Is basil seed soaking required before planting and how to do it right

Fragrant, or camphor, basil, also known as regan or rayhon, is a capricious tropical plant. In the middle lane, it is grown in pots on the windowsill, in greenhouses and in the open field. In the latter case, seedlings or cuttings are used for guaranteed rooting - pre-germinated and sorted planting material. Self-cultivation of spices from seeds is a troublesome process that requires accuracy and knowledge of the characteristics of the growth of a delicate plant.

The need to soak basil seeds before planting

The herbaceous annual shrub has a delicate structure. He is afraid of frost, does not tolerate drought, is picky about the chemical composition of the soil and needs abundant watering. Nature has provided protection mechanisms. Each seed is placed in a dense shell of oils (vegetable wax) - a ready-made concentrate of nutrients, which, during germination, provides the seedling with conditions for a set of vegetative mass.

It takes at least a week to dissolve this shell even at room temperature. In spring soil, cool and loose after digging, there are no such conditions. Seedlings from a seed thrown into the ground cannot be expected at all.

Is it necessary and what will happen if you ignore this processing step

To dissolve the oily cover in which the basil seed is placed, at least two factors are needed - temperature and humidity. So the plant "understands" that the conditions are favorable for germination and it is possible to move from a dormant state to an active one. If at least one of the requirements is not met, no such signal is received. The embryo "thinks" that it is still too cold outside, and is waiting in the wings.

The average germination rate of good quality seeds thrown into the ground without preparation is 30%. Experiments have confirmed that failure to comply with at least one of the conditions (low temperature with high humidity or abundant moisture at temperatures below + 20 ° C) gives the same result.

Important! The oily shell is not a consequence of artificial seed treatment by the manufacturer, but a natural defense mechanism. The germination rate of planting material from different brands is approximately the same, while varieties bred for different climatic zones may differ.

How long before planting to soak

Before carrying out operations with seeds, calculate the timing of planting the basil and the form of cultivation. Seedlings of thermophilic spices can be transferred to the ground only by the beginning of June, when the risk of night frosts is already excluded in the middle lane. The bushes are transplanted into the greenhouse earlier - in mid-May. From the moment when the hatched seeds turn into viable plants, 30-40 days should pass. To calculate the optimal start date for seed treatment and cutting, another 7-10 days must be taken away from this period for germination.

Important! The express method of accelerating the germination of seeds before planting directly in open ground takes 3-4 hours. The technique is only suitable for southern latitudes. In the northern regions, seedlings will either die due to the cold soil, or will not have time to grow due to the short warm season.

The final calculations show that you need to start processing seeds for planting in open ground a week before the scheduled day.To prepare high-quality seedlings by June, you should start activating seed material no later than mid-April. Having the opportunity to transfer a bush in a pot, you can germinate seeds at the end of March.

Selection of seeds before soaking

Raikhon seeds resemble pine nuts in shape and sesame in size. Conscientious manufacturers sort the seeds even during harvesting. The gardener himself should also do this before processing - strong viable seeds have more chances to sprout and grow.

The seeds are scattered on a white cloth and examined, sorted one at a time. Deformed, damaged or different color from the total black-glossy mass is removed. They also do the same with seeds that have a suspicious bloom. Perhaps these seeds were dampened and re-dried.

Important! Planting material, provided it is stored correctly, does not lose germination for 4-5 years.

Warming up

In mountainous and southern regions, the seeds are warmed up under the sun, spreading them in a thin layer on a brightly lit table. For the middle lane, this is not enough, and an attempt to replace sunlight with an ultraviolet lamp will lead to nothing.

Before soaking, the seeds can be warmed up:

• tied in a rag bag and placed on the battery;
• laying out a thin layer on a heating pad;
• by placing it under the terrarium lamp.

The use of an incandescent lamp is not recommended. Excessive and directed heat can kill the active part of the seed. The optimum temperature for warming up is up to + 30… + 35 ° C. Time - 3-4 hours.

How to properly soak basil seeds

The main condition for the rapid germination of regan grains is the artificial dissolution of the oil-ether shell. This cannot be done without soaking. For the procedure, use warm water, solutions of fertilizers and potassium permanganate and even vodka.

Important! Do not soak the seeds by pouring them into a glass. The shell swollen to a jelly state will be difficult to wash off.

