Seed cucumbers and each culture have their own shelf life. By this concept is meant the life of the seed. Often beginner gardeners confuse the shelf life indicated on the package with seeds with a shelf life in which the seeds retain a certain percentage of germination.
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Factors affecting seed germination before planting
Under the germination of seeds imply percentage of germinated seeds. Shelf life depends on the following factors:
- air humidity in the room;
- temperature;
- percentage of moisture in the seeds;
- oxygen.
As a rule, seeds are stored in a dark and dry room with good ventilation. Low humidity contributes to the fact that seed does not germinate ahead of time, and good ventilation contributes to the maintenance of vital activity of seeds. Without the access of oxygen, they die and can never rise.
For full germination requires the presence of these components:
- humidity;
- a certain temperature.
Cucumbers
For good sprouting cucumber is necessary that the temperature in the room was from +19 to +25 degrees. At this temperature, shoots can be expected on the fifth day after planting. In addition to the pace. air must also take into account the soil.
Tomatoes
Tomato seeds are stored for 5-6 years. At the temp. sprouting + 22 + 25 degrees will sprout for 5-7 days. To germination was a higher seed, you can pre-soak in the growth promoter.
Watermelon
This gourd culture maintains germination from 6 to 8 years. Germinated at a temperature + 20 + 30 degrees. The term germination of two days.
Before storing watermelon seeds for storage, it is necessary to rinse well from sweet juice, put it on a paper towel to dry excess moisture. Dried sunflower seeds collected in a rag bag and stored in a room with moderate humidity, eliminating exposure to direct sunlight and light.
Beans
Saves germination 5-6 years. Germinated when + 10 + 11 degrees. Shoots will appear on day 10.
To collect seeds for storage, bean pods must be harvested in the morning to prevent cracking. Seed material before packing for storage must be well dried, turning them several times during the drying process. Packed in cloth bags. Store in a well-ventilated area.
Peas
Germinating peas throughout 5-6 years. Germinates at + 10 + 11 degrees on the 7th day. In the process of breaking up the pods, it is immediately necessary to recline the darkened ones. Then spread out the collected peas in a thin layer on paper and dry for six days.
Then dried them packed in a paper envelope or rag bag and stored indoors with moderate humidity at room temperature.
Melon
Shoots appear + 20 + 30 degrees. This gourd culture has a shelf life. 6-8 years.
Germinated at + 20-30 degrees. Shoots appear on the 8th day. Before packing for storage, the seeds must be dried well to avoid the appearance or premature germination. The material is placed in a glass container. The moisture inside the container should be 6%.
Eggplant
Keeps germination throughout 3-5 years. Germinate with + 20 + 30 degrees for 10 days. Wash the collected seeds thoroughly, dry them thoroughly, and pack into rag bags. Storage temperature + 10-15 degrees.
Pumpkin, zucchini
Germinate with + 20 + 30 degrees within 10 days. Germination retain throughout 6-8 years.
It is better to dry the collected material of pumpkin or zucchini in the open air, but covering them from direct sunlight. In the process of drying the seeds must be turned.Store at + 10-15 degrees in a well-ventilated area. Collected seeds can not be washed and remove partitions.
Cabbage
Seed shelf life 4-5 years. Sprouting with + 20 + 30 degrees.
To check the cabbage seeds for germination, you must put them in wet gauze for five days. You need to make sure that the moisture does not evaporate and the gauze is always wet. On the fifth day, the hatching seeds can be sown on seedlings. Shoots appear on the 10th day. Store indoors with a humidity of 55% and a temperature of 0 + 5 degrees.
Corn
Germinates on day 7 at germination temperature + 20 + 30 degrees. For planting, take only large seeds without damage and maintain them in 5% saline for 5 minutes to check for germination.
Planted only those that are in the process of soaking settled to the bottom. Keeps germination throughout 2-3 years old.
Carrot
It has a shelf life 2-3 years. Shoot on day 10 at germination temperature + 20 + 30 degrees.
To do this, dissolve 1 tablespoon of ash (a spoon without a slide) in 1 liter of water.The water temperature should not be below 30 degrees.
Soak the seeds in a rag pouch in this solution for 24 hours. After soaking the seeds, rinse and place in the refrigerator for 5 minutes to harden, dry and start sowing.
Beet
Beetroot survives 1-2 years. Seeds and sugar and fodder sprout after 8 days, at a temperature in germination + 20 + 30 degrees.
Storage temperature 14-16 degrees. Air humidity 50-60%. This temperature and humidity are also suitable for such crops as: corn, radish, radish, turnip and onions.
Parsley
Keeps germination during 3 years. Optimum germination temperature + 20 + 30 degrees. Shoots appear on day 14. Storage conditions are similar to the storage conditions of beets.
Before planting, it is recommended to pour parsley seeds with hot water in order to wash off the essential oils with which the seeds are covered. Water temperature +50 degrees. Soaking will significantly speed up the germination process.
