Timing of germination of cucumber seeds in open ground. What determines seed germination and how to quickly germinate cucumbers

Cucumbers are heat-loving vegetables, which in the early stages of growth are quite capricious and vulnerable. Therefore, when growing them, in order to get a good harvest, certain rules must be observed. In the early stages of growth, the most difficult thing is to ensure that the cucumber successfully germinates, and for this you need to properly prepare them for sowing.

Factors affecting germination

Conventionally, the factors can be divided into internal - associated with seeds, and external, that is, climatic, as well as sowing conditions. All factors are approximately equal.

The germination of cucumbers can be affected by the following:

• Age of seeds. Although cucumber seeds can successfully germinate even being quite old - at 7-8 years old, their germination percentage decreases over time. The older the seed, the less likely it is to produce a crop, but a seed that is only a year old will also not give good seedlings, so the optimal age for them is 2-3 years.
• Conditions in which the seeds were located. For life, they need oxygen, as well as a low temperature - about 10-12 degrees, although they germinate at a much higher temperature. They must not be allowed to become damp, because then they will die, just as with high temperature and lack of moisture. If there is high humidity and heat in the room, the seeds left for storage may germinate at the wrong time and, accordingly, spoil.
• Seed integrity and size. Heavy, undamaged seeds germinate best. The heavier they are, the greater the chance of sprouts appearing.
• Boarding time. It is better to plant cucumbers when it is finally warmer and the earth is completely warmed up, since they need high temperature and humidity to ripen. After planting, it is better to cover the soil with a special film to create a greenhouse inside.
• Land quality. Infected or depleted soil will not be able to provide a good harvest, so before sowing, either add a new layer of soil or treat it with special means.
• Early pre-sowing seed treatment provides a higher level of yield.

Cucumber growth

How many days will it take to expect the first shoots?

It is difficult to answer exactly what day cucumbers sprout. The germination time of cucumbers depends on germination factors. In particular, the higher the temperature during planting and in the following days, the faster the seedlings will hatch. In the best case, you can expect seed germination within 4-5 days after planting, and the maximum period is considered to be two weeks. If after this time no sprouts appear, the cucumbers are replanted.

On a note! Cucumbers in a greenhouse usually germinate faster than in open ground.

In addition to the temperature of the ground, pre-sowing seed treatment can also affect the germination time. So, before planting, the seeds are treated with a solution of potassium permanganate (dilute a third of a tablespoon of potassium permanganate in two hundred milliliters of water) to destroy possible infections. In general, if there is a non-zero possibility of cucumbers becoming infected with any disease, it is best not to try to get rid of the infection, but to buy a new batch of seeds, since no specialized product provides a complete guarantee of curing the disease.

As a rule, when seedlings are germinated in advance in cups or boxes, sprouts appear earlier than when seeds are planted in open ground, since cucumbers are heat-loving plants, and the indoor temperature is more stable and higher than outside.

Thus, before answering the question of how many days cucumber seeds germinate, it is necessary to know under what conditions they were planted and how they were processed before sowing.

How to quickly germinate cucumbers

Since it is in the early stages that this vegetable is especially vulnerable (a sprout that has survived the first weeks is most likely to develop safely and bring a harvest), cucumbers are subjected to additional processing to speed up the ripening process. The seeds that have undergone special pre-sowing preparation can either be planted on the beds or planted as seedlings on the windowsill or left to warm up under special lamps.

Seeds on the ground

Accelerating the growth of cucumbers takes place in several stages - from seed treatment to sowing, but it must be remembered that the methods work most effectively in combination.

Before you start germinating, you need to select high-quality seeds. This is done as follows: first, intact large seeds without spots are selected, then they are placed in a saline solution (3 grams of salt per 100 ml of water), mixed. After 10-15 minutes, the floating ones are removed (they are of poor quality), and those remaining at the bottom are dried and prepared for disembarkation.

Advice! If there was a majority of those that surfaced, it is better not to use this batch at all.

