Peat cups for seedlings. Peat pots for seedlings - how to apply and how to choose the right one? seedling care

15.06.2019

Growing plants by seedling method can significantly accelerate the maturation of garden and horticultural crops. This is especially true for late-ripening varieties, which, when planted with seeds under conditions middle lane do not always mature. Varieties of medium and early term ripening, you can also reduce the time spent in the open field. To do this, they are grown through seedlings.

So that when transplanting to open ground protect seedlings from damage to roots and trunks, it is advisable to germinate the seeds in separate containers, disposable or reusable. It's best if they are peat cups or pots.

How to choose peat pots?

Peat containers are not made from peat alone, that is, the remains of undecomposed marsh moss. To maintain its shape and strength, as well as to reduce the cost of the material, wood or cardboard is added to peat. When choosing, you need to pay attention to the ratio of peat and additives, the amount of the main substance should be at least 70%. A good disposable tableware for seedlings has a wall width of 1-1.5 mm. During the germination period, such walls will give the cups strength, and after planting in the ground, they will decompose in one month.

Peat cups are sold both individually, by the piece, and connected cassettes, 4-20 pieces each. Many gardeners believe that they should remain in such cassettes. Indeed, as long as the sprouts are small, the cassettes could not be separated. But the growing seedlings begin to need more light and air, so it is recommended to cut the cassettes from the very beginning, and as the seedlings grow, place them a little further apart.

What sizes (diameters) of pots are suitable for different crops?

The data is:

4-5 cm - for seedlings, as well as food greens (,);
6 cm - for asters, dahlias, levkoy;
7 cm - for,;
8-9 cm - for patissons and peppers, eggplants and zucchini, as well as hydrangeas, primroses, cyclamen, gerberas;
10-11 cm - for pumpkin, tomatoes, fuchsia, balsam.

How to grow seedlings?

Peat containers are filled with moistened nutrient soil: universal or intended for specific crops (for flowers, for vegetables). The earth is not poured to the edge, left empty 1-1.5 cm to the top, so it will be more convenient to water. Either 1 sprout is planted in a pot after picking or 1-3 seeds of any crop to a depth of 1 cm. If necessary, sprinkle with water. Install the cups tightly to each other on a pallet, tray, plastic wrap. The soil must be maintained in constant humidity, the air temperature should be kept at + 23-27 ° C, and after seed germination + 20-22 ° C. If several seeds sprout at once, then only one is left in the glass, the rest can be transplanted into other containers, and the weakest or extra sprouts can be disposed of.

Water the seedlings settled warm water having a temperature of +25-30°C. From cold water tender young plants become ill, for example, with "black leg" and may die. A week before the planned planting in open ground, the plants should be hardened off. You can open vents or windows during the day, take seedlings directly in pallets into a glazed vestibule or veranda, but bring the plants back into the house at night.

Planting seedlings in the ground

The advantage of peat pots is in planting rooted seedlings without transplanting and transshipment immediately into the ground, into prepared beds or holes. Before planting, the glass can be slightly torn to make it easier for the growing roots to germinate through them. But it is not necessary to do this, peat containers dug into the ground decompose after 3-5 weeks. The depth of the groove or hole should exceed the height of the glass by 1-2 cm, so that when backfilled, the earth completely covers it.

In circumstances where gardening is practiced even by those who have never picked up a rake before in their lives, and learned about the ripening of tomatoes only by their appearance on the shelves, modern industry has created many aids for such novice gardeners. All sorts of devices, tools and chemicals make planting, growing, and caring for crops so easy that even experienced growers appreciate their functionality. And their special attention was given to peat pots, without which at least one fan of gardening rarely does now. That simple, in fact, idea turned out to be so handy that now few people grow seedlings without them. Want to try too? There is nothing easier: handling peat pots is easy, they are not expensive and do not take up much space either in the house or on the site. And yet, for the best result, it is better to know in advance all the nuances of how to use peat pots.

peat pots: properties and features
Peat pots are relatively small (the size may vary, depending on your tasks) cups or boxes designed for growing seedlings in them. main feature peat pots and their main difference from other containers of a similar purpose lies in the material from which the pots are made. It is not difficult to guess about it by the name itself, but in fact it is not 100% pure peat, but a mixture of peat with wood pulp or humus, dried, tightly packed and shaped into a round or square container. Such a composition of the material for manufacturing was chosen because it is the lightest, most durable and efficient in terms of the functions that are assigned to it. Every gardener knows about them firsthand, but for everyone else we will remind you once again that most of both fruit and ornamental crops begin their life cycle with seedlings. This is a kind of “childhood” of a plant, and, just like in humans, it has a decisive influence on the entire subsequent life of the plant: its development, growth, fruitful indicators, etc. Therefore, it is so important to properly grow seedlings and provide them with necessary care. All this is provided for by the composition and design of peat pots:

The root system is well supplied with oxygen and water due to the porous walls of the pot. Neither nutrition nor respiration of a developing plant is disturbed.
After planting in the ground, the roots freely grow through the pliable and soft walls of the peat pot, without encountering resistance.
The base of the pot is strong enough to support the load of earth and seedlings for as long as it is needed.
The peat pot, getting into the ground, gradually decomposes and becomes a natural fertilizer for the plant, which provides its nutrition and improves growth rates.
The peat pot is completely made from natural ingredients that do not harm either seedlings or soil, and do not poison the crop.

