How to germinate winter melon seeds? A detailed guide to practical germination methods
Winter melon is one of the vegetables we are familiar with, but when growing it, its seed germination rate is a headache for many people. Because its seed coat is a cuticle layer that is relatively thick and has weak water absorption, germination takes a very long time. That is why growers always germinate the seeds first. Follow along with the editor below to learn how to germinate winter melon seeds.
1. Reasons why sprouting is difficult
Winter melon seed germination requires a large amount of water and needs to be in a well-ventilated environment. The seed coat of winter melon is composed of thick-walled cells and soft spongy cells, which makes its water absorption weak and its air permeability extremely poor, so sprouting is difficult. In addition, its seeds need very high temperatures to germinate, and germination takes a long time. Planting is done in spring and winter, when temperatures do not reach its germination requirements.
2. Seed coat breaking method
We have all cracked open sunflower seeds. Before germinating winter melon seeds, you can crack open a slit in the seed coat, but be careful not to damage the internal structure, so as not to affect the germination rate. Then wrap the seeds in a disinfected towel, being careful not to wrap them too tightly, so that poor air permeability does not cause germination to fail. The towel must be kept moist. In this way, there is no need to soak the seeds. Place them in an environment of about 30 degrees, and they will germinate in about 3-4 days, and the young sprouts will also be relatively uniform.
3. Hot water scalding method
Before sowing, first soak the seeds in cold water for half an hour, rub and wash the mucilage on the seed surface clean, then pour them into 60-70 degree hot water so that the seeds are not killed directly by boiling water. Stir while pouring. When the water temperature drops to 30 degrees, stop stirring and place them in an environment of about 30 degrees to soak for one day. After they have absorbed enough water, remove them and let them dry, then wrap them in palm bark and place them in a 30 degree environment. They will sprout in about a week, and they can be sown after sprouting.
4. Precautions
During the germination process, when the seeds germinate they produce strong respiration, absorbing oxygen and releasing a large amount of carbon dioxide. If this carbon dioxide is not discharged in time and accumulates in the seed pile, it will cause the seeds to suffocate and be poisoned, resulting in the phenomenon of “seed rotting.” Therefore, during germination, good air permeability must be maintained, and the seed pile should not be too thick.
The above is an introduction to the germination methods for winter melon seeds. We hope it helps you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please follow us.