Growing seeds. 6 step system for beginner growers

One day, for many of us, there is a fateful meeting with seeds. A novice gardener instantly wakes up in us. Images of beautiful seedlings, multi-colored buds, lush flower beds appear in my head. But not always seeds bought in
store meet our expectations in terms of germination and quality. This article will reveal the secrets of "naughty" seeds and suggest what can affect their germination. In general, he will guide everyone on the "true path" to give this world high-quality and healthy green and colorful plantings and buds and tell you about growing seeds

At the very beginning of their "path to the sun" that is, when sowing, the seeds can give us a "surprise" and not sprout. Very often the reason lies in the fact that the expiration date has long expired. And although the retirement age was extended, unfortunately it has nothing to do with seeds. All our hope and hope to receive a high-quality and unexpired product rests on the fragile shoulders of the seller. And what are the mistakes of novice florists in this matter? What can cause the seeds not to sprout?

Seed growing conditions: temperature

Growing seeds at home: photo

The preconditions for those living in apartment buildings are identical. If we decide to grow seeds on the windowsill, then the required temperature should be +20 C. Usually it is cooler on the windowsill than in the room, plus very close window glass that does not feel warm and our windowsill, and as a result of this - cold soil. But you can do otherwise, and even being in an ordinary apartment, organize the necessary temperature conditions - and in gratitude for your ingenuity and diligence to get high germination of our seeds.

Before "coming" to us, plants made their travels from different parts of the planet. There, at home in different countries, they lived in their familiar native environmental conditions and we, as hospitable hosts, must provide them with the necessary temperature, humidity and light for their successful growth. If the plants lived in tropical countries (such as Begonia or Petunia "), then the higher the temperature is provided, the better the germination process will be. If the temperature is not warm enough, the seeds will become cold and they will not sprout. Southern beauties and beauties will be comfortable in the immediate vicinity of the battery, on it or under it (unless, of course, the battery is too hot). To do this, we need a thermometer, which we will put next to and will monitor the temperature. Ideally, if it is not more than +35 C. Many people prefer to germinate annual plants in this way. If the temperature is within + 28 / + 30 C, then some varieties of Petunia will rise in about 3 days. Otherwise, if we grow Petunia seeds on the windowsill, then they may sprout within 2 weeks or not at all. On the seed bags themselves, we can read the recommended temperatures for specific seeds. It is great if future plants will grow at temperatures slightly higher than indicated in the description than in conditions where the temperature will be lower.

Seed Growing Conditions: The Right Depth Is Important!

Growing seeds at home: photo

Many novice lovers of "flower sprouts" think that when planting seeds, only small depressions in the soil and light sprinkling with soil are required. In fact, this is far from the case. This is suitable for varieties with small seeds. Before placing seeds in the ground, it is very good to remember how the sprouts of a given plant appear in natural environmental conditions. Take a large acorn for example. It would be correct to place it deep enough so that no representative of the tribe of "our smaller brothers" would dig it up for dinner. But the Mac-samoseyka does not need its seeds to be completely buried in the soil, since they are very small and pour from the flower onto the surface of the earth, hiding shallowly in it. Annual flowers are known for very tiny seeds. For example "Snapdragon", "Lobelia", "Petunia", "Eustoma". Take "Ever-flowering begonia", its seeds are like specks of dust. Such seeds, even with a slight deepening into the soil, will not sprout.

Many "flower growers" evenly place such small seeds on top of slightly damp soil using a thin, pointed wood chip that has been soaked in water. It is a proven method for seeding crops with small to very small seeds in small pouches (Hybrid Petunias). If similar seeds are sold in packs of more than 10 pcs. it is better to cover the substrate with a thin layer of snow, thus. the seeds will be perfectly visible and we will be able to place them equidistant from each other. When the snow melts, the seeds will naturally sink into the soil, and the melt water is very beneficial for their growth.

It happens so: that everything is sown correctly, but the seeds were placed deeper than necessary due to excessive or careless watering, that is, strongly and inaccurately. Because of this, small seeds were washed away into the gaps between the wall of the cup and the mass of soil, that is, they went deeper than necessary and found themselves in unfavorable conditions.

Seed growing conditions: choosing the right soil

Growing seeds at home: photo

Sometimes amateur flower growers prefer self-compiled soil for growing seeds. This requires recipes proven by time and experience. In such recipes, it is assumed that all kinds of baking powder are added to the soil - sand, peat, and so on.

