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 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.

Treating seeds with hydrogen peroxide before planting

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is an absolutely environmentally friendly and safe product for plants and seeds. Soaking seeds in a hydrogen peroxide solution has several important advantages.

Interesting on the topic:

Beneficial uses of hydrogen peroxide in the garden

Feeding an orchid with hydrogen peroxide

Peroxide is an unstable compound that breaks down into water and atomic oxygen within a few hours. The latter is essential for seeds to germinate successfully. Yes, yes, even a seemingly small inanimate seed needs oxygen to “breathe.” Lack of oxygen will slow down the germination process. By the way, this is why, when soaking seeds, you should never fill them with a large amount of water so that they float. They should lie shallow, just barely covered by water. Remember, seeds need oxygen. Peroxide will give it.
Peroxide acts as an oxidizing agent, destroying inhibitors - substances that suppress seed germination. In nature, the oxidation process can occur naturally, but here we can help the seeds, again speed up and simplify the germination process. However, it is worth considering that seeds that have already been treated by the manufacturer, for example, encrusted ones, cannot be soaked in peroxide. However, such seeds do not need to be soaked in any solutions.
Peroxide has a disinfecting and bactericidal effect. That is why it will destroy bacteria, microbes and other pathogenic microorganisms that can harm future plantings.

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.

Preparation of the solution

To soak tomato seeds, use the standard instructions for preparing the working solution: 2 tbsp. water 1 tbsp. 3% hydrogen peroxide. The seeds are soaked in this solution. There is a second way. It takes longer, but is effective:

To prepare the solution, take 6% peroxide and dilute it with water in a ratio of 1:10.
To treat soil and containers, 1 bottle of peroxide must be dissolved in 4 liters of water.
The resulting liquid is poured onto the soil 2-4 days before planting the seeds and the surfaces of the containers are washed.

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

The use of peroxide when growing seedlings kills pathogenic organisms in the soil, improves the root system of plants and increases resistance to diseases.

Oxygen in the soil, which appears as a result of the breakdown of its connection with hydrogen, improves its structure, which affects the growth and formation of roots, and prevents them from rotting when there is excess moisture. This fact plays a big role in the case of heavy and viscous soils.

The peroxide solution can be used for watering and spraying.

For watering, dilute a pharmaceutical bottle of peroxide in 2 liters of water and water the seedlings at the root once a week. Seedlings, having received such feeding, quickly gain green mass, flowers and ovaries do not get sick. It is not recommended to exceed the dosage - the roots are still tender, thin and can be damaged by a higher concentration.

For foliar feeding 1-2 tbsp. l. Dilute peroxide in 1 liter of water and spray stems and leaves from a spray bottle.

Disinfection of soil with peroxide before planting seedlings:

dilute a pharmacy bottle with 3% peroxide in 4 liters of water;
4-5 days before planting seeds for seedlings, water the prepared soil well.

Both homemade and store-bought soil mixtures are processed.

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.

Methods for soaking seeds before planting

Advice! Before soaking the seeds in any product, it is useful to first soak them in plain water for 20-40 minutes (depending on the hardness of the shell and the freshness of the seeds). The shell will soften a little and the effect of soaking in any product will be greater.

Let's start processing the seeds. You will need hydrogen peroxide (10%), as well as seeds spread on a cloth. You can wrap the seeds in a cloth and place them in the solution, for example, if they are small enough, in addition, you can pour peroxide into the seeds in the container so that they absorb more liquid.

Usually the seeds are soaked for 12 hours and no more, otherwise they may lose all their beneficial properties that they need for further germination or become soggy and completely unsuitable for immersion in the soil. To avoid disturbances or the formation of empty seeds, keep the seeds for no more than half a day.

There is an exception that is used to treat the seeds of tomatoes, eggplants, and beets - they are soaked for about 24 hours. A whole day is needed for preparation, to get rid of the nitrate content in the seed, as well as to prevent the absorption of nitrates from the open ground soil, if any.

