Why grow seedlings?

You may ask yourself a question: why do you need seedlings, if you can simply throw the seeds into the ground?

Large seeds of such crops as, for example, legumes, pumpkins, etc., can be immediately thrown into the open ground.

And for plants with small seeds, growing seedlings gives significant advantages, thus protecting against pests, diseases, weather conditions, as well as speeding up the appearance of the harvest.

And in cold conditions, crops with a long growing season, for example, tomatoes, can be grown only by seedlings.

The rules for growing seedlings will also be useful for those who like to grow their own varieties that cannot be found in the store.

How to sow seedlings.

The main mistakes when growing seedlings

1. Growing seedlings from low-quality seeds 

The final result depends on the quality of the seed, so you need to buy it from verified sellers.

The desire to save can play a bad joke on you.

It is not recommended to buy seeds at sales, because such material, as a rule, expires soon, or it has been stored in improper conditions.

2. Lack of preparation for planting

If you are unsure about the quality of the seeds, before sowing, place them in a manganese solution for 20 minutes, then rinse with water.

For germination, we recommend using melted water or the melted juice of an adult aloe.

The juice should be collected from a plant no younger than three years old and kept in a refrigerator for seven days - after keeping the seeds in the juice, you do not need to wash them.

Seeds do not like to be in water for a long time, so 20 hours for germination is the maximum.

Sometimes it is enough to keep it in water for 12 hours.

Try not to allow the seeds to be bitten under water - after that, they will quickly suffocate.

3. Non-observance of seedling cultivation terms

The recommended time for sowing seeds is usually indicated on the back of the package.

And it must be followed.

Otherwise, even if the plants will look strong in the containers, they may not take root in the new place after transplanting.

The best time for growing a particular seedling is usually indicated on the seed packets and should be followed.

If you have collected the seeds you are going to plant yourself, you can determine the best time for planting them yourself, using the weather forecast.

To do this, you should count the following period from the date of the last frost:

  • Cucumbers and other pumpkin crops - 2-4 weeks before the last frost.

  • Tomatoes and eggplants - in 6-8 weeks.

  • Peppers and onions - in 8-12 weeks.

  • Cabbage - in 5-6 weeks.

  • Salad - in 4-5 weeks.

If you have lamps, a greenhouse, and if you are ready for several transplants, you can sow seedlings in advance.

4. The seeds are not disinfected

If you are not sure about the quality of the seeds - before sowing, place the seedlings in a manganese solution for 20 minutes, then rinse with water.

First of all, this is necessary to disinfect the seeds and avoid diseases that can be transmitted by the seeds.

 5. Planting ungerminated seeds

In order for the seed to germinate quickly, it is better to germinate it.

For germination, we recommend using melted water or the juice of an adult aloe.

Juice should be collected from a plant no younger than three years old and kept in a refrigerator for seven days.

Seeds do not like to be in liquid for a long time, so 20 hours for germination is the maximum.

Sometimes it is enough to keep the seeds in the liquid for 12 hours. 

6. Unsuitable soil for growing seedlings

Most often, a mixture of sod, peat and humus is used for sowing.

For different cultures, the ratio of these parts should be different.

It is advisable not to take already used substrate because it may contain infections.

Try to prepare soil for seedlings or buy it in a specialized store.

Do not use the first-best soil - pay attention to its looseness and light weight.

If you prepare the land yourself, try to mix compost and forest parts, humus, sand and ash. 

7. The capacity for seedlings is not selected correctly

It is important to find a suitable container for seedlings.

Some plants require a fairly large capacity, other cultures need tight containers.

8. Improper picking of seedlings

Unthinned seedling crops stop growing and wither and may not survive after transplanting to a new place.

Some plants do not tolerate diving very well, so it is recommended to plant them immediately in a permanent place.

Do not let the seedlings overgrow, and if you notice overgrown seedlings, immediately transplant them into a large capacity.

You can cut off their tops, place them in water, and then plant them in the ground.

And the remaining seedlings will grow side shoots.

9. Improper conditions for growing seedlings

For the successful cultivation of seedlings, it is important to observe the temperature regime, the regime of lighting and humidity.

Before germination, it is recommended to cover the seedlings with glass or polyethylene film.

Thanks to this, heat and moisture will remain in the soil longer.

It is important not to overdo it with moisture, as excessive moisture can cause the seed or root to rot.

If there is insufficient lighting, the seedlings can stretch out a lot.

Therefore, it is desirable that the seedlings stay in the light for at least 12-14 hours.

It is necessary to observe the temperature regime - cold-resistant cultures germinate at a temperature of 15-25 ° C, heat-loving - at a temperature of 27-30 ° C.

After the emergence of seedlings, do not allow the temperature to drop below 23-25 ​​degrees.

When nodules appear on the steps, move the seedlings to the light.

Start watering only when the top layer becomes crusted, because wet seedlings will quickly rot if there is insufficient light.

Also, once a week, water the seedlings with a solution of potassium permanganate, sprinkle it with crushed coal, and then loosen the soil.

10. Seedlings are not hardened

A few days before planting in the open ground, seedlings need to be hardened so that they do not die from a sudden change of habitat.

To do this, gradually increase the time the seedlings stay outdoors every day.

Plant seedlings in the evening and in cloudy weather.

TSN.ua wishes you a good harvest!

Read also

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  • How to grow a good crop of onions: all the tricks of planting and care

  • How to germinate cucumber seeds before planting: all stages of preparation