Named 10 mistakes when growing seedlings: how to avoid them (video)

At first glance, growing seedlings may seem easy, but only until the first bad experience. What mistakes beginners make when growing sprouts, and how to avoid them, experienced summer gardeners tell about the basic rules that will help preserve the harvest.

Why grow seedlings

You may be asking yourself the question: why do we need seedlings if the seeds can be thrown directly into the ground? Large seeds of crops such as legumes, pumpkins, etc. can be immediately thrown into open ground. And for plants with small seeds, growing seedlings provides significant benefits, thus protecting against pests, diseases, weather conditions, and also hastening the appearance of the crop. And in cold conditions, crops with a long growing season, for example, tomatoes, can only be grown from seedlings. The rules for growing seedlings will also come in handy for those who like to grow their own varieties that you will not find in the store.

The main mistakes when growing seedlings

1. Growing seedlings from low-quality seeds

The final result depends on the quality of the seeds, so they need to be bought from trusted sellers. The desire to save money can play a trick on you. It is not recommended to buy seeds on sale, as such material, as a rule, expires soon or has been stored in improper conditions.

2. Lack of preparation for landing

If you are not sure about the quality of the seeds, before sowing, place it in a solution of manganese for 20 minutes, then rinse with water. For germination, we recommend using melted water or melted juice of adult aloe. The juice should be collected from a plant no younger than three years old and kept in a refrigerator for seven days after keeping in the juice, the seeds do not need to be washed. Seeds do not like to be in water for a long time, so 20 hours for germination is the maximum. Sometimes it is enough to keep it in water for 12 hours. Try not to let the seeds bite under water – after that they will quickly suffocate.

3. Failure to comply with the terms of growing seedlings

The recommended time for sowing seeds is usually indicated on the back of the package. And it must be followed. Otherwise, even if the plants look strong in containers, after transplantation they may not take root in a new place.

Seed bags usually indicate the best time for growing a particular seedling and should be observed. If you collected the seeds you are going to plant yourself, you can determine the best time to plant them yourself using the weather forecast. To do this, the following period should be counted from the date of the last frost:

• cucumbers and other pumpkin crops – 2-4 weeks before the last frost;

• tomatoes and eggplants – in 6-8 weeks;

• pepper and onion – in 8-12 weeks;

• cabbage – in 5-6 weeks;

• salad – in 4-5 weeks.

If you have lamps, a greenhouse, and if you are ready for several transplants, you can sow seedlings in advance.

4. Seeds are not disinfected

If you are not sure about the quality of the seeds, before sowing, place the seedlings in a solution of manganese for 20 minutes, then rinse with water. First of all, it is necessary to disinfect the seeds and avoid diseases that can be transmitted by the seeds.

5. Planting unsprouted seeds

In order for the seeds to sprout quickly, it is better to germinate them. For germination, we recommend using melt water or adult aloe juice. The juice should be collected from a plant no younger than three years old and kept in a refrigerator for seven days. Seeds do not like to be in liquid for a long time, so 20 hours for germination is the maximum. Sometimes it is enough to hold the seeds in liquid for 12 hours.

6. Unsuitable soil for growing seedlings

Most often, for sowing, use a mixture of turf, peat and humus. For different cultures, the ratio of these parts should be different. It is advisable not to take an already used substrate due to the fact that it may contain infections.

Try to harvest the land for seedlings or purchase it in a specialized store. Do not use the first soil that comes across – pay attention to its friability and light weight. If you will prepare the land yourself, try to mix the compost and forest parts, humus, sand and ash.

7. Inappropriate container for seedlings

It is important to find a container suitable for seedlings. For some plants, a fairly large container is needed, for other crops, cramped containers.

8. Improper picking of seedlings

Unthinned seedling crops stop growing and wither, and after transplanting to a new place, they may not survive. Some plants do not tolerate diving very well, so it is recommended to plant them immediately in a permanent place. Do not let the seedlings outgrow, and if you notice overgrown seedlings, immediately transplant them into a large container. You can cut off their tops, put them in water, then plant them in the ground. And the remaining seedlings will start side shoots.

9. Wrong conditions for growing seedlings

For successful cultivation of seedlings, it is important to observe the temperature regime, illumination regime and moisture. Before germination, it is recommended to cover the seedlings with glass or plastic wrap. Due to this, heat and moisture will remain in the soil longer. It is important not to overdo it with moisture, as excessive moisture can cause seed or root rot. With insufficient lighting, seedlings can stretch out a lot. Therefore, it is desirable that the seedlings be in the light for at least 12-14 hours. It is necessary to observe the temperature regime – cold-resistant crops germinate at a temperature of 15-25 ° C, heat-loving – at a temperature of 27-30 ° C.

After germination, do not allow the temperature to drop below 23-25 ​​degrees. When a knot appears on the stairs, move the seedlings to the light. Start watering only when the top layer is taken with a crust, because wet seedlings quickly rot due to insufficient light. Also, once a week, water the seedlings with a solution of potassium permanganate, sprinkle it with crushed coal and then loosen the ground.

10. Seedlings are not hardened

A few days before planting in open soil, seedlings need to be hardened off so that they do not die from a sudden change of residence. To do this, gradually increase the time the seedlings are outdoors every day. Plant seedlings in the evening and on cloudy days.

Recall that earlier the hostess told an effective way to speed up the emergence of seedlings if you are late with sowing seeds for seedlings.