The product has also found application in cultivating land in summer cottages. Most harmful insects prefer to overwinter in the soil. Therefore, before planting seedlings in open ground, it is recommended to disinfect the soil. The substrate should be watered with peroxide solution not only before planting seedlings, but also after harvesting.

For 4 liters of water you only need one bottle of product. Mix the solution thoroughly with a wooden stick, pour it into a watering can and pour over the dug up soil. Watering with an aqueous solution is carried out in autumn and spring, a few days before planting young seedlings in the beds.

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.

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Gardeners and gardeners use both conventional and the most creative ways to soak seeds before planting. The traditional method, when the seeds are wrapped in a damp cloth, is probably known to everyone. Its disadvantage is that it requires constant monitoring of fabric moisture. If you accidentally miss and the fabric dries out when the seeds have already begun to “peck”, they will die.

Another way to soak seeds in hydrogen peroxide is to use a rolled bag and toilet paper. It is better to use thicker and softer toilet paper. Procedure:

Prepare a solution of hydrogen peroxide in water (1 tablespoon per liter of water) and pour it into a container with a spray bottle.
Tear a strip (no more than 40 cm long) from a roll of lunch bags (you can also use garbage bags) and spread it on the table.
Place a strip of toilet paper on the film and moisten it generously.
Place the seeds on the damp paper using a toothpick dipped in water and cover the seeds with another strip of paper. Wet the top layer of paper.
The distance at which the seeds should be placed from the top edge of the bag is 1-2cm; the distance between the seeds depends on the size of the seeds.
Roll your multi-layer “pie” into a roll and secure with a rubber band to prevent it from unrolling.
Place the twist in a glass vertically, with the seeds facing up, pour a solution of peroxide in water (1.5-2.5 cm) into the bottom.
Cover the rolled-up cigarette with a bag and place in a warm place.

Soaking seeds in a solution of hydrogen peroxide using ordinary household sponges is a relatively new method that has not yet become generally known. The algorithm for such soaking before planting seeds:

Take two new foam sponges.
Prepare a solution of water with hydrogen peroxide (1 teaspoon per half liter of water).
Soak the first sponge in the solution and squeeze out.
Place the seeds on the surface of the sponge.
Wet the second sponge in the same way as the first.
Cover the seeds located on the first sponge with the second sponge and secure the sponges together with rubber bands.
Place the resulting “sandwich” in a bag and tie it.
Place the seeds in a warm place (23-25°C).

We suggest you familiarize yourself with: Sowing pepper seeds in open ground in summer, preparing the soil

Whatever methods you use to soak your seeds in hydrogen peroxide before planting them, do not try to soak the bulk of the seeds in a new way. It would be more rational to make one or more experimental groups for untested methods, and soak the remaining seeds using the method that has already been tried more than once to find out whether this option is right for you and how your seeds will react to it.

The substance acts on the seed material like water, while containing a large number of useful components that strengthen and accelerate the germination process. A pharmaceutical product can be used for planting material for various purposes, but most often to activate natural processes that contribute to the formation of a sprout before sowing.

Using a pharmaceutical product, you can identify cucumbers that are unsuitable for further use. To do this, place the seeds in a deep container and pour hydrogen peroxide so that the liquid completely covers the planting material. Damaged and unusable specimens will float to the surface.

For hardening

The use of an antiseptic helps soften the hard shell of cucumbers and facilitate their rapid germination. Also using peroxide, you can harden the plant and prepare it for further planting in the ground. The seed material is placed on a cloth soaked in antiseptic and left in the refrigerator for a day. This action allows you to strengthen the immunity of the crop, and the sprouts appear healthy and can easily withstand a decrease in temperature.

The use of a pharmaceutical disinfectant allows you to eliminate harmful fungi and pathogenic spores that may persist in planting material. It is recommended to soak cucumbers for 15 minutes; this time is enough to protect future seedlings from diseases. After soaking, the planting material is placed on a cloth until completely dry.

After the seeds are disinfected and completely dried, the germination procedure can begin. Hydrogen peroxide is also used for this, as it can act as a growth activator. Oxygen particles penetrate under the skin and activate the plant growth process. In order to quickly germinate, you can first place the seeds in a fabric bag and dip them in a solution of wood ash (10 grams per liter of warm water). The planting material will absorb the necessary minerals and, after soaking in peroxide (for 12 hours), will begin to actively develop.

