Spring is a period of activation of summer residents. At this time, they are actively taken for growing seedlings. This procedure requires strength, attention and patience. It is necessary to prepare the boxes, the soil in advance, select the appropriate seeds and sow them. As soon as the first leaves appear on the seedlings, they are given a short period of time so that they grow stronger and grow. After you can start picking.
In other words, a dive is the planting of plants with their further transfer to a new environment for growth. This procedure is also necessary for the selection of high-quality and strong specimens, because immature and weak plants are removed. Good, strong and strong sprouts are transplanted into separate containers. Diving seedlings allows you to prepare planting material for planting in open ground. Plants will be able to grow strong and quickly take root in the open ground.
What is a pick for?
Among summer residents there is still a debate about whether to transplant plants in small separate pots. Many sow seeds in a large container and grow seedlings there almost until the period of planting in open ground. But when do you need to dive seedlings?
All summer residents know that this process involves thinning rows, removing fragile, weak seedlings and transplanting strong ones into separate pots or special glasses.
Many are interested in why you need to use a pick. The answer is obvious, because if the sown seeds sprouted densely, they will need to be thinned out. Many reasonably believe: why lose seedlings if they can initially be planted in separate cups and soon get strong plants? But if the seeds were sown in a common box, and not in special cups or cassettes, then they still have to be transplanted. It is better to approach this procedure before the root system is intertwined. Late picking of seedlings is often accompanied by trauma to tender roots. In this case, the seedlings can take root poorly in a new place.
In addition, growth in thickened conditions contributes to malnutrition of the plant. Immediately after transplantation, lateral roots actively grow, a fibrous root system develops , which forms in the upper soil layer. Plant transplantation must be carried out under favorable conditions.
How to dive?
There are general rules for picking seedlings of any culture. The main thing is that you can transplant the plant only at a time when more than 2 true leaves appeared on it. At this stage of development, the main organs of the root system are already being formed. And this will provide a painless change of soil.
Many gardeners claim that pickling seedlings of some crops (for example, tomatoes) is carried out 2 times. To correctly determine the dive period, it is necessary to take into account the stage of development of seedlings. If they are strong, then they can transfer the transplant well. Often this period occurs 2 weeks after emergence. But it is also important to consider the type of plant and its features.
How to dive tomato and pepper seedlings
Inveterate summer residents for planting any plant use various special containers: peat tablets, a sleeve for seedlings, cups, pots, etc. Often, when transplanting, they use a ready-made soil mixture purchased in a flower shop. Such soil does not need additional processing.
If you use forest, garden or turf soil, it is necessary to conduct heat treatment. This will destroy the pathogenic microflora.
To replenish beneficial microorganisms, it is necessary to pour humus under the root. This nuance is very important, because in the absence of favorable microflora, mineral substances will not be split. This means that the root system will not receive the necessary nutrients.
Many are interested not only in the question of how to feed seedlings after a dive, but also when exactly it needs to be done. You can feed seedlings 2 weeks after transplanting. After complex fertilizers must be applied every 10 days.
Features of picking tomatoes, depending on the variety
The main goal of each summer resident is to get a good harvest. To achieve a good result, it is necessary not only to choose the right seeds, but also to care for the plants from the moment of their germination. For this, it is necessary to correctly pick out tomato seedlings. The required number of transplants of seedlings directly depends on the plant variety.
All tomatoes are conditionally divided into:
- tall;
- undersized;
- medium-sized.
Repeated transplantation requires tall varieties of tomatoes. The rest is enough for one transplant.
The first pick of tomato seedlings is carried out approximately 10 days after the appearance of the first seedlings. During this period, the roots are already quite strong, which means that the procedure will be painless for the plant.
In no case should seedlings be overgrown. The root system of neighboring tomatoes can become mixed up and injured when split. As a result, the plant can take root poorly, become ill, and this will negatively affect the quality of the crop.
Preparatory work
Before proceeding with the transplant, it is necessary to prepare everything for work:
- capacity;
- soil;
- water for irrigation.