Bow
Onion seeds are suitable for planting throughout 3-4 years. Germinates at temperature + 20 + 30 degrees, gives shoots on day 12.
Before sowing the seeds must be checked for germination.14 days before planting, wrap them in a damp cloth and leave them in a warm room. During this time, the napkin should be slightly dampened so that the fabric does not dry out.
After two weeks, pour the seeds into a rag bag and immerse them in boiling water for 15 minutes and then dip them in cold water for 1 minute. After that, stand for another 24 hours in a wet bag at room temperature.
Pepper
Keeps germination during 3 years. Shoots appear 15 days, at the temperature of germination + 20 + 30 degrees. Storage temperature +5 degrees. Humidity 55–60%.
Experienced gardeners have noticed that medium-sized seeds, previously disinfected with a 2% solution of potassium permanganate and aged for 5 hours in a solution of ash, can grow better.
The solution is prepared as follows:
- water — 1 liter;
- ash - 20 grams.
Dill
Keeps germination throughout 2–5 years old. Germinates at + 10 + 12 degrees.
Dill seeds will give the best shoots and lush greens, if before planting the seeds soak for 72 hours in hot water. Seeds fall asleep in a rag bag and put in hot water.In the process of soaking the water must be changed at least 5 times.
Rhubarb
Shelf life seed 2-3 years. Germinated when + 20 + 30 degrees. Shoots gives on day 14.
Before planting in open ground, it is recommended to soak the seeds for 24 hours for swelling, and then wrap in a damp cloth for germination. Grown from seeds, rhubarb will produce good yields only after 2–3 years.
Radish
Keeps germination throughout 4-5 days. Germinates at temperature + 20 + 30 degrees within 7 days.
Before sowing, it is necessary to sift the seeds through a sieve with 2 mm cells in order to calibrate the largest for planting. Selected seeds soak for 48 hours. This should be done to accelerate germination.
Salad
Seed shelf life 1-2 years. Germinates at temperature + 20 + 30 degrees within 10 days. Seed germination depends on their size and density.
Before sowing, it is recommended to soak the seeds in a growth promoter, and then rinse under running water. This will accelerate the emergence of seedlings.
Turnip
Germination seeds retain over 4-5 years. Germinated at a temperature + 20 + 30 degrees. The first shoots appear on the 7th day.
Before sowing, seeds are recommended to be heated for 30 minutes. Seeds should be poured into a glass container, tightly closed and dipped in hot water. Water temperature 55 degrees. After warming up for ease of sowing, mix with wet sand.
Celery
Seeds remain viable for 1-2 years old. Germination temperature + 20 + 30 degrees. Shoots appear after 14 days. Seed storage is carried out at + 14-17 degrees. Humidity in the room 55-60%.
Celery seeds germinate for a long time due to the high content in the seeds of essential oils. Before planting, it is recommended to immerse the seeds in a rag bag for 20 minutes in hot water, then immediately dip them for 20 minutes and very cold water. Then leave on a damp napkin in a warm room until hatch. Mix with wet sand and perform sowing work in the soil or greenhouse.
Radish
The shelf life of the seed is maintained for 4-5 years. At germination temperature + 20 + 30 degrees gives germination on day 7.
For a week and planting seeds, it is recommended to soak in a damp cloth.5 days after soaking, take out a napkin in the sun and leave for 2 days to swell. Mix the swollen seeds with sand and sow.
Data percentage germination to storage
| Culture | Shelf life | Shoots (days) | t | % 1 year | % 2 year | % 3 year | % 4 year | % 5 year | % 6 year | % 7 year |
| Cucumber | 6-8 | 4-8 | 19-25 | 85 | 95 | 95 | 72 | 60 | 40 | 13 |
| Tomato, Peas, Corn, Beans | 5-6 | 4-8 | 10-11 | 85 | 89 | 83 | 83 | 71 | 76 | 0 |
| Cabbage | 4-5 | 3-6 | 2-3 | 85 | 75 | 59 | 54 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Radish, turnip | 5 | 7 | 15-17 | 71 | 57 | 49 | 37 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Beet | 5 | 7-8 | 20-22 | 74 | 70 | 69 | 62 | 34 | 0 | 0 |
| Celery | 2-3 | 18-20 | 3-4 | 46 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dill, parsley | 2-3 | 12-22 | 3-4 | 46 | 23 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Carrot | 3-4 | 10 | 4-5 | 60 | 35 | 22 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rhubarb | 5 | 14 | 15-17 | 85 | 75 | 69 | 59 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Watermelon melon | 6-8 | 6-15 | 13-15 | 86 | 88 | 92 | 77 | 90 | 92 | 36 |
| Corn | 5-8 | 10 | 15-20 | 86 | 80 | 72 | 62 | 33 | 14 | 9 |
| Zucchini | 6-8 | 4-8 | 10-12 | 85 | 89 | 83 | 83 | 71 | 76 | 32 |
Observing the correct temperature conditions, the rules of care and maintaining the necessary humidity in the room, as well as marking the bags with seed material, you can always count on a good quick harvest.