As a rule, domestic seeds or those whose origin is unclear are subjected to such selection. Store-bought ones are tested during production. However, if you plan to plant a large number of cucumbers, you can check one of the packages, and if they turn out to be of high quality, calmly plant the vegetables.

Stimulation

This method is an improved seed soaking. The seeds are placed in water in which enhancer drugs (or folk remedies replacing them - aloe juice or tincture of valerian root) are previously diluted, and then left for several hours.

As a stimulant for the germination of cucumbers, you can use such products as Agat 25-K, Ambiol, Sodium Humate and many others. There are a few things to consider before using stimulants:

• an incorrectly selected stimulant can harm the plant;
• it is necessary to follow the instructions exactly, because otherwise the seeds intended for planting will die.

If the soil is fertile and uncontaminated, it is better to skip the use of stimulants and use fertilizers instead at a later stage.

Soak

After how many days cucumbers sprout without soaking, and what will happen if you do without it. As a rule, this depends on the climate and the condition of the soil. If you plant cucumbers in the most suitable conditions for them, they will sprout without additional actions, but this will take much more time. Without soaking, they will need up to two weeks to hatch, and with soaking, this period can be reduced to a week of waiting.

Soaking provides the cucumber seeds with the right conditions to start hatching. For the greatest effect, a kind of greenhouse effect is created - that is, the seeds are placed not just in water and heat, but in a covered container. Before soaking, they are disinfected - for example, with a solution of potassium permanganate.

Action of immersion in water

Technology: a small amount of water is poured into a container, a piece of fabric is placed in the water, on which the seeds are laid, and covered with the free end of the fabric. Alternatively, the seeds are immediately wrapped and then immersed in water.

Important! The water should stand for at least several hours, and also be warm - not lower than 20 degrees.

After this, cover the container with a lid (towel, bag, whatever) and put it in a warm, dark place.

The soaking process can last from several hours to one or two days. If all the water has been absorbed, you need to carefully add a little more. As a result of soaking, the seed should swell. Immediately after soaking, the seeds must either be sown in a garden bed, transplanted for use as seedlings, or the conditions must be changed and germination proceeded.

Sowing

Soaking, germination and stimulation are elements of preparation for sowing. But you need to prepare not only cucumbers for planting, but also the soil itself.

Several significant stages can be distinguished.

1. Choosing the right sowing time. It depends on where and in what condition the cucumbers are planned to be planted. If the seedlings are kept at home, in the warmth and under the rays of the sun (otherwise the cucumbers may not sprout), then they should start around mid-April - the seedlings ripen in about four to five weeks. If you plan to plant cucumbers directly in open ground, then you should plant them closer to the end of May, beginning of June, when there will definitely be no sudden temperature changes.
2. Preparation for sowing, which includes choosing a site, preparing film (if an analogue of a greenhouse is created), preparations for cultivating the land, as well as fertilizers.
3. Soil cultivation. In the spring, before sowing, the soil is dug up, humus is added, and the soil is also disinfected and fed. Cucumbers are fed with mineral fertilizers, such as superphosphate (amount - 40 g per square meter of bed), potassium salt (25 grams per 1 m, if wood ash has not been used before), ammonium nitrate (15 g per meter) and specialized mineral fertilizers. After fertilizing, you can also additionally disinfect the soil with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
4. Immediately before planting, the beds are additionally heated by pouring a small amount of hot water into each hole.

Seedling care

Seedlings are one of the popular and convenient ways to plant cucumbers. Using this method, it is possible to ensure the survival of more seeds, since during the most dangerous early period for growth and development they find themselves in conditions suitable for life.

However, seedlings also need to be looked after. First of all, you need to decide what seeds will be planted - dry or already germinated. There is no significant difference between planting sprouted cucumber seeds or dry or swollen ones. Some manufacturers sell dry seeds ready for planting, coated with special fertilizers, and they should be planted just like that, without additional processing. Otherwise, it is advisable to at least simply disinfect the seed with potassium permanganate, and germination is left to the discretion of the gardener.

