Soaking seeds in hydrogen peroxide before planting

Experienced summer residents know that before planting the seed fund for seedlings, they need to be soaked. This is an important process that allows seeds to germinate faster, and then ensures rapid and sustainable development of plants. Many different means are used for soaking.
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Today we will talk about the benefits of soaking seeds in hydrogen peroxide before planting, and we will also look at whether all crops can be treated in this way.

Why soak seeds in peroxide before sowing?

Processing planting material before sowing has the following practical benefits:

The planting material is disinfected. Most of the microorganisms that we cannot see with the naked eye die. The same fate awaits the egg clutches of insect pests.
Biochemical processes are activated. Growth begins to occur in the seeds, metabolism accelerates, and saturation with useful microelements occurs. In this case, some of the toxins, on the contrary, are removed.
Increases immunity, germination and disease resistance.
The hard outer shell softens. The “shell” protects the inner sprout of the seed from mechanical damage and external influences, but when the time comes, the sprout must break through this shell. Therefore, if it is soft, the plant will sprout faster.

What additional drugs can and cannot be used together with peroxide?

In order not to harm the grains for planting, it is strictly not recommended to mix hydrogen peroxide with any other growth stimulants or fungicides. This is due to the fact that the resulting chemical reaction can damage the seed kernel, and you will not see any germination at all.

In this case, sequential treatment of planting material with various means is allowed, but do not forget that each time you need to wash the grains with water.

For example, crops that are especially difficult to germinate are first soaked for a couple of hours in potassium permanganate and then in a peroxide solution.

What seeds should be soaked in hydrogen peroxide?

In general, hydrogen peroxide is harmless and can be used on all seeds for disinfection purposes. Especially if you have doubts about the quality of planting material.

But soaking (that is, leaving the seeds in the solution for a long time) is not possible with all crops.

It is recommended to carry out the procedure with those categories of plants that do not germinate well. For example, these include crops with a dense outer shell. These are melons (watermelon), pumpkin (zucchini, cucumber, pumpkin), nightshades (tomato, eggplant, bell pepper). Also included in this category are beets and sunflowers.

It would be a good idea to soak the seeds, which contain a fairly high content of essential oils. This category includes dill, carrots, and parsley.

ON A NOTE. Essential oils reduce the rate of seed germination.

It is also recommended to soak flower seeds: carnation, balsam, pelargonium, salvia, etc.

Positive properties of hydrogen peroxide when used for plants

According to its chemical properties, hydrogen peroxide is a fungicide and pesticide of natural origin, a natural growth stimulant, the task of which is to comprehensively fill the soil with oxygen. The formula of the compound is H2O2, and a similar composition is typical for rainwater after the passage of a thunderstorm, as well as melt water. The final solution can be used as an aerator, oxidizer, and disinfectant.

The presence of a redox reaction within hydrogen peroxide ensures the effective oxidation of nitrites and nitrates. When released into the soil, the resulting peroxide supports the saturation of vegetable crops with iron and manganese salts. The use of the composition for seedlings will contribute to the effective formation of the root system and the overall development of plants. This method is best used up to twice a week. The result of the addition of hydrogen peroxide will be greater resistance to diseases, the elimination of mold formations and rot. The additive provides a disinfecting effect, comprehensive soil aeration, and stable molecular exchange.

Expert opinion

Oksana Alexandrovna

A gardener with extensive experience. Vegetable gardening is more than just a hobby for me.

Hydrogen peroxide ensures oxygen saturation of the soil, promotes the launch of natural metabolic and nutritional processes.

What seeds are not allowed to soak in this way?

It is not recommended to moisten seeds that have already undergone certain industrial processing with peroxide. This includes pelleted (and also encrusted, laser and plasma) seeds, as well as sprinters.

Hydrogen peroxide will simply destroy all the useful shell with which the planting material was covered at the factory.

ON A NOTE. Information about what treatment was carried out on the seeds at the plant is located on the packs. Therefore, before immersing the seeds in a solution with peroxide, carefully study the packaging.