Helpful advice! Before soaking the seeds in any product, it is useful to first soak them in plain water for 20-40 minutes (depending on the hardness of the shell and the freshness of the seeds). The shell will soften a little and the effect of soaking in any product will be greater.

Let's start processing the seeds. You will need hydrogen peroxide (10%), as well as seeds spread on a cloth. You can wrap the seeds in a cloth and place them in the solution, for example, if they are small enough, in addition, you can pour peroxide into the seeds in the container so that they absorb more liquid.

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.

Soaking for quick germination.

Large, mature seeds give the highest yield. Therefore, during preparation, they must be calibrated using table salt. For tomato, pepper, and eggplant seeds, use a 5 percent solution of table (kitchen) salt; cucumber, cabbage, beets - 3 percent solution (30 g of salt per 1 liter of water). The seeds are placed in the solution and stirred for 4-8 minutes. The sunken ones are separated, washed thoroughly with water, and dried. The seeds are easy to sow if mixed with chalk or tooth powder.

Stir the seeds in table salt

So, with the help of salt and soaking, you can reject unsuitable seeds.

Many pathogens and plant pests are transmitted through seeds. So, from cabbage - vascular bacteriosis, phomosis, downy mildew; carrots - phomosis, bacteriosis; beets - downy mildew; cucumber, melon - bacteriosis, anthracnose; tomato, pepper - tobacco mosaic virus; onions, garlic - downy mildew and stem nematode.

Therefore, the seeds of all vegetable crops must be disinfected either with chemical disinfectants (3-8 mg per 1 g of seeds) or fenthiuram (3-6 mg per 1 g of seeds). To do this, they are placed in a glass jar, carefully closed with a plastic lid and shaken for 5-7 minutes.

But amateur vegetable growers are better off using harmless products. For example, to completely disinfect tomato seeds from viral diseases, it is enough to soak them for 20 minutes in a 1 percent solution of potassium permanganate (1 g per 100 g of water), followed by thorough rinsing in running water (the seeds turn black, this is not dangerous).

To combat diseases of carrots, beets, and celery, their seeds are soaked for 15-20 minutes at 45-50 degrees; cabbage seeds - 30 minutes at 48-50 degrees. Onion sets and garlic are immersed for 5 minutes in water at a temperature of 50 degrees, and then in cold water to combat the nematode. Bean and eggplant seeds are treated with water at a temperature of 60 degrees for 4 hours.

We invite you to read: Planting beets in spring - favorite root vegetable

Dry heating is most often used for pumpkin seeds. You can put the seeds at room temperature from 15-20 degrees, gradually increasing to 50-60 degrees over 3-4 hours. You can also soak the seeds in 10% hydrogen peroxide or vodka for disinfection. The time used is the same, about 20 minutes, as when soaking in potassium permanganate (a percentage solution of potassium permanganate)

Hydrogen peroxide for soaking seeds

Cabbage, radishes, lettuce, radishes are soaked for 12 hours using 6 milliliters of water per 10 grams of seeds.

Cucumbers, zucchini, squash, pumpkin are soaked for 12 hours using 5 milliliters of water per 10 grams of seeds.

Onions are soaked for 6-8 hours using 7-8 milliliters of water per 10 grams of seeds.

Tomatoes are soaked for 48 hours using 7-8 milliliters of water per 10 grams of seeds.

Beets are soaked for 48 hours using 8 milliliters of water per 10 grams of seeds.

Parsley, celery, carrots, dill are soaked for 48 hours using 10 ml of water per 10 grams of seeds.

Beans and peas are soaked for 2 hours using 10 ml of water per 10 grams of seeds.

Soak seeds in water to improve germination

In recent years, I have been practicing soaking vegetable seeds in nutritious physiologically active substances and microelements. I will give you data from my table for different crops and solutions that I use to soak seeds.

