Every year, thousands of seedlings die on windowsills, even those who consider themselves professionals.
It turns out that the harvest is not laid in the beds, but at the stage of growing young plants.
What are the subtle mistakes that turn strong seedlings into stunted sprouts?
Haste is the enemy of the harvest
Early sowing does not guarantee abundant fruiting. Overgrown seedlings of tomatoes, peppers or eggplants spend their energy on survival in cramped containers, rather than on the formation of ovaries.
Cucumbers sown early often lag behind in development. The optimal age for planting is 50-60 days for nightshades, 30-35 for cabbage, 20-25 for cucumbers.
Semyon-pensioners: playing Russian roulette
Expired seeds lose their germination capacity catastrophically quickly. Even if the packaging indicates an expiration date of 2025, after opening their viability decreases.
Storing the material for more than two seasons means risking the future harvest.
Soil: Between Emptiness and Abundance
Garden soil that is not enriched with compost and leavening agents turns into concrete.
Perlite or vermiculite (20% of the total volume) create an airy structure, preventing water stagnation.
Drowned people in cups
Roots suffocate in waterlogged soil. Watering with cold water increases stress, and excess moisture provokes fungal infections. The soil between waterings should dry out to a depth of 1-2 cm.
