Seed germination methods and germination times for fruit vegetables such as tomatoes and eggplants

Seeds of fruit vegetables such as tomatoes and eggplants germinate slowly and all need to be pre-germinated. Usually the seeds must be disinfected, soaked, and then pre-germinated. So what are the seed germination methods for fruit vegetables such as tomatoes and eggplants? How many days until they germinate?

After pre-germination treatment, the germination rate of the seeds will be greatly increased. Soaking seeds to promote germination helps the seeds of gourd-leaf vegetables to sprout quickly and evenly, improves the utilization rate of the seedling bed, and prevents seed rot caused by low temperatures in early spring. At the same time, hot-water soaking of seeds can also kill pathogens carried on the seed surface, preventing seed-borne diseases and pests. The soaking time must be appropriate; too short and the seeds cannot fully absorb moisture and swell, too long and they absorb too much water and the seeds easily rot.

1. Vegetable seed disinfection

1. Hot water soaking: first cover the seeds with a small amount of cold water, then pour in hot water, measure the temperature with a stick thermometer, bring the water temperature to 55°C, stir in one direction, and stop stirring when the water temperature drops to 30°C. Soak eggplant seeds for 8-12 hours and tomato seeds for 6-8 hours. After soaking, rub the mucus off the seed coat of eggplant seeds with fine sand, separate the seeds with clean water, then rinse them clean and they are ready for pre-germination. Tomato seeds have fuzz; after removing them from the water, squeeze out the water, spread them out to dry briefly, and then pre-germinate.

2. Chemical soaking: soak seeds of solanaceous fruit vegetables in a solution of a certain concentration, and after a certain time wash off the solution with clean water, then carry out soaking and pre-germination. The amount of solution used is 2 times that of the seeds.

Tomato seeds

① Using a 100-fold dilution of 40% formalin and a 10% trisodium phosphate solution, first pre-soak in clean water for 3-4 hours, then soak the wet seeds in the solution for 15-20 minutes, take them out, wrap them in a wet cloth and place them in a basin to seal for 2-3 hours, then wash them clean with clean water and they are ready for pre-germination. Formalin disinfection can prevent tomato early blight, and trisodium phosphate prevents viral diseases.

② Soak the seeds in a 200-fold dilution of dilute hydrochloric acid for 3 hours, which can eliminate tomato tobacco mosaic virus.

③ Soak the seeds in 40°C warm water for 3-4 hours, then move them into a 0.1% potassium permanganate solution and soak for 30 minutes, take them out and wash them clean with clean water, which can reduce tomato canker and mosaic disease.

Eggplant seeds

① Soak in a 1% potassium permanganate solution for 30 minutes, take out and rinse repeatedly, then carry out hot water soaking, which can eliminate pathogenic bacteria attached to the seed surface.

② Soak in a carbendazim solution with 0.1% active ingredient for 1 hour, wash clean, then carry out soaking and pre-germination, which has a good effect on preventing verticillium wilt.

③ Soak the seeds in a 40% formalin solution for 15 minutes, then take them out and rinse them clean with clean water, which can prevent eggplant brown spot disease and verticillium wilt.

2. Soaking and pre-germination

1. Soaking.

Before pre-germination, soak the seeds in clean water at 20°C-30°C so that the seeds absorb enough water and sprout faster. The soaking time varies depending on seed maturity and water temperature. The more fully mature the seeds, the longer the soaking time, and the lower the water temperature, the longer the time needed. Generally, tomato seeds need to be soaked for 5-6 hours, and eggplant seeds need to be soaked for 10-12 hours.

2. Pre-germination.

Seed germination of solanaceous fruit vegetables requires the necessary temperature, moisture and oxygen; they are dark-preferring with respect to light, so they should be placed in a dark place. They germinate fastest under conditions of suitable moisture, good air permeability, and 25°C-30°C without light. Wrap the soaked seeds in a wet gauze or wet towel, place them in a large bowl or small basin, and wash them 1-2 times a day with 25°C-30°C water. Tomato seeds are best mixed with fine sand 3 times the volume of the seeds, placed in a water basin, turned 1-2 times a day, and water added when the fine sand dries. Eggplant seeds need alternating temperatures: 30°C for 8 hours and 20°C for 16 hours each day, alternating, for even sprouting. Under normal circumstances, tomatoes sprout in 2-3 days, and eggplants and peppers in 5-6 days.