Even in early spring, many gardeners think about the future harvest. We need to take care of seedlings, which in a warmer period can be planted in open ground. Of course, you can buy ready-made plants, but for a true lover of country life, it is important to do everything yourself. Traditional growing methods are familiar to everyone. This requires soil, good, high-quality seeds and ... a little effort. Today there is more than one landless way to grow seedlings. They require a minimum of cost and effort, and the result exceeds all expectations.
The advantages of the landless method
Using paper, sawdust and hydrogel instead of earthen soil has its advantages. The first is cleanliness. Working with the ground is always an inconvenience associated with the appearance of dirt. Secondly, it is compact. Not always there is a place to place boxes with soil. A landless method of growing seedlings requires very little space, especially when using paper. A large number of rolls of various vegetables and flowers can be placed on one windowsill. Thirdly, this is the minimum amount of financial costs. Usually it requires very few materials at hand, which are worth a penny and are always at hand. A landless way of growing seedlings is saving, simplicity and quality.
Sprouting on paper
Large seeds of vegetables sprout best. They have a large supply of nutrients, which helps them to develop freely for a long time. These are pumpkins, squash, cucumbers or squash. Although the landless method of growing seedlings is suitable for all types of plants. The easiest option is to use paper. It allows you to place an unlimited number of seedlings in a small area. Even toilet paper or napkins are suitable for this.
Sprouting seeds
Take any shallow container and lay out its bottom with a simple toilet paper in 2-3 layers. On top we put seeds for germination in an arbitrary order, but so that they do not touch each other. A landless method of growing seedlings on toilet paper is the most economical. But back to the technology of this process. Cover the seeds with a layer of toilet paper (or several). Now you need to moisten everything with water and subsequently maintain humidity. A container with seedlings can be covered with polyethylene, making an impromptu greenhouse. Now you need to wait for the seeds to germinate. Be sure to regularly wet the paper with water so that it is always wet.
Sprouts
Sprouts should appear soon. If up to this point it was not important where the seed container is located, now this issue is becoming more relevant. We rearrange the germinated seeds on a well-lit window. Polyethylene must be removed, otherwise under the influence of direct sunlight, tender sprouts can burn. While the seedlings are growing and gaining strength, you just need to make sure that the layer of paper does not dry out. Otherwise, the root system of plants may die. If the paper dries too fast, increase the number of layers. Thus, each sprout can release up to 2-3 leaves. However, do not delay the landing process. In the open field, plants will be comfortable, and they will begin to actively grow and develop. Therefore, the landless method of growing seedlings must be carefully planned so that the timing of planting coincides with climatic conditions. A layer of paper will become “soil” only for a while.
Sawdust cultivation
This is an unusual, but quite acceptable option for growing seedlings in a landless way. Its advantage can be called the acceleration of the appearance of fruits. In sawdust, the root system develops very well. Nutrients are delivered to the roots faster. This method is ideal for growing cucumbers and tomatoes. But you can use it for the cultivation of other seeds. To do this, you need a container (preferably a box) measuring approximately 1.3 x 1.7 meters. Sawdust is better to take high-quality and disinfected. Their layer should be as large as possible. So the roots of the plant will develop well, without obstacles.
Sawdust Technology
This is the best landless way to grow cucumber seedlings. Achieved maximum efficiency and germination. We cover the bottom of the prepared container with a film. Sawdust is scalded with boiling water to exclude the presence of diseases, germs and pests. Then pour them with a layer of 6-7 centimeters. You can pour more, from this the result will not get worse. On top, lay a layer of moist wood shavings (one centimeter thick). In the sawdust lay the seeds and cover the box with foil. After emergence, the film must be removed. Now for the sprouts, light is very important. Therefore, we move the box closer to the window. Next, do not forget to moisten the sawdust so that the root system of the plants develops well and does not dry out. To seedlings were strong, it can be fertilized with mullein. Its concentration should not be high, otherwise young seedlings may burn out. Two top dressings with an interval of at least two weeks are enough. Watering can be done with warm water.
Disembarkation time
Seedling development under optimal conditions is very fast. This usually takes about 2-3 weeks. When the sprout begins to produce real leaves, it must be planted in open ground. The roots must be shaken off the sawdust and carefully inspected. Immediately we reject diseased plants with a poorly developed root system. They will not only not grow fully, but will become a source of the spread of the disease. The best sprouts are planted, which in the future will give a good harvest. This is a great landless way to grow seedlings. Reviews indicate its successful use by gardeners. As many have noted, sawdust is forming a good root system, which is important for further growth and a good harvest. The only drawback of this method is its bulkiness. To install the box requires a lot of space, which is not always convenient.
Interesting way
This option of growing seedlings in a landless way is very interesting and, one might say, original. Its advantages are a minimum of expenses and the occupied space. You will need a film (you can take the old one from the greenhouse) and toilet paper. From polyethylene we cut strips 10 centimeters wide. The length can be arbitrary and depends on the number of seeds. We spread toilet paper on top. Wet it with water and spread the seeds. Between them we maintain a distance of 1-2 centimeters. We spread the seeds in a row, stepping back from above about a centimeter. We cover the strip with toilet paper, and again we put the film on it. We turn the workpiece into a roll and put it in a glass or other container with water. The water should be about 3-4 centimeters. We put seedlings on the windowsill and wait for the results. From time to time it is necessary to add and change water. After two weeks, shoots may appear. The roll will look like a green bunch. You can add a few drops of the solution to the water to accelerate growth (for example, "Athlete"). When two full leaves appear, seedlings can be planted in the ground. To do this, unroll the roll and remove two strips of film. Plants can be planted in the soil with paper. Try it and you will see that this is a great landless method of growing seedlings, a photo of which can be found here.
Sprouting potato seeds
Even potatoes can be grown from seeds. They are purchased in specialized stores. For germination we take a very thick piece of paper, like from a matchbox. Then we saturate it well with water. We spread the potato seeds along the edge of the leaf. We turn it in half and twist it into a tube. The paper should be completely wet. Wrap the roll with thread (this will prevent it from unrolling). Then we put the blank in the bag. In a week, the first shoots will appear. After this, the sprouts must be moved to the ground for further development.
Afterword
The effectiveness and advantages of these options are undeniable. They can be applied to the seeds of any plants. The landless way of growing flower seedlings is also very productive. Germination technology remains unchanged. These methods are especially good in conditions of small areas. A little space is required, and the result exceeds all expectations. Choosing the best method is everyone's personal business. But you can always try something new, perhaps this option will be more preferable.