New Year comes into its own. The garden is snowy and cold. However, it is in the first winter months that vegetable growers open the season. What is the reason for such early sowing? These are the peculiarities of growing vegetable products, which will require from 90 to 150 days before technical ripeness. Seedling method allows to accelerate the ripening of vegetables. The date of sowing seeds in closed ground conditions depends on the individual characteristics of the culture and its variety. When determining the sowing period, the necessary run for the plant should be calculated. Do not rush. This can lead to lower quality seedlings.
Basic conditions for obtaining planting material
Getting a good crop of vegetables depends on the quality of seedlings. To obtain high-quality planting material, you must:
- use quality seeds;
- carry out pre-sowing treatment of seed;
- observe thermal, light and water conditions.
But, before you prepare the seeds and start sowing, you should take care of seedlings and soil.
Soil preparation
How to prepare the land for seedlings? This question is quite important when growing plants indoors. Inexperienced growers do not pay enough attention to this issue. And as a result, the emerged shoots begin to hurt and die. Let's try to figure out what is the reason. When choosing a soil, you can do several ways:
- to get ready soil;
- prepare the soil composition yourself.
Ready soil can be found in specialized stores. Usually this is a universal earth mix intended for growing vegetable seedlings. But based on the experience of many vegetable growers, it is safe to say that a more reliable second way to use the soil. It is better to worry in advance and prepare it yourself in the autumn.
Basic requirements for soil composition for vegetable seedlings
Before you prepare the land for seedlings, you should consider its features. The soil composition should ensure the normal development and growth of a particular vegetable crop. The following requirements apply to this land:
- fertility;
- the content of the necessary set of trace elements;
- neutral acidity
- sufficient friability and permeability;
- lack of weed seeds and pests;
- exclusion of infections and toxic substances.
Components used in the preparation of soil mixtures and substrates
The best land for seedlings can be made using various organic and inorganic components in strictly defined proportions. As a rule, its composition includes from three to four components.
Soddy ground is the topsoil covered with grass. It is harvested in summer or autumn. A thin layer of soil cut off by a shovel is placed in containers for further use. Apply turf soil after special preparation. Also, before use, it is subjected to heat treatment. Used as the basis of soil for seedlings.
Peat (high, transitional or lowland) - decayed dead plants. It enriches the soil with organic substances and improves its structure.
Moss sphagnum is a perennial plant. As part of the earthen mixture, it is indispensable. Moisture absorption of moss helps to improve the quality of the soil, which acquires a more loose structure. The natural bactericidal properties of the plant are an excellent remedy for root decay.
Sawdust - waste after processing wood. Provides friability and permeability of the soil.
Compost is organic matter decomposed by microorganisms. It is a wonderful natural conditioner. The content of humus and trace elements provides plant nutrition.
Sand is used to increase the porosity and friability of the soil. Promotes the penetration of moisture and air to the root system of seedlings. Coarse-grained structures are used.
Coira - coconut flakes. Used for the preparation of substrates.
Vermiculite is a mineral composed of laminated plates. Having a good moisture capacity, this component prevents drying of the soil.
Perlite is a lightweight porous material. To obtain it, volcanic materials are subjected to heat treatment. The addition of perlite to the earthen mixture makes it loose and breathable. Also increases the moisture capacity of the soil mixture.
In addition to the components listed above, others are also shaded that increase the moisture capacity, such as:
- hydrogel;
- expanded clay;
- ground polystyrene foam.
To reduce the acidity of the soil, it is useful to use the following components:
- lime fluff;
- a piece of chalk;
- dolomite flour.
Land for seedlings should be ready for sowing. The procurement of components for it is engaged in the autumn period. Store them in plastic containers at zero temperature.
Components that should not be used when preparing the ground
In order for the planting material to be strong and healthy, before preparing the ground for seedlings, you need to know about the components that are not advisable to use in earthen mixtures. Quite often, the question arises about the use of land from the garden. This is undesirable. The reason is that it may contain weed seeds , as well as fatal infections. In this soil, insects and earthworms can be found. Also, the composition of the soil can not include fresh manure. Do not use unripened compost and uncultivated turf land.
Preparation of soil for seedlings
Before preparing the land for seedlings, determine the soil composition intended for a particular culture. The cultivation of certain vegetables has individual characteristics. And naturally, the composition of the soil can be different. Ground for tomato seedlings can have the following composition:
- two parts of turf land;
- one part of compost or peat;
- one piece of sand or perlite.
Sod land is placed in a bulk container. It should not contain lumps. Knead the soil and mix well. Compost or peat is added to it. The earth mixture should be homogeneous. After adding sand or perlite to combine all the components, the soil is thoroughly mixed. Land for seedlings tomato is ready. It is moved to containers for sowing seeds.
Ground for pepper seedlings can be the same as for tomatoes. You can use a different composition:
- three parts of turf land;
- one part of compost;
- one part of wood sawdust;
- one piece of sand.
Land for seedlings of pepper and tomatoes is prepared in advance. A week before sowing seeds, the soil is distributed in seedlings and moistened with a pink solution of potassium permanganate. After that, you can add mineral fertilizers and wood ash.
Preparation of substrate for vegetable seedlings
The main component of the above soil compositions is the earth. However, it is possible to grow seedlings without land. For this purpose, substrates are prepared instead of ordinary soil. One of the options for the landing train can be this:
- two parts of sawdust;
- one piece of sand.
An interesting option for growing seedlings can be a coconut substrate. It is obtained from coconut peel. This substrate has good performance, the main of which are sterility and environmental friendliness. It is a balanced fertile mixture with good water and air permeability. Alternatively, coconut tablets — pressed coconut flakes — are used to grow seedlings.
In addition to coconut substrate, peat substrate can be used. Its basis is a natural material - peat.
Modern methods of growing planting material
New methods of growing seedlings can do without soil and substrate. For this purpose, wood chips, paper or hydrogel are used. Growing seedlings without land allows you to get enough planting material in a limited space. For growing on paper, the seeds are pre-soaked. Then they are placed on a damp cloth placed in a plastic container. Top they are covered with polyethylene. Next, make sure that the napkin is wet. After the appearance of sprouts, the seeds are constantly moisturized. In this case, the temperature should not fall below 25 degrees.
For growing vegetable seedlings, you can use wet sawdust. Seeds are sown in sawdust treated with boiling water. Seedling containers are covered with a film. After emergence, the film is removed. Tanks are installed in a well-lit place. Care consists in regular watering. Also spend 2 subcortex with mullein.
Growing seedlings without land has its advantages. The main one is sterility. Excludes the possibility of infection, weed seeds and pests.