Despite the fact that the seedling method in vegetable growing is a very laborious process, it is used by most gardeners. Planting seeds in open ground is a simple and convenient method, but it is effective only in certain climatic zones. In the conditions of Siberia, it is practically useless to sow heat-loving crops in open ground, because they still will not have time to grow fruits in the short period of warm time that they have left.
The germination of seeds remains an urgent issue for many. The further development of the plant depends on how effectively this task is performed. Germination allows you to increase the percentage of germination, increase the viability of seedlings, accelerate their growth and development. Today we will talk about the various techniques that the gardener uses to make this task easier.
Gardening Basics
It would seem that there can be difficult. Germination of seeds occurs by itself. It is enough just to place them in a humid and warm environment. But in reality, everything is not so simple at all. Seedlings sometimes turn out weak, sometimes they die altogether. So, there are certain rules, following which, you can significantly improve germination.
Seed germination should take place according to the characteristics of the biology of vegetable crops. Before becoming a green sprout, the seed must go through a series of stages of its development. That is, he needs to swell, germinate and ascend. At each of these stages, he must be provided with optimal conditions. Only if you are guided by the needs of the plant, you will be able to grow powerful seedlings and get a wonderful harvest.
Soaking
Sprouting seeds is done using this simple method. Despite the various techniques by which the gardener tries to increase the effectiveness of his work, this does not change the essence. For the seed to wake up, it needs to be in contact with moisture. Only then will the supply of nutrients be activated. Even the temperature or the presence of oxygen is not so important here, but water is the beginning of a new life. But their importance becomes decisive in the following stages.
So let's sum it up a bit. Germination of seeds before planting requires the following conditions:
- required humidity;
- warm;
- air access;
- light.
After the seeds have hatched, they can be sown in the ground. By maintaining optimal conditions, you will achieve rapid and friendly seedling growth.
The traditional way
It has its advantages and disadvantages. But let's talk about everything in order. Every gardener has their own experience with seed germination. Most often it is performed according to the classical scheme. Seeds are soaked in a bowl, and after swelling are transferred to a box with soil. Now it remains to maintain the right humidity and temperature so that the plants have an incentive to grow. Glass or a bag is used to ensure the greenhouse effect.
But gardeners often use other methods of growing seeds that seem to them not only more convenient, but also productive. Let's take a look at each one so you can form your own opinion.
Japanese method
He has not yet gained wide popularity, although it must be admitted that he is quite progressive. He has proven himself well for growing cucumbers. Therefore, you can safely take on arms. For this, sawdust is taken. They must be from hardwoods and must be stale. Fresh for these purposes are not suitable, as well as coniferous sawdust.
Now the procedure itself. It is quite simple, it can be mastered by every gardener. A shallow container is filled with sawdust and spilled with hot water. It is necessary to wait a little while the substrate is saturated with water. At the same time, it also cools down. That is, the temperature becomes comfortable for planting seeds.
Now it's time to plant the seeds. If they are endowed by nature with a dense protective shell, then there is the following technique to speed up germination. To do this, each seed must be clamped between the handles of the scissors andpress lightly to open it. Do not overdo it, it does not need to be flattened at all. After that, the seeds are laid out on the surface, sprinkled with dry sawdust on top. Embedding depth no more than 5 mm.
The container should be placed in a warm place and covered with polyethylene. It is important to properly care for the seedlings in order to prevent them from stretching out. To do this, you need to harden the seedlings, that is, lower the air temperature.
Seedlings without land
Not everyone wants to force window sills with boxes of earth from early spring. This is not very aesthetically pleasing and creates certain inconveniences. Therefore, gardeners went even further and found a way to grow seedlings without land. At the same time, the quality of seedlings is excellent. The conditions for seed germination are not too burdensome for the owner. However, this method has a number of advantages:
- Requires very little space to accommodate seedlings.
- The root system is very strong, much better than plants grown in the ground.
- Very happy and seed germination.
- In terms of fruiting speed, such plants outperform those grown in the classical way by about a week.
- Virtually excluded the possibility of black leg disease.