In water

There are no requirements for water quality for this method. All you need is a container for seeds and a small piece of gauze or bandage. Procedure:

1. Seeds (can be preheated) are poured onto a piece of gauze and tied, forming a bag.
2. Water is poured into a glass up to + 50 ... + 60 ° C, a bag is lowered.
3. The liquid is changed to warm every hour (6-8 times).
4. The grains are washed from mucus without removing from the fabric.
5. Before planting, the seed is slightly dried.

In wet cloth

For this method, use cotton pads, a bandage (not sterile), or a piece of soft tissue (flannel). Procedure:

1. The seeds are poured at intervals onto the prepared tissue. With a large amount of seed, several layers can be made.
2. The resulting envelope is spilled 2-3 times with warm water + 50 ... + 60 ° C and wrung out. After 15 minutes, when the fabric has cooled down, repeat.
3. After the extreme filling, the envelope is squeezed out and placed in a film or bag, which is placed next to a radiator or a warm fireplace for a day. After 24 hours, the material is ready for planting.

In vodka

Alcohol dissolves the oily shell faster than water. To shorten the soaking procedure to 15 minutes, vodka is enough. Process:

1. The basil seeds are wrapped in cheesecloth in one layer.
2. The envelope is poured or placed in a container with vodka.
3. After 15 minutes, the envelope is washed with warm water.

What to do next

Additionally, the seed can be etched with potassium permanganate (placed in a slightly pinkish solution for half an hour). This will increase germination and prevent fungal infections. The root-forming preparations Kornevin and Zircon have the same effect. The seeds are immersed in a recipe for an hour. Soaked seeds are ready for planting after aeration or light drying for 3-4 hours.

Reference. The ground, in which it is planned to place the grains, is heated to + 70 ° C (it is possible in the oven) or cooled after calcining to + 100 ° C.

The technique of planting seeds in a snail made of cardboard, film or burlap is widespread. Procedure:

1. Thinly spread soft cardboard or burlap. Moistened.
2. A thin layer of etched and mineral-rich soil is scattered over the fabric.
3. Seeds are spread on the soil at a distance of at least 2 cm. The material is rolled up.
4. Large rolls are carefully cut with a paper knife. Water and put to the battery.
5. When the basil rises and gets stronger (after 2-3 weeks), the rolls are taken to the main planting site and unfold.
6. Sprinkle ribbons with seedlings with loose earth and watered again.

Both snails and seedling cups are placed near the radiator or fireplace so that the sprouts sprout faster. From above, the pots or boxes are covered with cling film to create the effect of a greenhouse.

A method similar to snails, but without land, is reproduced with toilet paper. It is important to take a roll without fragrances and dyes - gray, loose. Process:

1. The paper is spread and moistened with a spray bottle. Not abundantly, so that it does not disperse ahead of time.
2. Seeds are spread over the surface.
3. The paper is folded neatly like a rolling cigarette.
4. Warm water is poured into a narrow glass. The roll is placed so that there is 1-2 cm of paper in the water. The rest will draw in water on its own, but in a smaller amount.
5. After 7 days, when shoots appear, the paper will practically dissolve. It can be carefully disassembled, and the shoots can be transferred to the main planting site.

Read also:

Is it possible to plant basil before winter and how to do it

Best ways to keep basil for the winter

When to plant soaked seeds

Soaked seeds can be sent to open ground if the ground has warmed up to + 28 ° C. The immersion depth is 4 cm. To be sure that the morning frosts will not kill the sprouts that have hatched, the surface of the garden can also be covered with foil or burlap.

Under the condition of a suitable temperature, seedlings appear by the end of the first week. Throughout this period and in the future, basil must be actively watered. The growing season lasts 40-70 days, depending on the variety.

Read also:

When to harvest and how to dry basil properly.

Plant compatibility: what to plant next to basil and why it is important.

How to properly freeze basil for the winter: a selection of the best ways.

Conclusion

Basil seeds are soaked in order to dissolve their natural protective-nourishing shell. If this is not done, in the climate of most regions of Russia, a capricious heat-loving plant may simply not grow. The best seeds are selected from the mass of seeds, they are heated and soaked in a damp cloth or vodka to awaken and remove the oil cover. In June, upon reaching a stable + 28 ° C, the seedlings are transplanted into the ground.