Adding hydrogen peroxide when processing pepper seedlings

It is possible to feed not only peppers, but also eggplants and tomatoes. The main difference lies in the composition of this mixture and the frequency of plant treatment.

Pepper seedlings

Processing peppers using hydrogen peroxide involves using a special solution that is based on water and peroxide. Take 1 liter of water, add 20 drops of peroxide , ensure mixing of the finished composition and careful watering. This procedure must be repeated once for seven days.

You should not change the concentration of this solution for subsequent watering of seedlings, since an increased dose of peroxide has every chance of seriously damaging the root system and eliminating the possibility of growing plants in this soil in the future. The damage caused will be quite difficult to compensate in the future. This is the main reason why you should pay special attention to the composition of such a mixture and the frequency of processing of plants.

How to soak seeds in hydrogen peroxide step by step instructions

The step-by-step algorithm for carrying out the procedure is quite simple:

Seed material is being prepared. Please note that seeds of different crops should not be soaked together. Since they may have different recommended processing times.
A solution is prepared with the active substance in the required proportion (2 tablespoons of peroxide per 1 liter of water or 1 teaspoon per 200 ml).
The seeds are placed in a gauze or fabric bag and lowered into a container with the composition.
After the required period, the seeds are removed from the solution and washed with running water or immersed in clean water for 20 - 30 minutes.

ON A NOTE. If planting time is running out, you can soak the seeds in undiluted peroxide. But no more than 20 minutes! Then don’t forget to rinse the seeds with water anyway.

Using hydrogen peroxide for watering seedlings

Peroxide is a natural fungicide, a powerful stimulator of root development and plant growth.

Treatment of seedlings of tomatoes, peppers and other crops with a pharmaceutical preparation has become a mandatory condition for growing healthy seedlings. Spraying and watering with hydrogen peroxide is also feeding and protection against diseases.

To prevent small plants from getting sick, you need to spray the seedlings every week with the following mixture: 30 ml of peroxide per 2 liters.

Before planting tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers, it is also recommended to spill the area with the same mixture. When a fungicide gets into the soil, it creates a dangerous environment for pathogens, and they die.

It is recommended to treat not only the soil, but also the seedling boxes. For these purposes, 100 ml of peroxide is diluted in 4 liters of water and the boxes are washed.

Which seeds and how long should I soak?

The time of the procedure depends on the properties of the seeds. Where it is necessary to soften a too hard shell, soaking is carried out longer, where it is necessary to neutralize the effect of essential oils - less.

Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, beets – 24 hours;
Vegetables, fruits, flowers – 12 hours;
Watermelon, cucumber, sunflower, pumpkin, zucchini – 24 hours. But first, you must keep the seeds of these crops in water for 1 hour.

ON A NOTE. For the purpose of disinfecting planting material, it is recommended to change the solution every 4 to 6 hours. This increases the efficiency of killing germs.

What is it for

Soaking pepper seeds in hydrogen peroxide is an effective way of pre-sowing seed preparation. For this purpose, summer residents use peroxide with a concentration of 3%, which can be bought at any pharmacy.

Pepper seeds must be processed before sowing. They have a hard and dense shell, which negatively affects the rate of germination of grains and impairs their germination. Hydrogen peroxide has a complex effect on pepper seeds:

disinfects pepper seeds and destroys pathogenic microorganisms;
increases the resistance of sprouts to fungal diseases;
strengthens the immunity of seedlings;
softens the hard shell and accelerates seed hatching;
improves the germination of seed material;
stimulates biochemical processes and metabolism inside the grain;
increases resistance to adverse environmental factors;
accelerates the regeneration of plant tissues when damaged.

But not all seeds need soaking. This procedure is carried out for pepper seeds collected independently and stored at home. It is also advisable to treat material whose origin and age have not been established with hydrogen peroxide.

Gardening stores most often sell encrusted or pelleted pepper seeds. They are processed immediately before packaging and coated with special fungicidal solutions, so such seeds do not need to be soaked in peroxide.

Answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to do without treating with peroxide?

Yes. This is an optional procedure, but it really helps the seeds germinate better and grow faster.

Do I need to prepare a solution in a certain proportion or just pour liquid from a bottle into the seeds?

