Do I need to soak radish seeds before planting in open ground, what should I do, how can I prepare correctly so that the vegetable sprouts quickly after sowing?

Traditionally, gardeners prepare the seeds of some plants before planting. Often questions arise: is it worth doing with all cultures and what actions can be carried out in order to benefit and not harm the future crop?

In this article, we will figure out whether radishes are needed for pre-sowing preparation. And if so, how to prepare it. It will also be told whether it is possible not to prepare seed material at all before planting in the ground.

The purpose of seedbed preparation in agronomy

The goal of preparing seeds for planting is the desire of farmers to get a high yield as soon as possible. To do this, you must:

increase the germination of vegetables;
rid them of the risk of contracting dangerous diseases;
improve resistance to the environment and weather conditions;
to achieve the simultaneous germination of the entire seed.

Is it possible not to do the processing of seed material?

Radish is a precocious crop. Under favorable growing conditions, it can produce crops eighteen to thirty days after planting in the ground. At this rate of cultivation, it is necessary to begin to monitor and take care of the plant before sowing.

Lack of presowing preparation can lead to:

yield reduction from one square meter of area;
the absence of useful properties characteristic of radishes for the collected fruits, a reduction in the number of vitamins and minerals;
not sprouting defective or non-viable seeds;
receiving smaller root crops or non-receipt at all;
longer or uneven growth and maturation;
damage to plants by such ailments as: various types of mold and rot, fungal infections.

These and many other negative consequences can be avoided if you conduct some sowing preparation. How difficult work is to carry out with seeds before sowing depends on the personal desire of each gardener.

Step-by-step processing instructions so that the radish ascends quickly

This section provides the necessary steps to prepare for sowing. It depends only on your experience and desire whether to fulfill them all in full or to skip some.

Presowing preparation stages include:

seed sorting;
germination test;
warming up;
disinfection;
soak;
treatment with microelements and growth stimulants;
drying;
sparging.

Some of these actions are combined for greater efficiency. Let’s understand their essence and necessity.

Brute force

Calibration is required for:

selection of large seeds from smaller ones;
separation from the total mass of spoiled and non-conditioned;
removal of debris and small impurities from seeds - if the seeds are not store-bought, but received independently or if storage conditions were not observed.

Quality criteria for selection:

ideal seeds should be at least three millimeters in diameter;
possession of a bright and uniform color;
lack of damage and cracks;
round shape.

It is necessary to sort out the seed in advance. Selected is recommended to be stored in a dry and dark place.

It is necessary to immediately abandon small and old seeds, as they are more likely to not sprout. However, if the area of the garden allows, then they can be soaked and planted separately.

Tedious sorting can be avoided by purchasing high-quality seeds from a trusted producer, but bags with them also do not interfere with opening in advance, in order to avoid unpleasant situations.

Germination test

After an external examination, the seeds can be tested for germination experimentally. They are dipped in water and watch the lowering to the bottom. The essence of the test is immersion in water of seeds filled with nutrients. They will sprout.

Those that remain on the surface are best removed. They either will not sprout, or the sprouts will be frail and will not form a root crop.

After checking, the seeds are dried on a paper towel or towel.

Warming up and disinfection

This step is often skipped by inexperienced gardeners. But it is aimed primarily at disinfection, to combat seedlings with diseases and their hardening.

Before soaking, the seeds are dipped in hot water for 15-20 minutes. Water temperature should be between 50-55 degrees. If it is exceeded, then the seeds are cooked.

You can replace dipping in hot water with warming up on the battery. To do this, pour the seeds on a plate and place on the battery for several hours, you can at night. This method allows you to increase the viability of seeds without the use of chemicals.

If you want to get rid of vegetable diseases with guarantee or are worried about the contamination of the soil by microbes, then the seeds are treated additionally. Dip for 5-10 minutes in a 1% solution of hydrogen peroxide or in a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Do I need to soak for quick shoots, which is better?

Soaking is carried out immediately before planting in the ground. If novice gardeners still doubt whether soaking is necessary before sowing radishes, then experienced farmers are sure of its necessity. The necessity of this stage is proved by laboratory research at institutes, and home tests, from personal experience.

Soaking takes place in plain water or using growth stimulants.

It usually consists of placing seeds in wet gauze and lasts from eight to 12 hours. It is convenient to spend it at night.

As stimulants, they purchase special products in garden centers. For those who first of all value environmental friendliness, solutions from natural aloe juice, onion husk or honey infusion are recommended.

These are excellent natural substances designed to increase germination and better acclimatization of radishes. They provide friendly seedlings and reanimate weak seeds, giving them their nutritional properties. Ultimately increase the yield.

Soaking in water can be discarded, but then there is a big risk to reduce the quantity and quality of the crop. In addition, you will have to additionally fertilize the soil for planting and moisten it well before sowing.

How to spay correctly?

This is the process of enriching seeds with air to accelerate their germination. Despite the apparent complexity, it can be produced at home.

For bubbling you will need a glass container in which seeds are placed and filled with water. An air divider from a conventional aquarium compressor is lowered into it.

When sparging, the soaking process is combined with saturation of the seeds with oxygen. At the radish, it lasts 8-12 hours.

Additional preparation before sowing in open ground

Additional preparation includes gluing seeds to ribbons for their uniform distribution and compliance with the optimal distance between plants. Virtually no effect on yield and seedlings, but greatly saves time during planting and does not require additional thinning seedlings.

In the absence of a garden tape, seeds are glued onto strips of toilet paper.

Many still believe that radishes do not require additional preparation before planting. But perhaps the material in this article will make you think about the opposite and try some of the methods described here aimed at increasing the yield and the speed of ripening. Their need has been proven empirically and reflected in the scientific work of researchers.