Seeds provide the normal seedlings only if they undergo a period of postharvest ripening. To accelerate the ripening of the seeds used a special technique called stratification. At the same volume of the seeds take two to three parts washed sand and the mixture is thoroughly mixed. Humidity sand should be about 60%. Rinsing seeds before laying on the stratification increases germination, since it cleans the seeds from the pulp and juice residue, which serve as a substrate for microorganisms that can cause death of seedlings.
Seeds, mixed with sand, pour in a layer of small boxes not exceeding 35 cm. They are stored in the basement at a temperature of from 3 to 7 ° C. During the winter they can be stored in the ground. For this purpose, dry, not flooded with water place the boxes are placed in a pit up to 80 cm
Boxes put on each other so that the top of them no closer than 20 cm from the soil surface. Boxes from top to cover with boards and covered with earth. To avoid freezing of the soil above impose leaves, peat or other insulating material. It should be remembered that in the case of the freezing process of maturation of seeds is terminated.
During the winter, a mixture of sand with the seeds in the basement regularly moistened and stirred. In the case of premature germination of the seeds they are put on ice or in the refrigerator and kept at 1-2 ° C. Landfill sprouted seeds in the snow can lead to their death. Germination of stratified seed is improved if, within three - five days before planting sprinkle a thin layer in a room with a temperature of 18-20 ° C and periodically agitated to ensure free access of air. Then moisturize and pour the seeds back into the box in which to store and sowing in a warm room. When sowing seed sprouts should not be more than 0.5 cm, otherwise the seedlings obtained from a twisted root system.
Seeds may be stratified and without substrate. When the seeds poured into a gauze bag, which is placed in a ceramic pot with a hole in the bottom, and pour wet sawdust. The seeds in the bag are not moldy; they must be sprinkled with charcoal dust. Without stratification in the sand you can get in if the seeds sown in spring apple tree, taken out of the fruit that survived until spring in the basement.
Stratification of seeds for spring planting requires certain conditions and skills of the gardener. If both missing, then we can recommend to autumn sowing of seeds from the fruit of unstratified current crop year. Seed germination in the autumn sowing, as a rule, lower than at sowing seeds stratified in the spring. The reason for this is the delay in sowing or at sowing in dry soil where the seeds do not have time to go through the necessary maturation (stratification). Soaking the seeds in the week stone fruit with frequent changes of water greatly increases the germination. Autumn sowing is carried out at least 30-40 days before the soil freezes. It gives good results in areas with stable moisture in the fall and snow cover before heavy frosts. For autumn sowing areas with unsuitable soils or intermittent structureless areas where there is a strong spring runoff of melt water. Great damage to crops fall causing the mouse. In the fight against them has been proven rows shelter for the winter spruce branches. In the spring with the first seedling spruce branches removed. |