It all depends on the type of seeds. Different crops are soaked in different solutions and for different periods of time.

There is no information on the packet of seeds. What to do?

First of all, you should not buy such planting material. A conscientious manufacturer always indicates all the necessary information about their product on the packaging. If you have been using these seeds for a long time, and their quality does not raise any questions for you, then you can carry out the processing using the method indicated above.

How long does it take to soak?

It all depends on the type of seeds and the density of the shell. But, for example, soaking in undiluted 3% peroxide lasts no more than a quarter of an hour.

How to sow seedlings?

After soaking, the seeds need to be dried . After this they are ready to disembark. Sow 2-3 hours after removing peroxide from the solution. What nuances should a gardener take into account?

Selecting suitable soil. Mandatory drainage in containers for planting.
Convenient containers. Tomatoes for seedlings can be grown in individual cups, pots, a common cassette or container.
Place drainage at the bottom, cover with soil, and spill. After absorbing the moisture, make a 1 cm depression and place the seed in it.
There should be at least 2 cm between seeds.
Sprinkle the seeds with a thin layer of soil, do not compact them.
Lightly moisten the soil with a spray bottle.
Cover with polyethylene and place in a warm place (25 degrees).
After the sprouts appear, reduce the temperature to 18 degrees.

So, tomato seeds can and should be soaked in hydrogen peroxide . The only exceptions are proven seeds from well-known manufacturers, which have already undergone preliminary preparation and are ready for planting. The seed must be immersed in the working solution; the holding time depends on the concentration.

Growth stimulator for seeds

Methods of soaking seeds in hydrogen peroxide before planting, in addition to disinfection, also have a stimulating effect. The seeds contain inhibitors that prevent them from germinating. In nature, they are destroyed naturally through the process of oxidation. Soap, ammonia, boric acid, potassium permanganate, and iodine will also help in the garden. When H2O2 works, its molecule breaks down and active oxygen is released, which is an active oxidizing agent. Therefore, it is more likely to destroy the inhibitor, which increases the percentage of germination and promotes more active germination. Scientists have proven that the use of this drug as a stimulant is more effective than the use of the commercial drug Epin-Extra or potassium permanganate. Experiments have shown that the percentage of germination of tomatoes after such treatment can reach 90%, corn - 95%. After soaking cabbage seeds, seedlings appear earlier than usual in 2 to 7 days.

Errors

Using regular water . Running water contains many harmful elements; soaking seeds in such water will make it difficult to achieve the expected effect. It is better to use spring or melt water. Even if there is none, you can boil running water and let it settle.
Use of expired seed . Seeds that have expired simply will not germinate; quality material plays the most important role. Therefore, tracking deadlines is simply necessary.
Soaking dry seeds in a solution of potassium permanganate . Before soaking the seeds in potassium permanganate, they need to be prepared by first soaking them in water. If you soak dry seeds, they will absorb manganese and the embryos will simply die. Only prepared seeds are soaked in this solution to disinfect the outside and then washed thoroughly.
Overheating of seeds when treated with boiling water . This procedure is necessary in order to heat the seed and encourage it to germinate. Extremely high temperatures will kill the embryo. To determine the set temperature, a special kitchen thermometer is used; if this is not available, then it is better to use another soaking method.
Soaking too long . When soaked for a long time, the seeds need oxygen after swelling; if oxygen is not received, the seeds may “suffocate.” In order not to overexpose the seed, you need to know exactly the time limit for soaking.

There are many ways to prepare seeds for planting. And each method gives a good result. You can determine the most suitable one for yourself only through experiment. Each of them is different from the other and good in its own way. Also, each has its own subtleties and nuances.

Treatment of tomato seeds before sowing with hydrogen peroxide

Why treat seeds before planting? Incorrectly selected soil with inappropriate chemical composition or mechanical properties will not allow the seeds to germinate quickly and receive a sufficient amount of oxygen.

Low light will weaken seedlings that have already emerged, causing them to grow upward or elongate instead of forming leaves. Lack of minerals and organic fertilizers leads to weakening of seedlings. It grows poorly and is more vulnerable to diseases.

