How to soak pepper seeds before planting?

Many gardeners soak seeds before planting peppers to enhance germination, increase immunity and improve yields. 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 regarding whether it is necessary to soak the seeds of sweet pepper before planting or not. Some gardeners adhere to this treatment, others consider it superfluous. You should pay attention to the seeds themselves. If they are plasma, coated or encrusted, then soaking is not necessary. This material has already been processed at the factory. The manufacturer himself prepared the seeds for planting, facilitating the work of the gardener. In this case, pre-soaking will lead to damage to the seeds: water will wash away the protective layer and useful substances from them.

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

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

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.

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

• 2,5 g of soda is required for one glass of water, everything is thoroughly mixed;
• soak the seeds in the solution for 24 hours;
• then rinse thoroughly under running water;
• put it on a napkin, wait a bit 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, the fruits grow large, the 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. Seeds are laid out on a cloth or gauze, lowered into the solution and kept in it for a day. Then the seed is taken out and washed under water. It remains to give half an hour to dry, 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 shell of the seed, the effectiveness of the peroxide 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 into it for just 15 minutes. And then it remains only to thoroughly rinse the seeds under water. Peroxide allows you to disinfect the seeds.

Ash includes about 30 biologically active components, so its use is quite in demand. It allows you to accelerate germination, and also increases the amount of yield. To soak pepper seeds in ashes, 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 follow the following procedure:

• you need to soak the seeds in warm water throughout the day: they will swell, and their shell will become quite soft;
• 100 ml and 1 gram of powder should be mixed, forming a 1% solution of potassium permanganate;
• pepper seeds are recommended to soak 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 feed 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 will be less nourished – it can be washed off more easily. In the second case, only microbes die, and the germs are preserved.

Many gardeners use aloe juice as a natural biostimulant. Seeds after soaking become resistant to various negative factors, their germination improves, roots germinate faster, leaves appear. It is advisable to follow these steps:

• 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;
• pepper seeds are recommended to soak 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 growth stimulator “Epin”. With it, you can get strong seedlings of pepper, which are not afraid of high temperatures, errors in watering, tolerate a lack of light and do not suffer from root rot. If we compare the seeds soaked in ordinary water and in Epin, then the second option sprouts 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 seeds are poured with this solution: if fresh, then 12 hours is enough, if old – a day;
• after they are 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 Fitosporin disinfectant 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 the pepper seeds for just 2 hours;
• take out the seed, dry it a little and proceed to planting in the soil.

Initially, it is necessary to prepare the seeds for planting, and several steps must be followed.

• Calibration You need to take an ordinary dry sheet of paper, pour planting material on it. It is better to immediately select large and medium 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. 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, the fungus, various bacteria that are contained on the seed coat are destroyed. The most popular solutions for processing planting material for growing pepper are described above.
• Mineralization. This stage allows you to stimulate the growth of seeds and saturate them with nutrients, as a result, the fruits ripen faster, and the yield increases. The most popular means for mineralization 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 found in ordinary water.

It should be noted that before sowing, planting material cannot 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 gauze, fold it in several layers, cover a small saucer with it and moisten with water;
• take planting material and pour it on gauze, evenly distribute;
• take another gauze folded in several layers, moisten it and cover the material for planting;
• it is advisable to place this entire structure in a bag, tie it tightly, so the moisture will evaporate for quite some time, while air should remain inside.

In modern conditions, you can replace gauze and a 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 until it starts to hatch. If the seeds were 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 on top it can only be covered with a thin layer of soil so that it does not exceed 1–1,5 cm.

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