11 answers to the most important questions to keep your seedlings perfect

The seedling method is perhaps the most proven, and at times practically the only way to grow various crops. Due to unstable climatic and weather conditions, most gardeners prefer this particular option for growing vegetables. But at the same time, especially for novice gardeners, many questions arise related to the direct process of growing seedlings. Everyone wants to get the maximum yield in the future. Therefore, in our material, we will consider the most common questions regarding the cultivation of seedlings.

Seedlings: how to prepare for planting

In order not to get confused in your plans for the season and have a clear idea of ​​what you want to get on your beds, it is recommended to draw up an accurate plan of action. There must be a mandatory list with the crops that you plan to plant. Enter all the terms for growing and caring for each crop there. If you pay enough attention to the preparatory worries since winter, you will greatly facilitate your life during the already troublesome spring time. When compiling the lists, consider how much seedlings you need, do not forget about the timing of sowing seeds for seedlings. Buy the necessary containers and land for seeding. If necessary, attend to additional lighting and irrigation system. If necessary, immediately purchase the necessary feeding and disease control agents.

Choosing dishes for sowing seeds

It is worth remembering that, depending on the crop planted, the seedling containers also differ. These can be plastic containers, cassette-type dishes, wooden boxes, etc. Before use, it is imperative to disinfect with a not strong solution of potassium permanganate.
Most often, summer residents use plastic containers, due to their ease of use and ease of care.
For large crops, pots of peat and humus of various sizes are usually chosen. If the culture has a taproot system, then the depth of the dishes should be quite large so that the roots do not bend to the sides during growth. It is convenient that such seedlings can be planted in an open area without separating the pot from the plant. It gets soaked in the ground and subsequently acts as a good additional fertilizer. At the same time, during the measles dive, the plants are not injured. In addition, the possibility of contamination of the planting material with any diseases is excluded.

Seedlings: learning to select the right soil

For those who are just starting their way in the gardening business, we recommend choosing ready-made land for growing seedlings. This will allow you not to "bother" with the search for ingredients for the mixture, in compliance with the proportions. Usually ready-made mixtures do not require additional preparation and processing. Summer residents with extensive experience usually prepare the soil themselves. This process usually takes quite a long time. The soil must be disinfected, revived, the necessary dressing must be made, then you need to carefully monitor various indicators (for example, acidity) of the soil.All this is relevant if you plan to plant seedlings in a large volume (say, for sale or a large harvest). However, if you do not strive for a large number of crops and seedlings, it is better to choose ready-made mixtures, thereby greatly facilitating your life.

Seed preparation for sowing in the ground

It is preferable and easiest to purchase already prepared seeds. To do this, choose stores that specialize in the sale of garden and vegetable products, and not dubious private traders. Good seeds are usually sold already disinfected and do not require additional preparation procedures.
If you nevertheless decide to prepare seeds for planting on your own, then be prepared to spend a certain amount of time and effort. At a minimum, seeds should be treated with drugs that stimulate growth (for example, Kornerost or Energen aqua). This procedure allows your seedlings to emerge faster. It is especially important to treat too small seeds with growth stimulants, or seeds of those crops that have a whimsical root system. After the seeds have been sown, for convenience, sign where and what you have planted.

Sow seeds according to the rules

The dishes prepared in advance are filled with soil, while leaving one or two centimeters to the top. After that, compact the ground a little so that there is no empty space. If the substrate is dry, then it is better to water it first, put a film on top and leave it for a couple of days.
How deep should the seeds be planted? It is worth starting from the size of the seeds themselves. Those that are larger are usually sown to a depth of one and a half to two times more than the seed itself. Alternatively, you can simply spread them out on the soil, press a little against it and lightly sprinkle them with a substrate.
If the seeds are very small in size, then they can simply be left on top of the soil, without burying them anywhere. It will be better if you sprinkle them with water from a spray bottle. Under the weight of water droplets, the seeds are independently buried in the soil.
The seeds have been sown, now you need to cover them with a film that does not allow light to pass through and leave them warm.

Proper care of your seedlings

After your plantings have given amicable mass shoots, you need to move your dishes with seedlings to a place where the plants will receive the required amount of light, for example, you can use window sills. After about a week, you can water your seedlings for the first time. It is better to do this using a strainer. The water should not be cold. And before the first shoots appear, watch the topsoil. It needs to be kept moist enough. Do not overdo it.
Caring for mass seedlings consists in keeping the soil moist, observing the temperature regime, illumination. Take action to prevent disease if necessary.

Seedlings and illumination. Is it necessary or not?

To avoid a lack of light, pulling plants up, weak seedlings, it is better to observe the lighting regime. It is better to use additional lighting for at least about 13-14 hours a day. It makes sense to set the light in advance so that there is no shadow falling on the plants. This is necessary for convenience, so that you do not have to constantly unfold your containers from shadow to light.

Temperature regime for seedlings

Until that time, until shoots have appeared, you need to maintain the temperature at about +22 - 26 degrees. After the seedlings are massively born, the temperature must be lowered and kept at a level of about 15 - 19 degrees Celsius. If you go too far with the humidity level and observe too high a temperature regime, then there is a risk that your plants will not be healthy. It would be most correct to keep the temperature slightly lower than required, +13 - 15 degrees.The soil should be moist, but not too wet, then your seedlings will develop correctly and in the future will turn your work into healthy plants that give a good harvest.

Seedlings: how to water?

A good life hack for watering your seedlings. It is very convenient to keep dishes with water near containers with crops. Firstly, it keeps the air humidity at the required level. Secondly, you always have free access to water of the correct temperature, and besides, it is also settled.
Do not forget that after you have watered the seedlings, you need to ventilate your plantings a little. Just do not make drafts! Until three or four leaves appear on your plants, it is better to use a spray bottle for watering. For adult seedlings, you can use a pallet. Thus, your plants will take as much water as they need, there will be no risk of root rot. Two to three hours after watering the seedlings, slightly loosen the soil and sprinkle a thin layer of dry sand on top.

Protection of seedlings from diseases and pests

If the correct watering regime, temperature, humidity is not observed, then there is a risk that your plantings will "catch" a fungal or bacterial disease. This circumstance can ruin all your efforts in a short time. Therefore, an important element in the care of seedlings is to prevent the occurrence of such problems.
By the way, in order to avoid mass disease of your seedlings, it is recommended to plant them not in a large common container, but to use separate containers, where one or two plants will grow.
For preventive purposes, it makes sense to periodically spray seedlings and soil with preparations of biological origin for various diseases. To prevent this problem from affecting your seedlings, it is better to use cassette trays and pots of humus and peat.
The first treatment of plants is usually carried out seven to ten days after the emergence of seedlings. Follow the instructions! Further, for prevention, these funds are used once every 15 - 20 days. This procedure is convenient to carry out while watering plants from a spray bottle. Do not use chemically poisonous drugs.

Proper hardening of your seedlings

Before you release your plants into the "big life", they need to be prepared for this. How it's done? Ten to twelve days before planting plants in the beds. During the week, at night, the temperature in the room with the seedlings slowly decreases, then you need to take the containers with the seedlings to the balcony. This procedure makes your plants stronger, more resistant to temperature extremes and diseases.