Weakened tomatoes do not tolerate picking and transplanting to a permanent location. They take a long time to take root and lag behind in development. Naturally, they begin to flower and produce fruit later. This reduces the yield of tomatoes. Significantly so. Therefore, the seeds should be helped.

How are seeds treated before planting?

There are many ways and methods of pre-sowing treatment of tomato and other vegetable seeds. But, as a rule, all of them involve double or even triple soaking of planting material in various solutions. Such processing takes a lot of time, is not always safe for gardeners and often does not give the desired result.

After all, you first need to disinfect the seeds in a solution of potassium manganese, phytosporin or boric acid. And then soak them in a growth stimulator to speed up the appearance of the first shoots. Many gardeners wonder if it is possible to carry out just one treatment without running around the house with a bunch of bags and bottles.

Agronomists who are professionally involved in vegetable growing say that it is possible. And this product is called hydrogen peroxide. This is what seeds are treated with before planting on farms, when a large amount of planting material needs to be processed.

Pros of soaking tomato seeds in hydrogen peroxide solution

A certain advantage of peroxide is that it simultaneously softens the seed coat, acts as a catalyst for metabolic processes, and enriches the seed material with such an important substance for the construction of new plant cells as oxygen. As a result, the efficiency of pre-sowing treatment of tomato seeds is significantly increased.

Hydrogen peroxide washes essential oils and inhibitors from seeds that prevent seed hatching. Their top layer softens, which leads to faster emergence of friendly shoots.
Active oxygen, which is contained in hydrogen peroxide, starts metabolic processes inside the seeds, and subsequently has a beneficial effect on the root system of tomatoes. Even in conditions where the soil is too heavy, the roots will initially receive a sufficient amount of oxygen.
An indisputable fact is that hydrogen peroxide is an excellent antiseptic. It will not only destroy spores of harmful fungi or bacteria that may be on the surface of the seeds, but will also have a preventive effect subsequently.

Treatment will protect tomatoes from most diseases. Starting from blackleg, which sometimes destroys seedlings, to late blight, which can cause great damage to tomato bushes.

Hydrogen peroxide as a chemical substance has been known for a long time. It contains two oxygen molecules and two hydrogen molecules. It is used in many industries as a bleaching agent.

Women are familiar with it as one of the components of a hair coloring kit. In medicine, a 3% solution is used as an antiseptic, which contains 3 parts of hydrogen peroxide and 97 parts of water, which ensures safe use.

Hydrogen peroxide itself is a thick, slightly viscous white substance. Hydrogen peroxide solution is a colorless liquid, practically odorless. Hydrogen peroxide is also available in tablet form.

What you need to know before treating plants

Tomato seeds that were personally harvested last season, as well as those purchased from sellers at the market, definitely need processing.

It is worth paying close attention to the planting material of hybrids. As a rule, they are processed by the manufacturers themselves. Therefore, seeds from well-known companies with good reviews do not need to be processed. Otherwise, it is better to carry it out.

Before processing, you should carefully examine the tomato seeds. Seeds in the form of dragees or granules, as well as seeds encrusted or coated with a thin layer of nutrients, are not subjected to any type of processing. As a rule, such tomato seeds are colored.

Solution preparation and processing methods

For pre-sowing treatment of seeds, use either a pure solution of three percent hydrogen peroxide or dilute it with water to soften the effect. The processing time depends on the method of application.

The fastest way to treat seeds is to use three percent hydrogen peroxide purchased at a pharmacy. Tomato seeds wrapped in gauze are dipped into the substance without diluting it with water for 7-8 minutes. Quite quickly, but the method requires care and accuracy. Not suitable for processing large quantities of planting material. If you miss the moment and soak the seeds in hydrogen peroxide for more than 10 minutes, they may soften.
The longer method will take about 12 hours, but it is one of the safest. To one part of three percent hydrogen peroxide add two parts of water. Tomato seeds, again wrapped in gauze, are kept in the solution for 12 hours.
If you get your hands on pure hydrogen peroxide, then dilute it with water in a ratio of 1 to 10, moisten a napkin, wrap the seeds in it and wait one day.