Herbs Seed Pre-treatment Six Methods
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First, soaking: Seeds are soaked in a mixture of herbs, cold water, warm water, or alternated between cold and hot water. The soaking time and water temperature vary depending on the type of seed. For example, guagui seeds should be soaked in warm water for 24 hours, while glutinous rice seeds require soaking in cold water for one to two days and nights. Afterward, select only the full seeds and place them in boiling water. Once all the seeds are submerged, quickly lift the sieve and let it cool. Then repeat the same soaking process again. Finally, rinse the seeds with cool water until the water runs clear. This method is effective in preventing diseases like smut in glutinous rice.
Second, sun-drying: Spread the seeds thinly on bamboo mats or other suitable surfaces to dry. The drying time depends on the seed type and environmental temperature. Drying helps kill germs, reduce disease incidence, speed up germination, and improve germination rates.
Third, sand storage: Place a layer of moist sand in a container, then spread a thin layer of seeds on top, cover with another layer of wet sand, and repeat as needed. Finally, cover the container and keep it in a shaded area. This technique is ideal for medicinal seeds with long dormancy periods or those that require warmth to germinate.
Fourth, refrigeration: Some medicinal seeds, such as gentian and northern sea cucumber, need low-temperature treatment to break dormancy. Before sowing, these seeds should be stored in a layer of wet sand and kept at temperatures between 0°C and 5°C for a period of time to ensure successful germination.
Fifth, breaking the seed coat: For seeds with thick or hard coats that are difficult to soak, mechanical methods like rubbing can be used to break the shell and promote germination. For example, licorice and Eucommia seeds benefit from this approach. Astragalus and peony seeds have waxy coatings, which can be rubbed with fine sand before soaking in warm water (35–40°C) for about 24 hours. This significantly improves germination rates. Larger medicinal seeds can also be treated by cutting their pods or seed coats to enhance germination.
Sixth, soaking in human urine: Soaking selected medicinal seeds in diluted human urine before sowing can enhance germination. There are two common methods:
1. Soak the selected seeds in 50% decomposed human urine for 6 to 8 hours, then sow them with plant ash.
2. Soak the seeds in 50% decomposed human urine for 4 hours.
Precautions:
(1) Soaking time should be adjusted based on factors like the concentration of the urine, seed maturity, and size. A test run is recommended to determine the optimal time.
(2) Always soak the seeds before they start to germinate; never soak them after germination has begun.
(3) Avoid using highly concentrated or immature human urine, as it may harm the seeds.