Soil can be prepared independently at home, and not purchased in the store. For this, humus, peat, forest or sod land are mixed in equal parts. 1/3 of washed river sand, 200 g of ash and 20 g of complex fertilizer are added to the resulting mixture. All are mixed.
Tomatoes gratefully respond to root dressing. Summer residents recommend the use of complex fertilizers, which contain a large number of various micro and macro elements.
Make sure that the bottom of the container has drainage holes that allow excess moisture to escape. Small pebbles are laid on the bottom as drainage. The vessel is filled with prepared soil, ramming it well. This provides better traction of the root system to the soil. The container should not be filled 1 cm from the edge.
In each cup, a dark solution of potassium permanganate must be added, which will disinfect the soil.
Features of planting tomatoes
12 hours before picking, seedlings need to be watered. Saturated with moisture, plants are much easier to tolerate the transplant. Work must begin either in the morning or in the evening.
Right before planting, it is necessary to moisten the soil well. In containers with a pencil or stick make a hole in the soil. Seedlings are dug neatly with a spatula, removed from the soil and lowered into prepared holes. After fingers gently press the ground around the stem.
Be sure to pay attention to the long main root. If he himself did not fall off, he must be plucked by 1/3. This stimulates the growth of lateral roots. They provide the plant with the necessary moisture and minerals.
Often summer residents resort to another method of growing seedlings. The pick in this case does not occur in individual small cups, in a larger container. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that the soil volume is optimal for each seedling. To do this, remember the planting pattern. Tall varieties must be planted at a distance of 10 cm from each other, and undersized - 8 cm.
Seedlings must be planted in a checkerboard pattern. They are buried in the ground almost to the cotyledons. This planting provides a branch from the stem of the subordinate roots, which enhance the nutrition of the future plant.
After transplanting, seedlings are watered, mulched and exposed in a low-light place. Here the seedlings should stand for about 4 days. During this period, she will depart from the resulting stress, take root.
Pepper picking terms, features
All summer residents know that pepper is a rather capricious culture. Engaged in its cultivation, you must carefully monitor the condition of the plant. Otherwise, minor errors can cause the development of various diseases, which will subsequently affect crop yields. Getting a good crop depends on the correct picking of pepper seedlings. Of course, you should also create optimal conditions for the development of seedlings - to provide the necessary amount of nutrients, moisture and lighting.
To obtain seedlings without picking, it is enough to sow the seeds immediately in separate containers. In this case, the plant will develop in one place before planting in open ground.
If the seeds were sown in a common large capacity, then seedlings must be planted at the stage of emergence of 2 true leaves. With a dense landing, a picking of pepper seedlings should be carried out at the stage of formation of 3-4 leaves. After all, by this time, seedlings begin to actively fight for survival.
The exact date of planting seedlings cannot be given. If they were sown in early February, then a pick should be carried out in March. The main thing is to monitor the condition of the stems and leaves.
How to plant pepper
Before planting, water the soil abundantly. Prepare containers, most often use peat pots. Already stronger seedlings can be transferred to open ground directly with a pot.
Transplanting a seedling of pepper occurs on the same principle as planting tomatoes. Only the main root must be pinched on the ¼ part. It should be remembered that in any case it is impossible to deepen pepper seedlings during transplantation! No additional roots will appear from the stem, so such seedlings can become sick, rot, and even die.
Transplanted plants are watered, mulched and put in a dark place for several days.
Strawberry pick
The picking of strawberry seedlings consists in transplanting the plant into an individual pot filled with suitable soil. The moment of transplantation is the appearance of 2-4 real leaves. The optimal capacity is 9 cm in diameter and 11 cm in depth. When planting strawberry seedlings in a total capacity, you should be guided by the planting scheme of 8 x 8 cm.
The ideal soil mixture for transplantation is prepared from the following components:
- garden land (3 parts);
- peat (6 parts);
- coarse sand (1 part);
- mineral fertilizers (per 1 kg of soil 2-3 g).
If it is not possible to use peat, you can replace it with a mixture of humus and earth, taken in equal proportions.
Conclusion
Picking is an important stage in the cultivation of high-quality, healthy seedlings, which in the future will give a good harvest. It is important to properly transplant the plant, given its appearance, variety and characteristics.