Important! The roots of cucumbers in the early stages are thin and fragile, they are easily damaged, so they try not to pick cucumbers. It is more convenient to grow seedlings immediately in separate small cups, so that later you do not have to plant the vegetables in different containers.

The containers are filled with earth (you can prepare the soil yourself, or you can buy a special substrate) approximately two-thirds, the grain is placed inside and covered with a 1.5-2 cm layer of earth. Then carefully water it from a spray bottle (or just a thin stream from a bottle) with settled water.

Thus, the basic rules for growing seedlings look like this:

1. The seeds can be of any kind, but it is still advisable to treat them with potassium permanganate before planting.
2. It is more convenient to use separate containers - cups, jars, pots - than one large box, since replanting cucumbers is difficult.
3. After planting, you need to cover the containers with any suitable object - a bag, glass, or a light board.
4. After the first shoots appear, the plant is removed from under the covering.
5. It is necessary to ensure that the seedlings do not dry out and water them regularly.

Seedlings are planted in open ground a month after sowing.

What to do if cucumbers don’t sprout

There may be several reasons why the cucumbers did not sprout at all. Not only people who are far from gardening, but also experienced gardeners may not achieve the desired result.

The reasons why sprouts did not appear can be divided into three groups - because of problems with the soil, with the climate, and because of mistakes made during preparation for sowing. Before you start worrying, you should wait two weeks after planting - the maximum time for sprouts to appear.

The main reasons why seeds may die:

• Cucumbers may not germinate due to soil diseases or the presence of small pests.
• Cucumbers may not germinate due to sudden temperature changes.
• They may initially be of poor quality.

If the cucumbers have not sprouted within two weeks, you need to re-seed the area very quickly. Before this, you can carefully dig a hole or several and check what happened to the previous seed. If it is gnawed, it may be worth moving the beds to another area. Perhaps the seed has not begun to germinate, and then you can choose a more unpretentious variety. It is necessary to water the cucumbers with warm water - this can also affect the seedlings.

When re-seeding, it is better to first germinate the cucumbers and additionally treat the soil with fertilizers.

Many novice vegetable growers and gardeners wonder how long it takes for cucumbers to sprout in open ground. This question is relevant, since situations often arise in which the seeds have to be replanted several times - the cucumbers do not sprout, or it happens that the sprouts that have already appeared begin to die.

In this situation, many gardeners begin to complain about low-quality planting material. But this may not be the main reason. Poor or death of weak sprouts immediately after germination can occur for various reasons, which a person can independently eliminate.

Duration of germination period for cucumbers

If cucumber seedlings do not appear, often the reason for this is not the poor quality of the seed material, but poor climatic conditions that interfere with the normal growth of seedlings. Cucumbers in a greenhouse and cucumbers in open ground sprout differently.

The cucumber bush is one of those plants that prefer to grow in warm climates. Cold is unfavorable for seedlings. With any sudden changes in temperature conditions, tender young shoots may die.

That is why planting cucumbers at home should occur at a time when the soil is warm enough, when the frosts have already ended. When planting plants in a greenhouse, they can sprout much earlier, since the temperature here is stable or can be maintained manually.

Since it is much warmer in a closed structure, germination occurs much faster, so seed material is planted much earlier - several weeks.

So the seedlings can sprout on the fourth or fifth day after planting. This happens if all agrotechnical practices are followed. If the soil is too heavy, the seeds should be placed in pre-made rows, planting depth no more than one and a half centimeters.

If the soil is light, the depth of planting of the seeds is at least two centimeters. Before seeds are planted in the ground, it must be moistened and treated with peat. If climatic indicators become lower than when planting, the first shoots begin to appear no earlier than a week later.

What can affect the rate of emergence of seedlings

Experienced gardeners claim that seedlings appear best and fastest if there is a lack of air. After the seeds are planted, the beds must be covered on top with cellophane or cling film. When the first stems begin to emerge from the soil, the cover must be removed.

