When describing vegetable seedlings, summer residents and gardeners use two key words: plump and strong.
But for this to be the case, it is necessary to avoid common mistakes that both beginners and experienced summer residents like to make.
Anastasia Kovrizhnykh , an expert of the online publication "BelNovosti", an agronomist and landscape designer, spoke about mistakes in growing seedlings.
Sowing time
Each crop and variety has its own time for planting in the ground or greenhouse. Otherwise, the seedlings will simply sit in the pot for too long.
For example, peppers and eggplants are sown 65-85 days before transplanting, cabbage 35-40 days, and so on.
Seed quality
You can’t skimp on quality, and therefore it’s best to buy seed in stores, and not in underground passages or on electric trains on the way to your dacha.
Priming
It is also important to select a soil mixture for seedlings. The composition should include peat, sapropel or biohumus.
Sowing density
Each crop has its own parameters, but for tomatoes, peppers and eggplants, it is on average 4-5 cm. Peppers are recommended to be sown in separate containers.
Air temperature
Even room temperature can cause shoots to stretch. And if you add a lack of sunlight, everything is lost.
Lighting
Phytolamps are no longer a luxury. Many crops at the initial stage require lamps to be turned on for 14-16 hours a day.
Watering
It is not allowed for water to fall on the leaves. It is also important to control the soil moisture, for which watering is carried out only after the soil has dried out.
Top dressing
Additions begin after the true leaves have formed. It is important to be careful with nitrogen fertilizers, which stimulate growth.
By eliminating these mistakes, you can grow high-quality seedlings and harvest a rich vegetable crop without much effort or expense.
Previously, we talked about what kind of soil to choose for sowing tomato and pepper seeds for seedlings.
Expert: Anastasia Kovrizhnykh
