John Myers
At the beginning of April, there is still enough time to grow vegetable plants yourself. However, you should pay attention to a few points so that the delicate seedlings grow into strong and productive plants. We have great tips on how to do this properly.
Vessels and substrate
Do you have a lot of pots in the garden that has already been used and some leftover potting soil that you accidentally came across while cleaning up the arbor? However, using them for breeding is not a good idea. Microorganisms have settled in old soil and porous clay pots, which are not good for freshly sprouted seeds.
Preferably use well-cleaned seed trays. Plastic containers that you bought fruit in and which you rinse with hot water are also suitable. It is always sown in special potting soil. Since this is low in nutrients, the delicate roots are not damaged and develop more vigorously.
Sow and care properly
- Do not sow too closely, because healthy plants should grow from two cotyledons.
- How much seed can be used per pot is usually written on the seed packet.
- Count even small seeds.
- These can be easily portioned with tweezers with a wide surface.
- Pay attention to how much soil should be sprinkled over the granules (dark or light germinators).
- Cover the jars with a hood or foil. Ventilate daily, this prevents mold.
- If necessary, the substrate is moistened with the gentle jet of a sprayer.
- Prick out as soon as the seedlings start to compete with each other.
- Spray the plantlets with horsetail tea once a week. This protects against soil fungi, which are the cause of the frequently occurring “damping-off disease”.
Provide sufficient light
If you plan to grow plants regularly, you should invest in special plant lamps. Unlike on the window sill, all seedlings are evenly lit and grow much stronger.
