Citrullus COLOCYNTHIS

Sowing and germination

Colocynth seeds are flat, dense, light-colored, rich in fatty oil, and ripen inside the dry, spongy pulp of the fruit. Their shell is hard, so the seeds need pre-treatment before sowing. No stratification required. First, the seeds are warmed up: poured with warm water for 4-5 minutes, then the water is drained, the seeds are wrapped in a damp cloth and kept warm at 25-30°C for two or three days until the seedlings sprout. Then they are etched for 30 minutes in a 1% solution of potassium permanganate, washed and soaked in warm water with the addition of a growth stimulator: balanced plant vitamin supplement, natural plant growth stimulant, amino-acid plant fertilizer, anti-stress adaptogen solution or root development stimulant. Sow the hatched seeds one at a time into cups about 10 cm in diameter with a mixture of 3 parts humus and 1 part turf or garden soil.