Summer season begins with growing seedlings. The goals of growing seedlings are obvious. Through seedlings, you can expand the growing season, get an early or higher yield. Some heat-loving vegetables in certain regions can be grown only through seedlings. The first days of development determine the entire adult lifetime of the plant. This is a general and inexorable law of nature. Seed quality and seedling period determine plant development and yield by 80%.
Cups, sachets, boxes are often used as containers for seedlings. You can transplant into boxes. This will save space, but worsen the survival rate of plants when transplanted into the open ground, as the root system will be damaged. Peppers and eggplant, cucumbers, pumpkin cannot be transplanted into boxes; they have a weak root system.
Packages and jars from under the lactic acid products (kefir, fermented baked milk, sour cream, yogurt) cannot be used for this purpose. Lactic acid bacteria are enemies of the roots, and if they are not killed, they can cause root disease in seedlings. The best option would be to use peat (peat compost) pots.
The porosity of pot walls ensures the optimal water-air regime of the root layer, and when planting in the soil, plant roots freely grow through their bottom and walls.
Pots do not contain pathogens and toxic substances, have sufficient mechanical strength both in dry and wet state. Roots of seedlings sprout freely through the bottom and walls of peat pots.
Planting seedlings in the ground together with the pot provides almost 100% survival of seedlings. Decomposing in the ground, the pot serves as fertilizer providing an earlier yield due to the rapid survival of seedlings.
Pots are filled with moistened nutritious soil, moderately compacted, after which seeds are sown, bulbs, seedlings or cuttings are planted.
Pots are placed on pallets, plastic wrap, sand, gravel or a layer of soil.
Cultivated plants are watered, keeping the soil moist. Peat pots should never dry out! If this has already happened several times, the salts contained in soil crystallize and in a concentrated form pose a danger to tender shoots. As the plants develop, pots are placed more freely to enhance illumination, aeration and prevent weaving of the roots of neighboring plants.
Grown seedlings or cuttings are planted in a permanent place in the ground along with pots.