How to improve the germination rate of chive seeds? A detailed guide to practical methods
Chives are one of the common vegetables in our daily lives. Chives are propagated by sowing, and when growing chives, improving the seed germination rate is extremely important, because only when the germination rate is improved will the economic returns be higher. So how do you improve the germination rate of chive seeds? Let's take a look together.
1. Seed selection
Seed selection before planting is also extremely important. Whether the purchased seeds are bagged or loose, they should be placed in the sun to dry for 2-3 days. Note that when sun-drying the seeds, it is best not to let the seeds touch the ground directly; you can lay down a layer of gauze or put them in another container. During sun-drying, turn the seeds several times so they are heated evenly. After sun-drying, use winnowing to remove shriveled and moldy grains, keeping plump seeds free of pests and diseases as seed.
2. Soaking seeds in warm water
Place the seeds in warm water at about 20 degrees so they gradually swell in the warm water, enhancing the germination rate and adaptability while also further removing shriveled grains. The amount of water used for soaking seeds in warm water should not be too much; it only needs to submerge the seeds. Too much water may affect the seed germination rate. Soaking seeds in warm water takes 10-12 hours, so to keep and control the temperature, you can put them in an insulated box; if you do not have one, you can use cotton quilts and hot water to keep them warm.
3. Scalding seeds at high temperature
After soaking the seeds in warm water, the next step is scalding the seeds at high temperature. At this time, use the high heat of the water to kill pathogens on the surface of and inside the seeds, while also breaking seed dormancy, increasing vitality, and making germination easier. The hot water for scalding seeds should be controlled between 50-60 degrees, and the scalding time should be controlled within 20 minutes; it should not be too high or too long. At the same time, to maintain the water temperature, you can use a thermometer to check, and once the water temperature is too low, add hot water in time. When scalding the seeds, stir constantly so they are heated evenly. After scalding, rinse them clean and dry them in the air to await sprouting.
4. Disinfection and sprouting
To ensure the seeds are thoroughly disinfected and sterilized, after scalding the seeds you can soak them for 5 minutes in a low-concentration copper sulfate solution, or soak them for 15 minutes in low-concentration zineb. Then clean the seeds, wrap them in clean gauze, put them in a container, cover the mouth of the container with a damp cloth, and place it in a greenhouse at about 20 degrees to sprout. During sprouting, control the temperature well and turn them frequently, rinsing once a day with warm water to increase the seeds' air permeability and prevent the seeds from dying due to lack of oxygen. After rinsing, continue sprouting and repeat the operation. Generally after 2-3 days, when one third of the seeds have sprouted white, they can be sown.
The above is an introduction to how to improve the germination rate of chive seeds. I hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.