As a rule, peppers sprout quickly and evenly, but there are situations when you need to speed up this process.
For example, when the optimal sowing time is missed and you urgently need to make up for a few days. Or the seeds are old and need stimulation.
And sometimes the gardener is simply impatient and wants to see the long-awaited sprout as soon as possible. Be that as it may, there are ways to get shoots already on the third day after sowing in the ground.
Do pepper seeds need stimulation?
If the seeds are high-quality and fresh, they will germinate quickly. Approximately 6–8 days after sowing.
They have excellent germination, so no additional treatments other than disinfection are needed.
Growth stimulation should be carried out if the seeds are more than two years old, since germination decreases every year. Also, seeds that are very dry should be treated before sowing. As a rule, foreign manufacturers are guilty of this in order to eliminate the risk of spoilage.
You need to make sure that the seeds in the granules can sprout. Sometimes the shell simply does not dissolve in the soil, so the sprout cannot break through. To prevent this from happening, take one granule, moisten it with water and see what happens.
A good shell will start to dissolve immediately. If this does not happen, you will have to first wet the seeds, remove the shell, and then sow.
How to speed up germination
If you need to speed up germination, you can resort to folk tricks. The easiest option is to soak the seeds.
They need to be wrapped in gauze or a cloth, soaked in water, squeezed out slightly, put in a container with a lid and put in a warm place. When small white roots appear, the seeds need to be sown as usual and left in a warm place. Sprouts will appear on the second or third day.
Important: the optimal temperature for sprouting peppers in gauze or soil is 26-28 degrees. Remember that if the sprouted seeds are placed in soil and put in a cool place, they will rot.
To speed up germination, you can soak the seeds not in water, but in any growth stimulator. Or resort to old grandma's methods, soaking in aloe juice or honey solution.
You can also speed up germination using contrast treatment. You need to fill one container with ice water and another with hot water (75–80 degrees). Dip the seeds in the hot water for 3 seconds, then in the cold water for 3 seconds. Repeat three times. After this, place the seeds in a container and put them in a warm place to germinate. After this procedure, the first roots may appear in just a few hours.
