Seedling Problems. Causes And Remedies

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

A lot of information has been written on the cultivation of seedlings of vegetables, flowers, and the questions are not diminishing. Getting into a freelance situation, people get lost. The deadlines are running out, and there is little time left to solve these problems. I will try to consider the most important points

I regularly read the diaries on the site. How many pains and calls for help arise from gardeners now. It is a pity when the labors disappear right before our eyes. I would like to help everyone at once. Therefore, I decided to focus on the main elements when growing high-quality seedlings, without being tied to any culture.

The main question: “The seedlings froze in growth. What to do in this situation?"

Let's first consider the possible reasons:

1. Unsuitable soil.

2. Lack of batteries.

3. Picking (transfer).

4. Insufficient watering.

5. Acidic soil.

6. Sowing on unfavorable days.

If at least one of the listed factors takes place, then the seedlings stop growing.

Soil and fillers

Several years ago, I stopped using garden land for planting a house. Through trial and error, I found a suitable primer from Fasco (don't think - this is not an advertisement, I am sharing my experience). There is a balanced mixture of high-moor, low-lying peat, sand, with the addition of dolomite flour, complex mineral fertilizer. The acidity is neutral. If possible and desired, you can mix in a little perlite (vermiculite) to retain moisture.

In recent years, it has become fashionable to use coconut fiber. It entangles the roots of plants, preventing them from developing normally further. This winter I bought Konik spruce grown with added fiber. When transplanting, it had to be broken with effort in several places in order to free the underground part, giving it the opportunity to penetrate into the ground. Here, ordinary moss is more suitable, which has a number of positive properties:

• disinfector;

• baking powder;

• retains moisture;

• prevents the soil from drying out.

It is laid out on the surface in a thin layer or kneaded into a substrate.

Top dressing

When growing seedlings, many gardeners forget about feeding. Even if the soil is well filled with fertilizers, then after 2 weeks from the shoots it is necessary to give additional nutrition.

We ourselves eat 3 times a day! Why plants should be content with only the original stock. I discovered the Zdraven fertilizer for myself. On the principle of "cheap and effective". For 10 liters of water, 1 tablespoon is consumed. The pack is enough for 10 buckets. It costs about 50 rubles. Contains macro- and microelements in an accessible chelated form. The absence of chlorine-containing compounds increases the effectiveness of the drug. Suitable not only for seedlings, but also for adult specimens.

Recently I fed tomatoes. After that, in 2 days they grew by 3 cm.

Moderate watering has a positive effect on development. Do not overdry or overmoisten the soil. Such fluctuations create stress on plants. It is better to give water in small doses more often. Than to water occasionally, but abundantly.

Picking

Each pick with a violation of the earthen coma delays growth for 2 weeks. Cultures at this time come to life, adapt to new conditions, restore the damaged root system. To avoid stress, I put 1 seed in each seedling cup, excluding picking.

In case of non-similarity of individual copies, I lay a 20% insurance fund. I sow more from the estimated amount. The surplus is used to replace empty cells. I use containers with an exposed bottom, so when planting in a garden, the root system is not injured.

For tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, corn, I practice recessed planting. Initially, I fill the glass halfway with earth. As the soil grows, I add soil, creating an incentive for the formation of additional roots. They provide more nutrition to the plant.

Acidity

Most cultures love a neutral environment. Sour low-lying peat at an inexpensive price is not suitable for growing in its pure form. I was convinced of this on my own experience. It is better to buy a good soil at a higher price than to try to neutralize the disadvantages of a cheap one.

An acidic environment leads to the development of mold (white, green, brown). Where such a plaque has formed, the plants die. Exit: adding dolomite flour, frequent loosening of the surface after watering.

Unfavorable days

Someone believes in the lunar calendar, most do not accept it. There was such a case in my practice. We sowed carrots on the first bed one day, the other on the second. The variety and seeds from one pack are the same. The first batch sprouted amicably, the second gave single shoots. When I looked at the calendar late, it turned out that the last day was unfavorable for landings. So don't believe the calendars after that !!!

I understand that in spring every hour counts, and there are very few landing days in a month. Try not to sow at least during the most forbidden periods.

Hope that my experience will help to deal with the problems that have arisen. Make the right decision on time. Correct the situation in a positive way. I wish you to grow strong, healthy seedlings and get an excellent harvest!