Cultures	Microelements and growth regulators	Processing time, h	Concentration
Cultures	Microelements and growth regulators	Processing time, h	%	mg/l
Tomato	Aloe extract	12	1 part aloe, 1 part water
	Copper sulfate	0,001 — 0,005	10 — 50
	Manganese sulfate	0,5	0,5 — 1	1000 — 500
	Zinc sulfate	12	0,03 — 0,05	300 — 500
	Boric acid	12	0,005 — 0,05	50 — 500
	Bicarbonate of soda	12	0,5	500
	succinic acid	24	0,002	20
	Ivin	12	0,001	10
	Krezacin	0,5	0,5	500
Cucumber	Copper sulfate	12	0,001 — 0,005	10 — 50
	Manganese sulfate	12	0,05 — 0,1	100 — 500
	Zinc sulfate	12	0,03 — 0,05	300 — 500
	Boric acid	12	0,005 — 0,05	50 — 500
	Bicarbonate of soda	12	0,5	500
	succinic acid	12	0,0017	17
Pepper, eggplant	Aloe extract	12	1 part aloe, 1 part water
	Copper sulfate	12	0,001 — 0,005	10 — 50
	Manganese sulfate	12	0,005 -0,1	100 — 500
	Zinc sulfate	12	0,03 — 0,05	300 — 500
	Krezacin	0,5	0,05	500
Green	Manganese sulfate	12	0,1	10
Green	Zinc sulfate	12	0,03	300
Roots	Boric acid	12	0,05	500
	Copper sulfate	12	0,003	30
	Manganese sulfate	12	0,1	100
Onion	Boric acid	12	0,05	500
	Manganese sulfate	12	0,1	100
	Nicotinic acid or vitamin PP	12	1	1000

After soaking, start germinating 5% of the total seeds. The swollen seeds are scattered in a thin layer on a damp cloth and placed in a heated room at 20-25 degrees.

The main advantages of the procedure are the achievement of rapid and massive germination, effective disinfection, and increased resistance of future shoots to external factors. Proper treatment with peroxide guarantees that the seeds will develop into strong seedlings, dense bushes that will bear fruit well.

Unlike other soaking agents (for example, potassium permanganate), peroxide both disinfects and accelerates germination. Peroxide has no disadvantages or disadvantages. To achieve the desired effect, it is important to properly prepare the working solution and observe the timing. If you leave the seeds in a peroxide solution for a long time, they will become soggy and unsuitable for planting.

Tomato seeds contain inhibitors that prevent and slow down the germination process. Under natural conditions, inhibitors are destroyed by natural oxidation. Agronomists use auxiliary substances to destroy them. One of the most effective is hydrogen peroxide. This liquid washes away essential oils, which also affects the growth rate of seedlings.

Having tested in practice what soaking seeds in hydrogen peroxide gives, gardeners become fans of this method, which, in addition to having a positive effect on seeds and future plants, is also absolutely inexpensive, easy to implement and accessible to anyone who decides to grow something from seeds

Before using hydrogen peroxide to soak seeds, it should be diluted with water. Nothing complicated: pour clean water into a half-liter jar, pour in three percent hydrogen peroxide, and stir. This solution can be used to soak the seeds of any plants before planting. Just before dipping the seeds into a mixture of peroxide and water, soak them for 30-40 minutes in plain water. Seeds are kept in diluted hydrogen peroxide for up to 12 hours, although there are exceptions - for tomatoes and beets, the time is increased to 24 hours.

Another positive point when soaking before planting is the identification of empty, defective, low-quality seeds. When you dip the seeds into a weak hydrogen peroxide solution, stir it lightly and remove any floating seeds. From such plants, either nothing will germinate at all, or a weak, sickly, unproductive plant will grow.

For soaking with peroxide, seeds of any plants that are grown in soil can be used. However, some require pre-soaking to germinate. Such material should include:

seed material that has a hard shell (watermelon, pumpkin, cucumbers and other types of crops);
which contain essential oils (dill, parsley, carrots, herbs);
seeds of ornamental plants and flowers.

Soaking is also carried out on seeds that are of questionable quality or have not been used for a long time.