A good crop of vegetables depends on the quality of seedlings. If the plants are stunted, do not expect a good result. In order for the seedlings to grow well, you need to prepare suitable soil for it. We will talk further about how to prepare and disinfect the land for seedlings.
How to prepare the soil for seedlings yourself
Growing seedlings is a very troublesome business. These plants are more moody and need special privileges than those that grow in open ground. To grow seedlings of good quality, an ideal soil is required, in which all nutrients and trace elements will be collected. Under each plant, acidity must be correctly selected. In no case should pests and insects be in the soil. Here are the basic requirements that land must meet:
- Good moisture and breathability. The soil should be soft, loose and light. This will allow oxygen to freely penetrate the root system.
- The soil must be balanced and fertile. In addition to organic compounds, the earth must also contain all micro and macro elements. Do not forget that all components must be contained in certain proportions.
- Soil must meet certain requirements for acidity. The normal indicator ranges from 6.0 to 7.0. If it is insufficient or above normal, then in the future seedlings can pick up various diseases.
The main rule when preparing the soil yourself is to observe the measure in everything.
Anti-soil
During the preparation of the soil for seedlings, you need to know what in no case should be in the ground:
- Infections Fungal spores, germs, insects and their larvae should not be present in the land for planting.
- Harmful and toxic elements. In the soil for seedlings should not contain waste from hazardous industries, garbage, heavy metals.
- Substances that, when mixed with each other, begin to actively decompose.
When preparing the land on its own, do not mix clay into it yourself. It greatly affects the condition and quality of the soil. In this case, it becomes unsuitable for growing strong and healthy seedlings.
Time and method of preparation and disinfection of the soil
Preparation of land for seedlings begins in the fall. It is better if the soil freezes well during the winter. Before planting, the ground is heated and cultivated. Today, there are many ways to prepare the land. This instruction should be a desktop guide for the gardener:
- The earth is sifted. Remove all insects, larvae and debris.
- The next step is soil disinfection. This must be done. So it will be easy to get rid of all germs and spores.
- To obtain high-quality seedlings, add a glass of ground egg shells to a bucket of soil.
- So that the earth is loose and airy, crushed polystyrene, pumice or rice husk is added.
From the entire instruction, it is necessary to dwell in more detail on such an important issue as how to disinfect the land for seedlings.
Rules for disinfecting land for growing seedlings
The most common problems with growing seedlings arise precisely from the soil. So that there are no pathogenic microbes left in it, it is subjected to special treatment. There are several ways to disinfect the land for seedlings. Let's consider each of them separately:
Method 1 Calcination. The earth is sent to the oven and held for about 15–20 minutes at a temperature of 90–100 degrees. So that the soil is evenly calcined, it is laid out on a baking sheet with a layer of no more than 5 cm. It is not necessary to raise the temperature more than 100 degrees. The soil will deteriorate and is not suitable for growing plants.
Method 2 Steaming This procedure is applied a month before the use of land. It is placed in a pan, tightly closed with a lid, and sent to be steamed in a water bath. Maintain soil for two hours.
Method 3 Freezing. This method is used for soil that was collected in the fall. The land is cleaned on a balcony and kept there all winter. A month before planting, seeds are taken out and thawed at room temperature.
Method 4 Processing of land by potassium permanganate. This method is considered the most effective, simple and effective. The earth is watered with fresh hot potassium permanganate solution and allowed to dry. The composition is prepared in the following proportion: 1 teaspoon potassium permanganate per 1 liter of water.
Method 5 Soil disinfection can be carried out using special preparations. They can be purchased at stores specializing in gardening products.
Which way to choose is up to you. In general, each of them is effective and time-tested. Having figured out how to decontaminate the earth, you need to consider in detail the latter method.
Preparations for the cultivation of land and seedlings
The presented preparations are suitable for processing soil and plants:
- Sulfur colloidal. The substance has a fungicidal effect. Sulfur is used only in the morning or evening hours, as its toxicity may occur at high temperatures. Suitable drug for disinfection of not only the soil, but also plants with signs of disease. Colloidal sulfur is suitable for the control of powdery mildew, ascochitosis, scab and other diseases.
- Copper sulfate. Another remedy with fungicidal properties. It is well dissolved in water. Suitable for spraying plants. Copper sulfate can be used to disinfect the soil at home and in the suburban area.
- Combined fungicides. These are the best drugs for working with seedlings of a wide spectrum of action. Tillage of land and plants by such means increases their resistance to diseases and infections.All these drugs will help to disinfect the soil, if suddenly you decide to prepare it with your own hands. It is quite troublesome to do this on your own, so you can buy ready-made soil in the store.
Shop soil
The most popular is the soil for growing seedlings "Garden". It can be bought at every specialty store. Seedlings are very fond of such ready-made mixtures and grows in them simply magnificent. In their composition, everything is balanced, and each component is added in a scientifically sound proportion. Also in the finished soil there are additives that stimulate the growth of seedlings. It is worthwhile to conduct a detailed analysis and look inside the package with the soil "Garden".
Secret inside
In fact, there are no secrets in the finished soil. It consists of the following ingredients:
- Peat. It has high sterility and the ability to retain moisture well.
- Mineral supplements that stimulate seedling growth.
- Humic substances. Promote root growth. Gives plants strength and stability.
- Sand. Helps the soil not dry out and not settle.
- Agroperlite. This substance helps the root system to be saturated with oxygen.
- Chernozem. The main and main component of the finished mixture. Land completely cultivated from debris and impurities, as well as from all pathogens of infections.
These seemingly simple additives are contained in the finished soil "Garden". Before buying soil, you should pay attention to the following points:
- The package should not have large and dry lumps of earth. This is considered a key indicator of soil quality.
- After opening, it is worth evaluating the appearance of the earth. It should not be dust. Mild soil moisture is allowed.
Choosing the soil and preparing it for planting, you can begin to process the seeds.
Seed preparation
Having figured out how to decontaminate the land for seedlings, it is worth approaching the problem of seed preparation. Everything is much simpler here. It consists of the following:
- Visual inspection of seeds. You need to select all the bad instances.
- Rinse planting material and dry thoroughly.
- The next step will be seed disinfection. Do this with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. The seeds are soaked in it for 15–20 minutes.
- For better germination, the planting material is soaked in hot water for a day before planting.
Having figured out the question of how and how to treat seeds, soil, plants from bacteria and diseases, we can expect a good result.
Conclusion
Having figured out the main question - how to disinfect the land for seedlings - beginning gardeners can start this procedure in practice. In fact, there is nothing complicated. A little diligence and perseverance will help in the future to grow good and beautiful seedlings. Soil and seed disinfection is today a mandatory procedure. Strong and healthy plants will take root faster in open ground.