2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
In the last article I tried to briefly talk about peat tablets, why they are needed, how to choose them and what are their advantages. And in this article I want to talk about how to grow seedlings in peat tablets
What plant seeds can be grown in peat tablets?
There is an opinion that seeds of certain crops can be grown in peat tablets, for example, with a long germination period or only heat-loving ones. In fact, this is not the case. Any seedlings can be grown in peat tablets. It is especially convenient to grow seedlings of vegetable crops for a summer residence, a vegetable garden or a personal plot. This is due to the fact that later, during transplantation, the plants will not need to be pulled out of the soil, which means that there is no chance of damaging the root system. In addition, plants made from peat tablets do not get sick when transplanted and they do not need time to "settle down" in a new place.
Preparation of peat tablets for planting seeds
Preparing tablets for planting is easy. First of all, we need water, but a simple tap is undesirable. It is believed that it is better to take filtered, melt or rainwater. But plain tap water is also suitable, the only thing is that before pouring it into tablets, this water must be allowed to settle for a day. While the water is settling, we prepare a deep tray or cups for peat tablets. If the tablets are without a special mesh shell, then the pallet cannot be used, cups will be needed, since the peat will not keep its shape on its own, and we put the cups (with holes for irrigation on the bottom) in a deep pallet.
We put the tablets on a tray or in cups.
Attention! Always put the tablets with the notch up! Now we are completing the preparation of the water: we add several crystals of potassium permanganate to it for disinfection, until a solution of light pink color is obtained (in some pharmacies, manganese is still quietly sold!), Fill it with warm (about 28-30 degrees) water. Now we wait until the tablets are saturated with water and take a normal cylindrical shape. This may take several hours. Check the tablets periodically and add water to the drip tray if necessary. For tablets in cups, watering is also done through the pallet! After the pills are saturated with moisture, you can start planting seeds.
We plant in peat tablets
We take the seeds and carefully place them in a special recess. You can have 1 piece, you can have 2 pieces. Small seeds do not need to be sprinkled with anything, we just place them in the recess and that's it. But the large ones are lightly sprinkled with peat. After planting the seeds, you do not need to water the pill, since it is already saturated with moisture and this moisture will last for a long time. Important! Do not apply top irrigation to peat tablets, only use drip tray! Firstly, peat is well saturated with moisture, and secondly, peat will not take excess moisture, which is very good for our plant seeds.
If there is a need (coolness, dry air), then cover the tray with tablets with foil until shoots appear. There will be no need to water at this time, since the moisture is well preserved under the film. If we do not cover it with a film, add water (add water to the pan) as needed, that is, when the peat dries out.
Seedling care
In principle, caring for seedlings grown in peat tablets is very simple: watering, airing, hardening. We carry out the last operation as it gets warmer outside.
By the way, a little more about watering. If the sprouts are quite large, strong and well-rooted, then, in addition to watering through the sump, they can be watered by spraying water from a spray bottle. But this must be done carefully.
And the last thing - about top dressing.
I would like to draw your special attention to the fact that peat tablets initially contain all the necessary supply of nutrients for the proper growth of our seedlings. In no case, do not carry out additional feeding, this can lead not only to a stop in growth, yellowing of the leaves, but also to the complete death of our seedlings.
I wish you all good seedlings and a great harvest!
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