Picking seedlings: how to do it right, advice from experts

Picking seedlings raises many questions for many summer residents. The process requires attention and compliance with the rules.

If you rush or are careless, you can damage the seedlings and lose some of them.

What you need to know about diving

Picking is a process that involves removing the end of the taproot from seedlings. This is necessary to stimulate the branching of the root system.

We can say it a little more simply: seedlings are transplanted from a common container into an individual one.

Basic rules of picking

Sowing should be done in light and poor soil; peat is considered an ideal solution.

Particular attention should be paid to the acidity of the soil, it should not be increased, so it makes sense to use wood ash as the main fertilizer.

The seedlings are planted tightly and thickly enough. This is important, because some of the seeds will not be able to sprout or will end up weak.

This method of planting allows you to get rid of all weak plants at an early stage.

After the plant sprouts, the seedlings need to be divided. This is done so that each seedling ultimately receives more nutrients and light. Thanks to this, the root system begins to develop faster, and the plants become stronger.

When picking, you should carefully examine all the plants. It is necessary to remove weak, thin and yellowed ones. It is also worth paying attention to the size. During picking, you can promptly sort out the low-growing ones.

Step by step instructions

The dive is performed as follows.

1. The seedling is separated with a spatula. It is held by the cotyledon leaves. Some gardeners hold the plant by the leg, but this is a serious mistake. Seedlings always have a fragile stem, it can be damaged even by a slight touch.
2. When the plant is removed from the soil, the central root should be torn off. For this purpose, it makes sense to use sharp manicure scissors or another suitable tool. Using a knife or pruning shears for pruning is unacceptable, as the risk of injury increases significantly.
3. Before planting in a new pot, the soil must be well moistened. Then a small depression is made.
4. When the plant is replanted, the growth point must be deepened by 0.5 centimeters. This should be done carefully so as not to damage the crop.
5. The seedling is covered with soil.
6. After planting, moderate watering is performed.
7. The containers with seedlings are moved to a darkened room for several days. This is an important stage, as the plants need time to get stronger.

Basic recommendations

Here are some tips from experts that you shouldn't ignore:

• seedlings should not be planted deeper than the growth point, namely more than 0.5 cm, otherwise development will slow down. Inexperienced gardeners often make this mistake, trying to do better;
• transplantation should be done when 2 cotyledon leaves appear. It is not worth delaying, because if the seedlings are in cramped conditions, normal development is out of the question;
• Before transplanting, it is advisable to carry out disinfection. For this, you can make a weak solution of potassium permanganate at the rate of 1 g per 1 liter of water;
• You should not fertilize immediately after transplanting. The plants should be well strengthened, and only then can you begin the procedure.

When performing a dive, there is no point in rushing, everything should be done gradually.