Several commonly used treatment methods for medicinal herb seeds before sowing

Seeds all need to be awakened before planting. Different medicinal herbs have different awakening methods when grown; some need stimulation, while others do not. So what awakening methods are there for medicinal herb seeds? Below, let's learn about several awakening approaches that everyone can study.

1. Warm water awakening

Some seeds, after a long period of dormancy, are extremely dry inside and need water to awaken their vitality. This type of seed must be soaked in water for a period before sowing, such as Saposhnikovia divaricata (siler) and Atractylodes macrocephala (largehead atractylodes). Water temperature also matters: some need relatively warm water, some only need lukewarm water, and some need cold water, so that the seeds can be thoroughly awakened. Before dealing with this type of seed, everyone must be clear about what water temperature they need and must not mix them up, otherwise it can easily affect the later germination rate.

2. Sunning the seeds

Awakening seeds with sunlight is also a fairly common method, as it can eliminate some hidden pathogens on the seeds. When sunning the seeds, be careful not to choose weather that is too hot, and keep the time to about 2 days, turning the seeds during that period so they are heated more evenly. If the seeds are relatively small, it is best to spread them in a thicker layer to avoid the sunlight killing the seeds. After sowing this kind of seed, be sure to water more so they have enough moisture to germinate. This is generally suitable for some larger seeds; after awakening, such seeds need more nutrients, and sowing them directly after sunning is more beneficial for growth.

3. Breaking the shell

Some relatively special seeds only need their shells broken. These seeds are in a sealed space, and as long as they are exposed to the outside, they can germinate quickly without any special extra effort. To ensure the germination rate of the seeds, they should be placed onto the prepared seedling bed as soon as possible. Astragalus membranaceus (milkvetch) and Andrographis paniculata (creat) and the like all need this kind of effort, with human help to break their shells. If the inner seed appears shriveled, then it is best to let it absorb more water to avoid dying from lack of moisture.

The above are several commonly used treatment methods for medicinal herb seeds before sowing, and these methods basically cover most medicinal herb types. Nowadays, many seeds are also disinfected when sown, and some bacterial fertilizers are used to help development. After awakening the seeds, everyone can also consider these treatment methods more; they are relatively universal and can better help the seeds sprout!