2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
You can grow high-quality planting material in a variety of containers. At the same time, it is, of course, quite difficult to call any specific containers the best option for growing seedlings. Every summer resident sooner or later faces a difficult choice. And it is much easier to do it when manufacturers offer a wide variety of options
Peat tablets
The popularity of special peat tablets is gradually gaining momentum. They represent fine compressed peat encased in a rather strong mesh with various nutritional supplements. The diameter of peat tablets can range from 2.5 to 4.5 cm. The miracle tablets are poured with water, after placing them in trays. Swelling, they increase in height several times (often 5 - 7 times). The seeds are planted in the recesses at the top.
Such "utensils" greatly facilitate the picking stage. In addition, this container is characterized by excellent moisture and air permeability. At the first stage of growing seedlings, you do not need to purchase or prepare seedling soil, and when planting it, it is enough just to place tablets with seedlings in the soil.
Peat tablets are not cheap, of course. And just like with peat pots and cups, relentless moisture control will be required, since the roots of seedlings are very easy to dry out.
Peat cassettes
This includes a certain number of cells of a small section depth. Their appearance sometimes even somewhat resembles egg trays. Since the cassettes are 30% cardboard and 70% peat, when planting seedlings in the ground, there is no need to remove them from the cells, that is, you can safely plant cells in the soil, previously separated from the cassettes.
When planting seedlings, you should try to completely bury the cells in the ground so that the parts of the cassettes remaining above it, drying out, do not dehydrate the parts located underground. After some time, the completely buried cells will finally dissolve and become a good organic fertilizer for the planted plants. However, peat cassettes, like all peat containers, can easily get wet and moldy.
Boxes
This is the oldest option for growing seedlings. Moreover, the boxes can be made of completely different materials - foam, plastic or wood. Initially, the seeds are planted in a common box, and a little later the seedlings are picked. The boxes themselves are placed on pallets, lined with polyethylene film inside, and only then are filled with earth.
The main advantage of the trays is that a much larger number of seedlings can be grown in them compared to individual cups. In addition, it is very convenient to turn the boxes over, and their transportation does not require any additional devices. Moreover, the boxes will not be difficult to make with your own hands, thereby saving on their purchase.
The disadvantage of this option is that when making a pick or when planting tiny seedlings in prepared beds, the probability of damaging their roots is very high, and damaged roots significantly delay the growth of crops and their fruiting. And, of course, when using this method, you will need good physical fitness - wooden boxes filled with earth weigh very decently.
Paper honeycomb
This method is already quite outdated, although a few years ago it was quite actively used. Seeds of various crops were sown in paper cells filled with a nutritious soil composition, and a little later the grown seedlings were planted with them in the ground. Moreover, the root system of plants did not receive absolutely any damage, and that is why paper honeycombs at one time found widespread use.
Nowadays, it is almost impossible to find paper honeycombs on sale - they have been replaced by new versions of containers for growing seedlings.
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