In order for cucumbers to germinate normally, the climate must be at least 13 degrees. The first sprouts appear after 4 days if the soil is warmed to 20 degrees. If the temperature is several degrees lower, seedlings begin to appear at home no earlier than after a week or a week and a half.

When planting early, it is recommended to plant only dry grains in the soil substrate, since wet and swollen seeds can quickly become rotten at low temperatures. In the third ten days of May, you can plant slightly sprouted cucumber seeds; in this case, sprouts will begin to appear after three to five days.

Reasons for sprouts not appearing

If the planted seeds do not sprout, the reason for this may be high humidity or dry weather. Another negative factor may be the increased poverty and lightness of the soil substrate. This situation arises due to the fact that the seedlings suffer from damage by destructive fungal spores. As a result, the sprouts do not have time to appear.

To prevent this situation, before starting sowing, it is recommended to treat the soil substrate with potassium permanganate diluted in warm water.

To create the most suitable warm conditions, after planting the seeds, the soil is covered with black film or some other covering material. The germination of seed material becomes much worse if the duration of their storage exceeds four years.

The main difference from other garden crops is that seeds collected by hand do not germinate well. Therefore, it is recommended to use purchased seeds or stratify freshly collected seeds. Those seeds that are stored in the cold in winter have a low germination rate.

How to deal with poor seed germination

If seeds do not germinate within the expected time frame, it is recommended to identify the cause and eliminate it. If the temperature is insufficient, the sprouts take too long to germinate or even die.

When the soil moisture is high, the seeds do not germinate and rot in the ground. The death of seed material occurs due to a lack of oxygen in the soil if the moisture does not evaporate, but constantly stagnates in the soil. Putrefactive processes affect both the soil itself and the seeds.

If the planting depth is too deep, a serious obstacle to germination arises. When planting seeds at a certain depth, the composition of the soil should be taken into account. If it is heavy, the depth should be less; if it is light, the seeds can be lowered not so deep into the soil.

In order for the growth and development of seedlings to occur as successfully as possible, it is necessary to take into account the depth of sowing of crops. It is also important to maintain a certain distance between plantings - at least one and a half centimeters. This way the sprouts will develop fully.

It is also important to treat the soil and emerging seedlings from pests. It is better to carry out preventative measures for plants than to deal with emerging pests later. It is also necessary to identify a plant disease in time, take all necessary measures to combat it and further prevent the recurrence of plant diseases.

Any experienced gardener has their own ways of germinating seeds that are most effective. It can be a simple damp cloth and modern growth stimulants that make even very “old” seeds sprout.

Those who first encounter the problem of seed germination do not yet have sufficient experience. It is important for them to know:

• how to quickly germinate cucumbers at home;
• what can speed up this process;
• what factors influence seed material;
• How many days do cucumber seeds take to germinate after sowing?

Germination of cucumber seeds for seedlings sometimes becomes a real test for beginner gardeners. First of all, it is necessary to pay attention to the factors affecting the germination of seeds.

As for the seeds of other vegetable crops, oxygen and moisture are an important condition for seedlings for seedlings. When the seed is stored, it must be kept in a dry place and provide access to oxygen. In this case, the seeds do not germinate or die.

The seeds die if there is no access to oxygen; they must “breathe” throughout the entire storage period. It should be understood that seed stored without oxygen will not give the expected results. He can already be considered dead.

Moisture and heat promote the growth of cucumber seeds. If planting material gets wet at low temperatures, the germination process slows down or stops altogether. The optimal temperature for rapid growth is +18-25˚C. If you maintain this temperature regime, seedlings will appear within 5 days.

But after the seeds have already been planted in the soil, the beds should be covered with film and left until the first shoots appear. The absence of air in the soil has a beneficial effect on the growth of seeds, increasing their germination.

Cucumbers need moisture during the entire period of their growth - both during germination and after planting. Even the strongest seeds quickly die due to lack of moisture.

