You have been growing seedlings for fifteen years now, or this is a novelty for you, it does not matter: you can spoil the process in either case. Newbie gardeners do not always understand all the nuances and secrets, and experienced gardeners often act out of habit, using their great-grandmother's advice, and sometimes they are surprised to learn that delusions can also be inherited.
In this article, we will analyze the main mistakes that garden lovers make from year to year when breeding seedlings. We will definitely take them into account, we will try to remember and bypass all the "no", so that our young growth will please with strength and health.
What does healthy "correct" seedlings look like?
Let's look at the signs of "correct" seedlings:
- Healthy young growth is always short, stocky, and has a plump stalk.
- Strong seedlings are distinguished by their dark green leaves.
- Strong plants have a well-developed root system. Ideally, when transplanting to a permanent location, the roots should firmly hold the plant in the ground.
- High-quality seedlings do not have peduncles and, moreover, fruit ovaries.
How to raise such young growth? It is necessary to minimize the errors that will be discussed below.
The most common mistakes when growing seedlings
Improperly prepared soil
Often the reason for "bad" seedlings is the soil composition where they are bred. Quality soil is just as important as quality seed. But if we treat the purchase of seeds with all responsibility, then we often collect the land in the garden, and even better - in the greenhouse, where the excellent soil is. Of course, it is there that our favorite tomatoes flaunt, for which we do not mind fertilizers. This is the first mistake.
The seedling soil should be a mixture of several ingredients. As a rule, its components are humus, river sand (better than large grains), sod land, peat, sawdust (but not fresh). They are mixed in precise proportions, depending on the crop of the plants with which the soil is compiled.
If you do not know how or do not want to prepare the soil yourself, or you do not have time for this, buy a ready-made mixture. You can take note of the recipe for a proven universal composition: we take vermicompost and coconut fiber in a 1: 2 ratio. Then, on each bucket of the resulting soil, we add a glass of ash.
If you are a real amateur gardener and did the soil yourself, it is recommended to freeze it on the balcony for a month or a month and a half. Be sure to bring the soil into a warm room for defrosting every two weeks, and then rearrange it to the cold again.14 days before the introduction of seeds, the soil is placed in a warm place and watered with a solution of an EM-preparation, which activates the activity of beneficial microorganisms. This greatly reduces the chances of pests and pathogenic bacteria to harm young seedlings in the future.
Failure to comply with the timing of planting seedlings
Many gardeners are sure that the sooner you put seeds for seedlings in the ground, the faster you will harvest. And they often get the exact opposite result.
There is no need to rush and sow all the plants in February. This is especially true if you do not have the opportunity to light up the seedlings. Better to carefully examine the bag of seeds and read the instructions on the back. Almost always there they indicate the timing of laying the seed or recommend at what age young plants are best transplanted to permanent residence.
Unsuitable seedling containers
The cups in which you intend to grow seedlings must be sure to have drainage holes that are appropriate for the crop and be clean. Often gardeners neglect the issue of good drainage, however, if water stagnates in the soil, seeds and seedlings can rot and die. Earlier, we have already discussed how to correctly approach the choice of suitable containers for seedlings, and have identified all the pros and cons of various cups, tablets, pots.
Practical experience shows that for seedlings that need picking, it is necessary to take a container of 100 ml for planting a seed and 500 ml in order to transplant a young plant later. If picking is not required for seedlings, it is better to immediately sow seeds in 500 ml cups.
Inadequate seed preparation for sowing
Often, many gardeners simply ignore the need to prepare seeds for sowing. But you should know that the procedure for preventing diseases and stimulating germination has a very positive effect on both the development of seedlings and the future harvest.
Disinfect tomato seeds in a solution of potassium permanganate and give them a stimulus to grow with the help of aloe juice, do not be too lazy to sprout eggplants and peppers, pre-heat the pumpkin seed material - and you will be pleasantly surprised with the result.
There are, however, such meticulous gardeners who perform all pre-sowing manipulations with seeds prepared and processed by the manufacturer. The fact that the material has already been processed is necessarily indicated on the package. Therefore, there is no need to step on the same rake - we put seeds in granules, plasma, "colored" and with a gel shell into the soil directly from the bag, dry.
