Experienced gardeners always treat seeds before planting. The most interesting thing is that many do not understand the essence of this procedure.
Therefore, it is worth taking a closer look at why seeds need to be treated and what effect can be achieved from this.
The information was shared by the expert of the online publication "BelNovosti", landscape designer and agronomist Anastasia Kovrizhnykh .
Seed Treatment: What Everyone Should Know
First, it is worth understanding the technology: dressing is the soaking of seeds in a special agent that helps get rid of fungi and dangerous microorganisms. It is worth noting that most fungal diseases get to the site due to the low quality of seeds.
A simple example: seeds may be stored incorrectly, which is why they are susceptible to fungal disease. After planting such seeds in open ground, infected plants grow, which is why the gardener may lose a significant part of his own harvest.
However, not all seeds need to be disinfected. If seeds are purchased from trusted manufacturers, this procedure is carried out industrially. Therefore, it is important to carefully study the packaging with planting material and give preference to trusted manufacturers. If seeds are used from your own plot, then you should definitely not ignore this procedure.
Organic seed treatments
Most summer residents are wary of organics. This makes sense, since the effect of organics is difficult to predict 100%. However, our grandmothers constantly used organic seed dressings and received enormous benefits. Among the most popular methods, the following can be highlighted.
1. Aloe juice. The disinfecting properties of aloe have been known for a long time. The essence of the method: you need to cut an aloe leaf and squeeze the juice through gauze into a suitable container. It is important that there is no pulp in the solution. The juice is diluted with water in a ratio of 1 to 1. Then the seeds are soaked in the solution for 30 minutes.
2. Garlic infusion. To prepare the infusion, grind 2-3 cloves and pour 100 ml of hot water. Infuse for 12 hours. Soak the seeds in the infusion for 30 minutes.
Chemicals
If you don't want to mess with organic seed dressings and other folk methods, you can use chemicals. One of the most popular is chlorhexidine. You should buy 0.05% chlorhexidine at the pharmacy. You shouldn't dilute it with water, as this concentration is ideal for seed dressing. The seeds are soaked for 20-30 minutes.
You can also use a solution of brilliant green. It is worth using a 1% solution of brilliant green in alcohol, you can buy it at any pharmacy. 1 ml is diluted in 100 ml of water. The seeds are etched for half an hour.
Industrial means
The task can be simplified as much as possible if you purchase the following drugs in specialized stores:
1) "Maxim";
2) "Prestige";
3) "Fundazol" and others.
Before use, you must carefully read the instructions. The usual drug may differ in concentration and method of application. In order not to make a mistake, you should carefully read the instructions.
Why you can't treat with potassium permanganate
Thinning seeds using potassium permanganate is a popular method. Many also prefer hydrogen peroxide. But what guarantee is there that the seeds will be etched well?
Potassium permanganate and hydrogen peroxide have only a preventive effect. There are frequent situations when no result can be achieved after treatment with these agents.