The use of "clean" garden soil when planting flowers leads to disastrous results, especially when sowing in heavy loam, because it forms a crust on the surface, which makes it difficult for air to enter the soil. For growing seedlings, ready-made soils from well-established manufacturers are ideal. Such peat substrates contain a less dense component, they do not have bulky lumps, crusts, they are not subject to mold.

When sowing especially small seeds, it is recommended to sift the soils additionally. It should also be borne in mind that the soil can be infested with pests - for example. larvae of mushroom mosquitoes. This can cause seedling death. Houseplants are often also a source of infection.

A symptom of infestation of domestic plants is the fact that small midges swarm around such pots. So in them we will find their worm-like larvae. Often they are invisible, because they have a transparent body and a black head, and therefore remain invisible to the naked eye. But nevertheless they are very harmful - for example, small seedlings of Begonia are eaten in one day. It is necessary to water the soil moderately, to destroy the larvae in it even before sowing the seedlings. Perfectly copes with this problem solution "Aktara".

Conditions for growing seeds: proper storage

Sometimes we see seeds that have a genetic defect that makes it difficult or stops its growth. In industrial sowing, a small amount of such seeds is neglected.If we purchased expensive seeds in small quantities, then of course each seed is "worth its weight in gold" and in the center of our attention. Often a situation arises when only a root germinates in a seed, or vice versa, only a stalk has hatched. You cannot help such sprouts. It is also pointless to look for the guilty, such a seed, unfortunately, is initially doomed. The number of such seeds in a bag may vary.

Sometimes seeds go bad if not stored properly. If the bags are stored in a humid environment - in this case, the process of embryo growth starts, but full germination does not occur and it dies. Unpackaged seeds may have external defects that make them unviable as well. If the grower over-dries the seeds for a long shelf life, the germination process is very time-consuming or does not emerge. If the seed is stored at subzero temperatures, the heat-loving seeds "fall asleep", which also complicates their subsequent germination.

Seed growing conditions: proper lighting

Growing seeds at home: photo

Many well-known ornamental plants of small-seeded crops are in great need of good light during growth. Light is very important to plants. Growth, plumpness of stems, leaves, buds depends on it due to a good process of photosynthesis. The sun's rays for seeds are a kind of "wake-up call" about the time of development and growth. And the mechanism of the growth process begins to work at full power. But this does not mean that the seeds in the shade will stop growing, it just takes longer.

Sometimes it happens that the seed dies. As noted earlier, when sowing Petunia, the first time the containers with the sprouts should be located next to the heat source, so that the first sprouts may not require a lot of light. With further movement of the sprouts to a cooler and lighter place, an even more rapid growth is manifested. So for "Petunia" light, though important, is not so critical its absence. But still, with sufficient light and warmth, the growth process proceeds faster, and the plant grows healthier and stronger. Seeds that are grown in a dark and warm place grow more dynamically and require deeper planting. It is great if an additional source of light will be installed for seeds in need of a large amount of light. In the opposite situation, light can be harmful to the sprouts, and sunlight can cause a burn on the delicate roots, after which the seedlings die, and this can happen even with sufficient soil moisture.
Such seed crops are placed in storage with a high temperature and lack of light, and taken out into a bright room when the sprout with two cotyledons is fully formed.

Growing seeds: when to plant?

Growing seeds at home: photo

Some cultivated plantations, before placing them in the ground, require a long exposure of the seeds at a certain temperature or stratification. This is a very common method. This technique is used mainly for cold-resistant perennials, because they hibernate under the snow. If you do not apply the change of cold and heat, which is arranged artificially, these seeds will not sprout or die. The stratification process lasts from one to three months. Seeds of individual crops are placed in the refrigerator for a while (Verbena 2-3 days, or Primula - 7 days). The specific stratification conditions must be indicated on the seed package.

It is necessary to take care of the cultivation of seeds, which contain essential oils, as you know, this prevents their growth. These seeds require soaking in water with its systematic change.Such a technique is also known in which seeds, pre-packed in gauze bags, are placed in a three-liter jar of water at room temperature, an aquarium compressor is lowered there, which works from half to one and a half days. Then the well-washed seeds are dried and sown.

For large seeds with a dense shell (for example, "Kleshevin" and "Nasturtium"), the method of scarification is used - that is, an external action is made, or chemicals are used and the effect of high temperatures on the shell of such seeds, as a result of which it is disturbed to facilitate growth ... When using this method at home, you can use household tools at home (for example, a nail file, sandpaper, etc.). They also practice soaking the seeds in special growth stimulants, clearly following the instructions (for example, Epin-Extra, Sprout, etc.). It must be remembered that granulated seeds should never be processed before sowing.