Deepening the seeds
Another unpleasant horticultural blunder is planting seeds too deep in the soil. Most of them never manage to get to the top and all that remains is to rot in a glass. And the owner at this time issues streams of obscene words to the producers who have released again, don't understand what. But there are seeds that germinate only in the light, so they generally cannot be sprinkled with soil on top.
That is why, before sowing seedlings, do not be too lazy to re-read the instructions on the back of the package with seeds once again. As a rule, the manufacturer indicates the most favorable sowing depth. You can be guided by general recommendations - the burial of seeds in the ground should not be more than twice the diameter of the grain.
Thickened plantings
There were times when you sowed three or four seeds in one container? What if not all will sprout? And so it was a pity to pull out the extra plants, which, as if on purpose, all crawled out in a crowd ... Such a pity leads to thickened plantings.
Now let's figure out how the seedlings feel. Each of them receives less food, air and sunlight. Plants stretch upward, the stems become very fragile. In addition, the chances of catching a "black leg" and other ailments of seedlings are greatly increased.
So there is no need to be greedy, and when the time comes, it is better to throw away the extra seedlings or transplant them into another container.
Untimely watering
Many mistakes amateur gardeners make precisely when watering young plants. The most common of these is watering newly planted seeds. How does this affect seeds? The water current draws them into the depths of the soil, and all your efforts to maintain the optimal planting depth are reduced to zero. A much greater effect will be given by abundant moisture in the soil before sowing. In special cases, the soil above the newly planted seed can be saturated with moisture using a spray bottle.
The second common mistake is over-watering. Before the sprouts appear, it is not necessary to moisten the ground at all. And the first time after germination, watering is carried out very rarely. That's when the seedlings go into active growth, then you need to carefully monitor the soil and prevent drying out. The most optimal solution to these problems will be water in the sump. As a result, the roots independently absorb as much moisture as they need. At the same time, the upper part of the soil will remain dry, and therefore the likelihood of developing a "black leg" will be minimal.
The third mistake is watering the plants just before transportation. Moisture-saturated stems break more often. Therefore, in order not to risk the health of the seedlings in the car, it is recommended to thoroughly spill the soil in containers after the move.
Incorrect temperature conditions
Providing seedlings with optimal temperature conditions is not an easy task. Indeed, in the daytime, seedlings require one temperature, at night - another, besides, each culture has its own preferences. Tomatoes and peppers love warmth, while cabbage plants, on the other hand, love cool air.
And yet, try not to make the most gross blunders in this matter. For example, do not put the cups with newly planted seeds on a hot radiator: "Let the earth warm up well - the seedlings will sprout up faster." It is contraindicated to place pots with recently hatched sprouts on a cold windowsill. And you do not need to assure that the plastic windows do not allow drafts at all, it is better to put old books or thick magazines around the perimeter of the windowsill, and already on them - boxes with seedlings.
Place a thermometer near the plants. This will help you to react in time to temperature changes: when lowering, wrap the containers with cloth or newspapers, and in hot sunlight, shade the seedlings and open the window.
Lack of lighting
If your seedling is tall and has thin, weak stems, it lacks light. Of course, in our difficult times, when one crisis catches up with another and you have to save forever, even energy-saving lamps are not always possible to purchase. But in the absence of sufficient light, the plants will have great difficulty surviving.
Place seedlings by the lightest window. And so that additional lighting is not needed, plant the seeds as late as possible - somewhere in late March - early April. At this time, daylight hours have already lasted long enough.
Late pick
Some plants do not require picking, while others simply need it. However, the process of transplanting a sprout from a smaller container to a larger one must be carried out in due time. The second real leaf looked out - it's time to dive. Late with this procedure, amateur gardeners risk losing a significant part of the seedlings, as their survival rate will decrease.
Lack of hardening
High-quality seedlings are not afraid of temperature fluctuations, because ten to twelve days before transplanting to a permanent place, they are placed on a terrace or balcony, increasing the period of "walking" in the fresh air every day. If you do not follow this rule, plants accustomed to heating heat may simply not take root in the garden or die at the first temperature drop.
Take into account the mistakes of others and adhere to the basic rules - in this case, your young growth will be healthy and strong. In addition, you can use the tables previously published in our articles. They will help you calculate the best seedling age, determine the optimal temperature and time for additional lighting.
I wish you success. Let the gardening business be a joy and bring a big harvest!