Another important factor is the soil in which the plants are planted. Any soil is a potentially dangerous environment where pathogenic bacteria develop, fungi grow and numerous pests multiply. Planting seeds in unprepared soil can lead to disease and death of the plant.

Usually, ready-made “clean” soil is bought for sowing or it is disinfected with drugs that destroy colonies of fungi and bacteria. You can use a solution of potassium permanganate.

Sometimes, subject to all the necessary conditions, shoots are rare or do not appear at all. In this case, it is necessary to pay attention to the expiration date of the planting material. Seeds that have been stored for more than 4 years should no longer be used for planting. The same problem occurs when using one-year-old seeds. They germinate very poorly, so they are sown only in the second or third year.

There are many ways to grow seedlings. Germinate seeds in buckets, plastic disposable dishes, hydroponically or in bags. Each gardener chooses the method that he considers most convenient for himself.

How many days does it take for cucumbers to sprout?

It was described above how high temperature affects seed growth. However, what to do when the air temperature is not too high, and the sowing time has already come.

Cucumber is a heat-loving crop. Therefore, it is impossible to find special hybrid varieties or to prepare seed so that the seeds germinate in cold soil. Most of the seeds will simply die in this case.

For example, the temperature remained + 9 degrees for some time and after a few days rose to 18˚C. Despite the fairly comfortable air temperature, the soil will not have time to warm up in a few days.

If you sow, the seeds will fall into the soil, the temperature of which will be about 12-14˚C. In this case, the seedlings will not appear very soon, and if the weather gets colder again, they may even die. Especially if the seed was not prepared for sowing. In order for the seeds to germinate, the soil temperature must be at least 13˚C.

The quality of the substrate also influences how many days it takes for cucumbers to sprout. With soil rich in microelements and humus, as well as favorable weather conditions, the first greenery will appear within a week and a half. If the soil is poor and not enriched, even warm weather will not help the seedlings grow.

It is believed that two weeks is the maximum period for sprouts to appear. If this does not happen, re-seeding is carried out.

How to quickly germinate cucumbers

Let's look at the most effective ways to help germinate cucumber seeds in a short time.

Stimulation

Modern technologies in the agricultural sector allow seed material to quickly swell and germinate. Growth stimulants help with this. What are these drugs, and what effect do they have on cucumber seeds?

These are special additives based on bacteria, fungi and plant elements that stimulate growth and affect the rapid development of roots.

Growth stimulants are used as soon as the seed is taken out of the packaging envelope. In this case, the seeds are not soaked in the usual way, but are immersed in a special solution containing stimulants.

Such drugs have a strictly defined purpose:

• for pecking;
• for seedling growth;
• for fruiting.

It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that such drugs can also inhibit the development and growth of the crop, having a negative effect on the plant. Therefore, stimulants are used with extreme care, carefully monitoring compliance with the specified norm.

There is no need to buy cheap drugs, but it is better to give preference to the most popular ones, the effectiveness of which has been proven many times. They work “like a Swiss watch”, increase the number of sprouted cucumber seeds and speed up hatching. Such funds must be used for planting an expensive or hybrid variety.

Some experienced gardeners prefer natural stimulants to ready-made preparations. These include:

• aloe juice;
• valerian infusion.

These are natural biostimulants of growth and will not harm the germinated seeds.

Ready-made preparations are used in this way:

1. Prepare the solution following the instructions on the package.
2. Seeds are placed in the prepared solution.
3. The planting material is kept for up to 10-12 hours.

After the procedure, it is necessary to check the effectiveness of the stimulator.

Soak

The most common and “ancient” methods of germination include soaking. Let's look at two ways to prepare cucumber seeds for seedlings.

1. In the first case, damp natural fabric is used. Seeds are placed in it. Planting material must be protected from light, so one part of the damp cloth is used to cover the seeds. The wrapped seeds are placed in a plastic bag - preventing oxygen from entering and raising the temperature.
2. For the second method, use a glass jar. Cucumber seeds are placed inside a damp natural cloth and then carefully placed in a jar. The jar is tightly closed with a silicone lid and placed in a dark place.

