime temperatures raise by 2-4 degrees; v
• watering the pots should be 1 time in 5 days with warm water (not less than 25 °), before planting 2 days, water it with not less than 30 °;
• feed twice, the first - a week after emergence of shoots (for 1 l of water 0.5 teaspoon of urea), the second - a week after the first fertilizer (for 1 l of water 1 teaspoon of nitrophoska).

With the observance of technology, the first shoots in pots appear 4-5 days after seeding. On the open ground, seedlings are transplanted after the formation of 2-3 full sheets.

Ignoring the temperature regime during the cultivation of seedlings leads to its grinding, worsens survival after landing in the ground, reduces the yield.

How to sprout pumpkin seeds at home

Preparation of pumpkin seeds for germination begin with calibration. Of the entire planting material, only large healthy specimens are selected.

To accelerate their germination placed in a thermos with hot water (50-55 degrees) for 2 hours. Such a bath stimulates all biological processes, which increases the germination rate and time of development of the shoot.

Not obligatory, but important procedure is considered tempering. Wrapping the seeds in a damp cloth, you need to leave them in the lower part of the refrigerator (vegetable box) for 3-4 days.You can also use the contrast hardening method: keep the material at room temperature for 10 hours, and refrigerate for 14 hours.

The technological process includes the following conditions:

• the seeds are wrapped in a damp cloth and 2-3 days are kept until a sprout appears on the tip;
• the seed is placed in a peat tablet and moistened;
• boxes or flowerpots 10x10x10 cm are used for packaging, light soil is added to them and a peat tablet is installed;
• temperature before germination - up to 23 degrees during the day up to 14 degreesin the night, after the emergence of shoots mode decreases by a couple of degrees;
• after 1.5-2 weeks, you can put the seedlings in a room with a stable temperature of 22-24 degrees during the day, 14-17 degrees at night;
• water pots need moderately but regularly (Once a week);
• a week after the emergence of shoots should feed the seedlings nitrophoska, diluted with water (15 gr. 10 l).

With proper care, shoots appear 4-5 days after seeding. After 3-4 weeks, the seedlings can be sent to the open ground, if the weather is favorable.

What to do if the seed does not germinate?

Seed germination should be checked before you start landing them on seedlings or in open ground. It happens that unscrupulous vendors trade in old or low-quality material, why seeds sprout for a long time.

One of the reasons for the absence of seedling sprout grain is failure to keep temperature and watering. Therefore, the recommendations should be considered carefully.

To do this, the material must first be heated, disinfected, only then soaked in a solution with the addition of universal fertilizers. They include: boron, copper, magnesium, iron, zinc, cobalt, and many other substances useful to the plant.

Nutritional components are diluted in warm water (35-40 degrees), seeds are immersed after cooling the liquid to 20-22 degrees.Rinse the grains after the procedure is not necessary, just enough to dry under natural conditions (the use of heating devices is excluded).

Among other ways to speed up the germination of seeds:

• soaking in potassium permanganate, boric acid;
• exposure to a solution of water and wood ash (for 1 liter 2 tablespoons);
• treatment with a composition based on nitrophoska (1 tsp of fertilizer per 1 l of water);
• soaking juice Kalanchoe, aloe.

Are used in order to stimulate growth and modern drugs:

• Potassium humate;
• Zircon;
• Novosil;
• Epin, Epin-extra.

The rules of seed germination are simple and clear, it remains only to comply with all the recommendations, and then good germination of planting material is provided. And this is one of the main guarantees of the successful cultivation of watermelons and a good harvest.