Is it necessary and how to soak the seeds of cucumbers before planting?

Preseeding preparation of the material usually implies a soaking procedure. This processing method makes it possible to maximize the full potential of the seed, helps the rapid growth of vegetables, including cucumbers. However, there are different opinions about the feasibility of soaking cucumber seeds before planting.

Harm or benefit?

Good quality cucumber seeds germinate quickly and without additional preparation. To do this, no more than 3 days from the time of landing at an ambient temperature of +25 degrees is enough.

Soaking can only harm the grains if they have been processed and heated. This procedure will only wash away the protective layer. If the soaked material sprouts up to 5 mm, it will adversely affect its resistance to changes in weather conditions. Freezing or heavy rains will be disastrous for him.

Such a preparation will be useful for grains with a lack of moisture due to improper storage, as well as those plants that will be planted at home for seedlings.When preparing cucumber seeds for planting in a greenhouse in compliance with the temperature regime, soaking will likewise only benefit.

Soaking accelerates growth and promotes culture. A positive feature of this procedure is also considered to be prevention from diseases that affect vegetables.

Optimal timing

The soaking procedure takes 2-3 days at a temperature of + 20 ... +28 degrees. Before starting the first thing you need to determine the place of sowing future cucumbers. This will help to choose the right time for this process. If the plants will be planted in a greenhouse, the beginning of May is considered to be the best time for soaking. The seeds are planted in the open ground only after the late frosts are over and the weather is warm. As a rule, in the middle lane this period falls on the second half of May. Accordingly, the procedure can be carried out 3 days before disembarkation. When planting seedlings also need to take into account its age. This is usually 25 days after germination, which means that it is necessary to cook the seeds for 28 days before planting the seedlings in the ground.

In order not to miss the choice of favorable days for planting cucumbers and to choose the optimal time for soaking, you can use the lunar calendar. He will tell the days that are most suitable for this.

How to soak the seeds

Experienced gardeners go to great lengths to get a high yield and high-quality fruits. Many are interested in the expediency of the procedure of soaking cucumbers, as well as the answer to the question of how to do it right? Consider the main stages of this process in more detail.

In what?

In order to get the desired result, you need to know how to soak the seeds of cucumbers before planting correctly.

First you need to pick up the dishes. Ideal glass jar or plastic container. The bottom must be covered with a cloth (you can use gauze), put grains on them and add enough water so that it covers only half of them. Cap the lid and store in a warm place for a few days.

Soaking is best done with separated or thawed water; rainwater is also suitable, but not chlorinated from the tap. A suitable water temperature for germination should be + 26 ... +28 degrees. It is possible to carry out soaking in special solutions ("Epin", "Zircon"), which stimulate growth in the initial stages. Before planting germinated seeds of cucumbers in poor soil, it makes sense to soak them in fertilizers using microelements, since the effect will not be noticeable when planted in fertilized soil.

Many gardeners when soaking use sodium humate. It accelerates the germination of grains, and most importantly - completely harmless to humans.

How much?

Since the seeds can be soaked in several stages, consider how long all the processes take. During the disinfection procedure, the planting material is lowered into the manganese solution and is there from 20 minutes to one hour. After that, it is processed in growth stimulants. It takes up to 12 hours. It was at this time that the future fruits of cucumbers receive the necessary nutrition. Next is the process of soaking in water. Seeds, wrapped in cloth, half placed in a liquid and moved to a warm place for 2-3 days. When a spine appears from the seeds, another procedure is performed - hardening. For this planting material is placed in the refrigerator for 12 hours. After that, the seeds are ready for sowing in pots.

So, the usual soaking period lasts no more than 3 days before the time when the shell of the grains is cracked. However, if the procedure will include the steps of decontamination, growth stimulation and hardening, this period may take up to 4-5 days.

Process features

Soaking cucumbers has its own characteristics. Before preparing cucumber seeds for planting, they must be sorted and selected large ones. Calibration can filter out bad grains. To do this, they are poured with water and look at the result. Poor quality grains will be on the surface. Grains remaining on the bottom must be dried. Also, it is useful to warm up the planting material before soaking. For this, seeds are poured into a cloth or laid out on a plate and put in a warm place (as an option, a battery will do).If the temperature is about 35 degrees, then in a week they will be ready.

The last but no less important stage in the preparation of grains for soaking is their disinfection. Seed should be soaked in a light solution of potassium permanganate for 30 minutes.

Planting germinated seeds

The question of how to germinate the seeds of cucumbers and properly plant them into the ground, is given almost every novice gardener. Cucumbers can be planted in pots immediately after they begin to germinate. This usually happens on the 2-3rd day of soaking. When transplanting you need to be extremely careful not to injure the roots. For this it is best to pick up large containers of about 500 ml. Before planting the ground in the pots must be poured manganese solution. Seeds are transferred to containers, covered with foil and put in a warm place to create the effect of a greenhouse. As soon as the first shoots appear, the film is removed, and the plants are put into the light. We must not forget about regular watering and periodic fertilizing with mineral fertilizers.

Planting in open ground is made after the seedling will appear 4-5 leaves. This usually occurs 20 days after germination.

Another distinctive feature of planting cucumbers is that the seedlings must be planted in the holes. Thanks to the grooves, the water will immediately go directly to the roots, and also this will make it possible, if necessary, to pour earth into the hole, which will increase the yield of the crop. All the above procedures will help to choose the best material for planting, to achieve good shoots, to eliminate sowing marriage. If you pay special attention to the preparation of seeds, then a high yield will surely be provided.