The future harvest largely depends on the quality of the seedlings. And you need to think about this even before you throw the first seed into the ground.
The soil mixture plays a major role in how successful the sowing will be.
What is the difference between soil for sowing and picking?
Many people think that the soil for sowing is the same as for plant growth. But this is not true.
A plant that has entered the growth and development phase needs nutritious soil with various additives, such as organic or mineral fertilizers.
But for seedlings to germinate, a completely different soil is needed.
Its task is not to feed, but to provide ideal conditions for the sprout and root to appear and begin to develop.
At this stage, the plant lives off the growth energy contained in the seed itself.
It contains a huge amount of nutrients that are activated when the seeds get into optimal conditions for germination. That is why people who adhere to healthy eating value sprouted wheat and other grains so much.
Gardeners must create a special soil for sowing, in which the seed will easily sprout, the sprout will not die immediately, and the seedlings will not get sick in the future.
How to prepare the soil
The soil for sowing seeds should be poor in nutrients, as loose, light and permeable as possible.
This effect can be achieved using two components.
Component one: peat
High-moor deoxidized peat is an ideal option. It is light and allows water and air to pass through well.
In essence, these are dead particles of moss that cover the swamps. These remains of moss and other organic matter are not processed by microorganisms to the state of compost, therefore there are practically no nutrients available for absorption in high-moor peat.
The situation is completely different with lowland peat. In its appearance and nutritional value, it is more similar to vermicompost or rotted compost.
It can be used as a nutrient component, but already when composing the soil mixture for picking. There you already need nutrition, which is provided by vermicompost, lowland peat or well-rotted compost.
When purchasing peat for sowing seeds, make sure that it is not enriched with nutrients.
Component two: baking powder
High-moor peat has one quality that must be taken into account. It compacts. Therefore, a loosening agent is added to the soil mixture. This can be perlite, vermiculite or sand. Experienced gardeners prefer to use sand together with perlite or vermiculite.
To create an ideal soil mixture for sowing seeds, you need to mix 70% high-moor deoxidized peat and 30% loosening agent.
To plant already grown seedlings, you need to mix 50% high-moor peat, 25% baking powder and 25% nutrient soil.
As a nutrient component, you can use lowland peat, a mixture of ordinary fertile soil and biohumus in equal quantities. Also, for picking, you can use purchased universal soil.
