Methods for Seed Treatment Before Planting Vegetables
Main content introduction: The content of planting fruits and vegetables, methods for seed treatment before planting vegetables, followed by a comprehensive introduction.
> Disinfection
Seeds often carry bacteria. To reduce seedling diseases, ensure healthy growth of the seedlings, provide healthy vegetables for oneself and one's family, and avoid wasted labor, it is best to perform a simple disinfection treatment on the seeds before planting. For seeds bought from the market, a warm water soak is usually sufficient. Place the seeds in 60℃ hot water for 10-15 minutes, then reduce the water temperature to 30℃ and continue soaking for 3-4 hours, after which they can be taken out and dried. For seeds that are dirty on the surface, have been stored for a long time, or have been contaminated, a liquid disinfectant soak can be used. The commonly used method is to first soak the seeds in clean water for 3-4 hours, then place them in a disinfectant solution for 20 minutes, and finally rinse them with clean water.
> Germination Promotion
Whether seeds need to be germinated depends on the situation. Seeds of fruit vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and cucumbers germinate slowly and can be germinated. Before germination, the seeds must be soaked, but the soaking time should not be too long. Tests have shown that for cucumbers, 1-2 hours is suitable, while for peppers, eggplants, and tomatoes, 3-4 hours (including the soaking time during the disinfection process) is more appropriate. Prepare the seedling tray with several layers of gauze, filter paper, or absorbent paper towels, dampen them with water, drain the water from the soaked seeds, place them on the seedling tray, and keep them in an environment of 28-30℃ for 1-5 days until the seeds germinate and the white tips are visible, then they are ready for sowing. During the germination period, if the seeds dry out, add water to the seedling tray to keep the gauze and other materials moist, ensuring the seeds remain damp.
> Sowing
For direct sowing, simply plant the seeds in appropriately sized containers. For seeds that need to be transplanted, first select a container of a suitable size, such as a plastic or glass tray, as the "seedling tray". Place a pH-neutral soil (available at garden or agricultural markets) in the container, sprinkle the vegetable seeds in it, and then cover them with 0.5-1 cm of soil. Remember that the seeds will not germinate if they are planted too deep.
Suitable temperature, sufficient water, and oxygen are the three essential elements for seed germination. The container should be placed in a warm, well-ventilated area and watered appropriately (once a day is usually enough for most vegetable seeds).
It is best to disinfect the sowing tray with 50% bleach or other disinfectants before sowing to reduce the chance of seed contamination.
> Transplanting
When the seedlings reach a certain size, they must be promptly transplanted to other containers. For example, tomatoes and eggplants should be transplanted when they have 4-5 true leaves, cucurbits should not exceed 2-3 true leaves, and cruciferous vegetables and leafy vegetables should be transplanted when they have 4-6 true leaves. When transplanting, be careful not to damage the young roots of the seedlings. It is possible to water the soil or substrate thoroughly before digging up the seedlings to ensure that the roots bring more soil or substrate, which can not only reduce root damage but also increase water absorption and ensure quick survival after transplanting. Generally, the planting depth for leafy vegetables should not cover the lowest leaves to avoid rot.
The above shares the full content of the methods for seed treatment before planting vegetables, hoping it is helpful to green plant enthusiasts!