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How to speed up the growth of seedlings: clever tricks of advanced gardeners
04.02.2024 03:20
How to help seedlings catch up with their fellows in growth? In this case, plants with a long vegetation period are planted, using clever techniques.
Plants develop as nature has determined. It is impossible to change or abandon the stages of development.
Anastasia Kovrizhnykh , an expert of the online publication "BelNovosti", an agronomist and landscape designer, told how to speed up the growth of seedlings.
First, the seeds germinate. Then the root system develops. And only after that does the green mass grow.
If all these periods take longer than the allotted time, it will not be possible to obtain seedlings on time.
Germination of seeds
The rate of germination depends on the thickness of the shell and the rate of awakening of the embryo. This process can be accelerated.
To do this, the outer shell is weakened, allowing the embryo to break through to the surface more quickly. Soaking is an effective method. It not only makes the shell softer, but also stimulates the embryo to awaken.
The most favorable water temperature for soaking is 25 degrees, and the soaking period can be from 6 to 10 hours.
Place the seeds on a damp cloth and make sure it doesn't dry out. Soaking in growth activators helps improve germination.
Gardeners often use succinic acid or chitosan. By keeping the seeds in the preparation for 2 hours, you can gain several days.
How to speed up vegetation
The growth of green mass depends on the quality of the soil. It should be loose, breathable and moisture-absorbing.
In heavy soil, the roots of seedlings grow and develop poorly. The above-ground part does not grow either. The soil must contain the required amount of nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. But even these are not enough for plants. They need special fertilizers for seedlings.
The fertilizer can be used as a root fertilizer or sprayed on the leaves. It is even better to alternate different types of application.
Useful tips
Nutrients and growth stimulants are added after optimal conditions have been created. They need to be monitored. Such conditions include:
• air temperature during seedling growth 20-25 degrees;
• lighting at least 12 hours a day;
• moderately moist soil without drying out or over-watering.
If these conditions are not met, for example, the temperature drops too low or there is not enough light, the plants lag in development or die completely.
Precious time is lost. Of course, it is impossible to grow good seedlings in a few days.
But if you grow it healthy and strong, it will take root well in a garden bed in open ground and will even be able to overtake its fellows that were planted much earlier.
Previously we talked about how to deal with sciarids .
