Radish is a vegetable that is one of the first to fall on the tables of summer residents throughout the country. It is believed that this red root crop is unpretentious and easy to grow. However, in order for the radish seeds to give a bountiful harvest quickly, planting material must be properly prepared.
Radish has always been considered the easiest vegetable in agricultural technology - planted, watered, sheltered from a cruciferous flea, and after three weeks it is time to harvest the first crop. So that our grandmothers do not grow radish? Never been like this! Recently, however, gardeners are increasingly complaining about the difficulties in growing radish. Seeds do not germinate, root crops are not formed, or the plants immediately go to the arrow - and after the winter fresh juicy radishes are no longer crunched. Let's understand the intricacies of growing radish in order to avoid failures and unnecessary troubles in the future.
The purpose of processing planting material before sowing in open ground
Preparation of planting material allows:
- identify unsuitable seeds;
- increase the germination rate;
- achieve a friendly emergence;
- increase the energy and speed of germination;
- increase seed viability.
The consequences of the lack of pre-treatment
When planting unprepared radish seeds observed:
- uneven emergence of shoots;
- increased susceptibility of the future crop to diseases;
- focal absence of seedlings due to the landing of non-viable material;
- poor and untimely harvest.
Today, some companies offer seeds that have already undergone a special treatment before they go on sale. Such planting material does not require pre-sowing soaking and is completely ready for landing in the ground.
How to prepare radish planting material?
In agronomy, there are clear answers to the questions on the treatment of planting material of radishes before sowing in open ground to get quick shoots: is it necessary to soak the seeds, how can one carry out the bubbling procedure, how to handle it? We will get acquainted with the opinion of professionals.
Bust
Rules for sorting radish seeds:
- Experienced gardeners recommend sorting out seeds in winter. Pre-prepared material must be stored in a dry dark place.
- Only whole large seeds with a diameter of at least 3 mm are suitable for planting, as they have enough strength and nutrients for fast germination.
- Planting material must be fresh from the last harvest.
Only young seeds will give fast friendly shoots and a rich harvest.
- It is necessary to abandon the use of old and small seeds - such material will give weak and uneven germination, and the harvest will be poor.
Soak
Do I need to soak?
Professionals and amateurs agree that soaking radish seeds before planting is a must. This gives a strong impetus to the rapid growth of culture.
What is better?
This procedure can be performed not only in water. Today the market offers a wide variety of preparations for soaking on the basis of silver ions, boron, molybdenum, inorganic salts.
Such drugs not only enrich the seeds with nutrients, but also protect the culture from fungi, improve resistance to pathogens, increase survival during droughts or frost on open ground. With the help of special solutions, it is possible to stimulate the germination of even old planting material.
Along with purchased preparations for soaking, gardeners actively use natural growth promoters: aloe juice, mushroom decoction, ash solution, honey. Natural nutritional mixtures have undeniable benefits and safety, as well as almost free.
How to carry out the procedure so that radishes quickly rise?
The purpose of soaking is to improve growth and accelerate biological processes. As a result of soaking, the planting material becomes more resistant to diseases and pests, and the quality and quantity of the crop is improved. Basic rules for soaking radish seeds:
- Soaking of planting material can be carried out both in ordinary water, and with the use of commercial or domestic growth stimulants and disinfectants.
- The procedure lasts from 8 to 12 hours. Sometimes, for convenience, use wet cloth, which wrapped the seeds for the period of soaking.
- For disinfection of seeds without special means, you must put them in hot water (about 50 ° C) for 20-25 minutes, then remove and cool.Warming up will increase survival and resistance to external factors without the use of chemistry.
- After the procedure, the seeds must be dried on a dry cloth.
- Prepared planting material is not to be stored. Soaking radish seeds is recommended immediately before planting in the ground.
Bubbling
Sparging is the process of releasing seeds from the outer oil shell in order to increase the percentage of seedlings and accelerate germination. It consists in the contact of seeds with air bubbles in the aquatic environment. Such a measure of material preparation for planting helps to speed up germination in the soil by 8-10 days.
Rules for bubbling radish seeds:
- You must take a glass container with a volume of up to 1 l and fill it in half with warm water.
- Place the seeds in a container. For ease of extraction, seeds can be placed in a small bag of gauze.
Lower the compressor tube for the aquarium to the very bottom of the tank and secure. Turn on the compressor.- It is necessary to ensure that air bubbles are in contact with the seeds, otherwise there will be no effect.
- Planting material for radish is barbed for 10 to 12 hours, after which the seeds must be removed from the container and dried.
- In the process of bubbling water actively evaporates from the tank, therefore the level of the liquid must be constantly monitored.
Lower the compressor tube for the aquarium to the very bottom of the tank and secure. Turn on the compressor.Preparing radish seeds for sowing is an easy process that does not require special skills and knowledge. Even an aspiring gardener can easily handle them. And the results of competent soaking and bubbling will not keep you waiting and appear in the form of an early rich harvest of radish.
