on Gardening: 6 tips for successful planting
Here are some helpful tips for successful organic seed sowing.
Use a good substrate
compost
The seeds contain their own nutrients, so they don’t require enriched soil to germinate. However, the growing medium should be light, ideal for sowing and transplanting.
Be careful, garden soil is not suitable for seedlings, as it often contains weeds, pests and too many nutrients (which would burn the very fine roots of the seedlings).
Also read: Which vegetables should not be planted next to tomatoes?
Your substrate should be permeable and loose. A mixture of potting soil and sand is ideal, or a mix of finely shredded leaves (40%) with seedling soil (40%). Add horse manure (20%) and compost it for a few weeks, watering it regularly. When it crumbles, it’s ready! Also add a few pinches of seaweed powder to stimulate germination.
Choose the exact depth
Incorrect planting depth is the main cause of planting failure. Be careful not to sow too deeply: generally 1 to 2 times the seed depth, no more. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil and firm them down.
Many seeds like to be covered with about their own size deep in soil, but some seeds need light to germinate (and therefore need to be placed on top of the soil).
Seeds contain food reserves that are used for energy and growth until the plant can produce its own food through photosynthesis. If sown too deeply, the developing plant may exhaust its food reserves before reaching the surface. A lack of oxygen can also affect the developing plant.
Respect social distancing
Respect the spacing between rows according to the species and sow clearly.
bring light
Air and light are essential for young plants to get off to a good start. If your plants are stretching and limp, it’s a sign of a lack of light. Place your plants near a window, ideally not far from a radiator to facilitate germination. Since seedlings tend to lean toward the light source, rotate the seed tray a quarter turn every three or four days so they get sun on all sides and grow more upright.
Enough water
irrigation
Water daily with a fine pinch of apple to avoid disturbing the seeds.
Watering can be done by submerging the seedling bowl 2/3 full of water for about ten minutes. Pots with holes in the bottom are placed on trays filled with water, and the water rises by capillary action to the plants. Remember to drain off excess water.
And a little warmth
The optimal temperature for germination varies depending on the plant species. If seeds are planted too early, cold, wet conditions can lead to poor germination and fungal diseases that will result in poor forage. If they are planted too late in the season, high temperatures, lack of moisture, and competition from weeds and other plants can reduce seeding success. Keep in mind that soil temperatures are generally lower than air temperatures.
Did you know?
A seed needs to absorb about its body weight in water to begin to germinate.
Not all plants tolerate transplanting. Root vegetables (carrots, turnips, beets, radishes, etc.) are therefore not transplanted or are difficult to transplant.
To avoid sowing too often, you can mix your small seeds with fine sand or ash.
To strengthen your young plants before planting them in the ground, dilute plant manure (seed or special nettle manure, for example) with irrigation water. Spray your young plants every 10 days.
Why sow rather than plant?
sow
Sowing allows you to discover a wide variety of seeds (the choice is much wider).
If you are a little patient, a packet of seeds provides a large quantity of seedlings for the price of a single, already germinated plant.
By sowing, you can thicken your harvest: only the most beautiful plants are transplanted and the cells that have not germinated are discarded.
After sowing, remove the least vigorous seedlings from these seeds: this is called thinning. Leave more space for the remaining plants!
Also read: Why put baking soda on your tomato plants?
You should always sow more seeds than you will get from plants.
It is necessary to prepare the soil, distribute the seeds, water regularly, and ensure that the plants are not exposed to drafts or cold.
Also read: Water tomatoes with this – the plants will grow strong and fertile