Gardener shares how to grow beautiful vegetables: there are two ways

“Growing your own seedlings is the main stage of every gardener’s work, because the quality of young plants determines the future harvest.

 

An experienced gardener has been successfully applying two main methods for many years – sowing seeds in special home cassettes and using outdoor greenhouses. Each of these methods has its own technological features, but both allow you to grow strong seedlings that are adapted to the conditions of open ground. Growing seedlings in an outdoor greenhouse Many gardeners choose the outdoor greenhouse method, because it requires less time for transplanting, and the plants harden off naturally in such conditions.

 

The greenhouse structure usually consists of metal hoops covered with polyethylene film, which maintains the required temperature and prevents moisture loss. Preparation begins with the formation of a nutritious substrate: a bucket of garden soil is mixed with a bucket of rotted humus and a scoop of ash is added. The resulting mixture must be sifted through a sieve to make it loose and homogeneous. Sowing in a greenhouse usually takes place in mid-April, approximately on the 10th or 11th day. Before starting work, the soil should be treated with a means of weevils, which often enter the plot. Seeds are sown loosely, separating different tomato varieties with wooden boards for convenience. The sowing is poured with prepared soil (up to a 4-centimeter layer) and carefully watered with warm water. Under such conditions, cabbage sprouts first, followed by tomatoes, and peppers need more time to germinate. Growing seedlings in cassettes For those who want to get an early harvest, the ideal option is to grow seedlings in cassettes at home. This cycle begins much earlier: peppers and eggplants are sown at the end of February, and tomatoes - in the first half of March.

 

Before planting, the seeds are carefully checked for germination and disinfected in a solution of soda, potassium permanganate or hydrogen peroxide. After soaking for two hours The seeds remaining at the bottom are drained to a loose state so that they can be conveniently placed in the cassette compartments. When sowing in cassettes, purchased soil is used. It is poured in a small layer, moistened, and one seed is placed in each compartment. The seeds are sprinkled with soil without pressing it, and the cassette is covered with cling film, creating a mini-greenhouse effect. The containers are kept in a warm place until the first sprouts appear. Then the film is removed, and the plants are moved to a sunny windowsill.

 

An important part of this method is picking tomatoes into larger containers when 4 true leaves appear. This promotes the development of a strong root system.

 

Meanwhile, picking peppers is not recommended, because this crop is extremely sensitive to root damage. Planting and caring for seedlings in open ground Seedlings are usually moved to the garden after May 22, when the risk of night frosts has finally disappeared. After Half an hour before removing the plants from the greenhouse, they must be watered abundantly so that the earthen lump does not decompose and the roots are not injured.

 

Planting is carried out in prepared holes with water, maintaining a distance of 40-50 centimeters between plants.

Tomatoes can be planted one or two in one hole, and peppers are planted strictly one by one, carefully pressing the ground around the stem with your hands.

 

Further care requires a special watering regime - the plants are not watered for the first two weeks, allowing them to take root well. Later, tomatoes should be watered once a week, and cabbage and peppers - every other day.

 

To protect against late blight, a mixture of water, whey and iodine is used, which is sprayed on the bushes.

 

If whiteflies appear on cabbage, it is advisable to use specialized store-bought preparations, since folk methods against this pest are often ineffective. 

 

Source: tsn.ua"