In both of these cases, the planting material will germinate within a few days. During this period, they especially monitor the optimal conditions for seed pecking and try to prevent the seeds from becoming covered with fungus.

First of all, pay attention to the temperature and quality of the water. It is recommended to use rainwater, as it does not contain chlorine or harmful impurities. You can take settled water. Distilled water cannot be used.

In order for the seeds to hatch, you only need to take water at least 25˚C.

Sowing

It has already been noted above that after sowing it is necessary to cover the beds with cellophane film, which helps to create a semblance of greenhouse conditions and increases the temperature of the substrate. Sometimes, even if the preparatory work was carried out correctly, cucumbers do not sprout. Why is this happening?

Seeds that fall into the soil find themselves in an unfavorable environment. This is especially dangerous for cucumber seeds, which will be grown in a seedless way. To protect planting material from decay and disease, the beds should be prepared. They are treated with a special drug that destroys pathogenic flora.

To increase the immunity of young plants and ensure their resistance to diseases, special immunomodulators are used.

Many pests and rodents live in the soil, which will be happy to feast on seeds. In this case, experienced gardeners protect planting material with plastic cups. Seeds are sown in disposable cups, then the bottom is cut off. Non-woven fabric is also used for shelter. From it make "caps" that will protect the seeds of cucumbers.

If you exclude errors when preparing seeds and germinating them, you can find out in advance how many days cucumber seeds will germinate after sowing. However, the timing of the appearance of the first shoots may be influenced by factors beyond human control. It is important to follow the landing calendar and weather conditions.

See more details here:

It is necessary to provide:

• light nutrient soil;
• seeds 2-3 years old, they differ in the best germination;
• planting containers or individual containers;
• spray for moisturizing;
• growth stimulant and disinfectants.

For growing cucumber seedlings at home you need soil from a mixture of garden soil with humus, peat and a small amount of washed river sand. Wood ash and superphosphate are added to it.

Seeds can be sown in spacious containers, peat pots or plastic cups, as well as in self-rolled structures made of film or paper.

Stages of development of cucumber seedlings

After soaking, the sprouts hatch for 2-3 days. Then they are planted in prepared soil with a depth of 1.5-2 cm, sprayed with water and covered with film. For better germination, containers with seedlings are placed in heat.

How many cucumbers germinate from seeds? After 2 days, pre-cotyledonous knees appear on the surface. Germination may be uneven; seedlings will appear over the next 2 days.

4 days after sowing, sprouts should appear in all containers. If they are not there, most likely the seed was not viable.

To speed up development and create an ideal microclimate, it is better to close the containers with glass jars, creating a kind of mini-greenhouses. You should not use film; it will crush fast-growing plants.

5-6 days after planting, the cotyledon leaves unfold on the cucumber seedlings. After that the young ones. If seedlings are grown in separate containers, the picking operation is eliminated.

On day 10, the plants acquire the first or second pair of true leaves., the stems thicken. Seedlings should not overgrow or stretch out. For better development, cucumbers are placed in bright light, extending the day by connecting fluorescent lamps. At night, it is better to cover the seedlings with dark non-woven material..

The seedlings are ready for transplanting 25-30 days after sowing. At this age, cucumbers need to be fed with diluted mullein or bird droppings, and liquid mineral fertilizers are also possible. Plants should be strong, not overgrown, with abundant bright green foliage.

Photo

What cucumber seedlings look like, photos by day:

Seedlings in a greenhouse: what next?

The soil in a greenhouse or greenhouse is mixed with humus and ash. Bushes are planted at a distance 30-35 cm apart, a peg is placed next to each plant to secure the rope. The stems are wrapped around the ropes, the upper ends of which are attached to the ceiling beam.

tied plants pour warm water. In the future, they need to provide a humidity of at least 80%, temperature from 22 to 26 degrees, at least 2 times a week.