Cons of alternative methods
When seeds hatch in nutrient soil, they immediately begin to extract nutrients. In this case, the root system will develop in accordance with the quantity and quality of these substances in the soil. What do we see in the caseseedless germination:
- Seedlings do not receive nutrients and require constant feeding.
- If you overexpose the sprouts, the roots will stop developing, and the trunks will stretch. And as a result, the seedlings will turn out to be completely unviable.
- After the appearance of the first true leaves, one cannot avoid picking into the ground. That is, the plants will still take up space on your windowsill.
Landless way to grow seedlings
If you have not yet heard about germinating seeds in toilet paper, then this method can be a real discovery for you. It is quite simple and very convenient, and it does not require expensive devices. Everything you need is already at your fingertips. The basis will be a regular roll of toilet paper. But for convenience, it is recommended to use auxiliary material that will allow it to keep its shape. There are several ways, each of which has its own characteristics.
In a plastic bottle
This is the easiest way to practice on your windowsill every spring. It will take a minimum of time, and you can immediately see all the sprouts, ready for further development. You will need to prepare:
- Big bottle. You can take 2 liters, but it is better to use a container of 5 liters.
- Toilet paper.
- Cellophane bag.
- Knife.
- Water.
- Seeds.
The bottle needs to be cut in half. Lay several layers of paper on the bottom and moisten it with water. After that onspread the seeds on the surface and pack the container in polyethylene. Be sure to make a few holes so that air enters the seeds.
The conditions for germinating seeds are normal. You need to put a greenhouse on the window, where it will be warm and light. The greenhouse effect eliminates the need to water the plants. At the same time, the rate of seed germination increases several times. Already on the third day, the first shoots may appear. But keep in mind that there is no soil layer, so as soon as the development of the root system begins, the seedlings will need to be transplanted into another pot.
Moscow method
Growing seeds in toilet paper is done in many ways. The above has its pros and cons, but it's not the only one. It is very convenient to use impromptu greenhouses created on the basis of oilcloth and paper. You will need improvised material that does not require material investments:
- Toilet paper.
- Oilcloth. You can take thick bags or a piece of film left over from last season.
- Water.
- Scissors.
- Seeds.
- Capacity for received rolls with seeds. It could be a cut plastic bottle.
- Sawdust.
Greenhouse preparation
From oilcloth you need to cut strips 12 cm wide. It can be any length, this does not affect the result. They need to be laid out on the surface of the table and lined with toilet paper on top. Spray it with water and spread the seeds at 4 cm intervals. Spread the seeds closer tomiddle. From above you need to cover with another layer of paper and spray again. Close with another strip of cling film. It remains only to carefully roll the roll and secure it with an elastic band.
At the bottom of a cut plastic bottle, you need to pour sawdust and pour a little water. Now we place rolls in it. For now, put the bag on top, but as soon as the first shoots appear, it will need to be removed. When the plants are old enough, they can be swooped down. Usually, tomato seeds are germinated in this way. Approximately 2-3 cm is the optimal size.
Laminate snail
There are plants that normally tolerate the transplant procedure. But others are extremely painfully experiencing a pick, get sick and may die. Germination of pepper seeds should be carried out delicately enough so as not to damage the delicate roots. For this, a laminate substrate cut into strips is perfect. It is cut into strips and then all the procedures are performed as in the previous example.
What's the difference? You can do without picking. To do this, when the sprouts reach 2-3 cm, you need to carefully unfold the snail, sprinkle it with earth and roll it up again. So that the earth does not crumble, it must be slightly damp. Now the received snails will be installed on the pallet and do not forget to water on time.
What is good about this method: seedlings in "rolls" can be kept until they are strong enough, they do not need a mandatory pick - they can be planted immediately in the ground. No need to feed the plants - in goodthe ground has everything they need.
Instead of a conclusion
Growing seedlings on a windowsill is not an easy task. Today we looked at several ways that you can make your life much easier. Experienced, you can choose for yourself the one that will be most convenient. Fertilizers can be used to improve plant growth and development.