It follows from this that peat pots are a really useful invention and a necessary purchase for growing seedlings. But did they manage without them before? Of course, you can grow seedlings in other containers. Our mothers and grandmothers used boxes, bags, jars and cups from yogurt, cottage cheese, sour cream for this purpose ... Nobody bothers you to follow their example, but you need to take into account certain features and difficulties that those who use for growing seedlings "improvised materials". Firstly, some crops with a naturally weak root system (for example, cucumbers, pumpkins, peppers, eggplants, etc.) cannot be planted and then swooped down in boxes: they simply cannot withstand such tests. Secondly, containers from fermented milk products often contain their remains, and lactic acid bacteria very aggressively affect the roots, causing damage and disease. And, finally, the roots of seedlings grown in solid containers are inevitably damaged, which subsequently cannot but affect the development of the plant. All these dangers can be avoided by using peat pots. And in order to choose them correctly at the first purchase, keep in mind that:

The shape of peat pots are round and square in diameter. This is not fundamental to the success of growing seedlings, but it can save space or otherwise affect ease of use.
Peat pots also differ in size, so do not rush to buy the first one that comes across if their volume seems to you not very convenient. Look for the ones that best fit your needs and give your seedlings maximum comfort and growth.
Peat pots can be separate or fastened into horizontal blocks of several pieces. It is more convenient to store and use piece peat pots. If you expect to simply break the block into separate parts, then do it carefully so as not to violate the integrity of the walls of the neighboring pot, for all their strength, they are quite susceptible to mechanical damage.
Try to choose the walls of peat pots from one to one and a half millimeters thick - experience shows that it is optimal for most types of seedlings.
Do not confuse a peat pot with a cardboard one. They look very similar, especially if the cardboard is painted, and unscrupulous manufacturers take advantage of this. Cardboard pots, unlike peat pots, do not dissolve in the ground, do not nourish the plant and do not allow its roots to develop freely in the soil.

Advantages and disadvantages of peat pots
By mentioning fake peat pots, we come close to hot topic their shortcomings. Indeed, it cannot be that anyone, even the most convenient and simple device there were no cons. With regard to the use of peat pots, there are also shortcomings, and they have long been noticed by gardeners. How to relate to them - everyone decides for himself, depending on his capabilities, temperament and preferences among garden crops. We invite you to learn about the difficulties that other gardeners have encountered and decide for yourself how critical they are for you personally: are they worth it to abandon peat pots altogether, or just take some measures to overcome these difficulties:

Peat pots, due to the friability of their walls, cannot be dry when filled with moist soil. And if so, then the moisture continuously evaporates, and the earth inside the peat pot dries up, causing the seedlings to suffer from “thirst”.
On the other hand, since it is very difficult to control the degree of moisture and evaporation, there is always a risk of watering seedlings in a peat pot too much. As a result, the pot is covered with mold, which spreads both to the substrate and to the seedlings themselves.
Evaporation of moisture inevitably leads to cooling, that is, an immature root system that needs warmth, in practice begins to freeze, grows slowly and develops poorly.
Some peat pots do not break down in the soil as quickly as they should, and remain in the soil in clumps that litter the soil and interfere with other plants. Most often, this is a sign of low-quality pots made not from peat, but from cardboard and other materials.
Sometimes the walls of a peat pot are too strong for weak roots that simply cannot break through. For example, pumpkin copes with this task, and pepper gets stuck and withers.

How to grow seedlings in a peat pot
If the above side effects If you haven't been repulsed or given up on the idea of growing your seedlings in a peat pot, it's best to follow the standard instructions for using peat pots. And as complications arise, apply a few tricks, which we will discuss later. One way or another, not all gardeners complain about peat pots, so it is possible that in your case everything will turn out well. And the probability of a successful result of using peat pots will be the higher, the more accurately you follow the following sequence of actions:

Make sure that you are going to use peat-humus pots - and it is better to do it even at the time of purchase by carefully studying the composition of the product in the packaging and asking the seller in detail.

Fill the peat pots with soil suitable for each particular type of seedling, pre-moistened and nutritious.
Lightly compact the soil, but not much, so that the seedlings can break through the ground and receive enough oxygen.
Sow the seeds in the ground right in the pot, drown the bulbs in the ground “up to the shoulders”, plant the cuttings and seedlings depending on their size.
Place potted seedlings in a wide tray. You can push them in tightly at first, and as the root system grows, move them away from each other to provide enough space, light and aeration.
Make sure that the soil in the peat pots is always moist. Water it directly or through a drip tray.
Do not allow the soil to dry out in peat pots: this is fraught not only with the drying of plants, but also with the crystallization of salts, which further damage fragile seedlings.
Plentifully water the seedlings in peat pots about a day before planting them in open ground.
Do not remove seedlings ready for planting in the ground from peat pots, but bury them in the ground with them. The depth of immersion of a peat pot in the soil depends on its size.
Make sure that the top edge of the peat pot is level with the ground or not much deeper (no more than 1-2 cm deep).

As you can see, the technology of growing seedlings in peat pots is really simple and logical, both in theory and in practice. Its main advantage is that there is no need to remove seedlings from solid containers when planting in a garden bed and thereby injure thin roots. Flowers take root especially well in peat pots, and even such capricious ones as a miniature snapdragon. But to ignore the shortcomings of peat pots is also impossible. Therefore, we suggest that you do not close your eyes to them, but rather, look around in search of a way out of the situation and take advantage of some of the subtleties discovered by enterprising gardeners in the process of using peat pots.

Secrets of using peat pots
Each gardener himself chooses what devices to use in his work - fortunately, you can find, choose and buy literally any tools today. Listening to the opinions of others, it is worth at least once to try growing seedlings in a peat pot yourself in order to form your own opinion. But if you didn’t like using peat pots, but you bought them in advance and with a margin, do not rush to get upset and count the “thrown” money. There are no superfluous things on the farm, and now we will prove this again to you using the example of peat pots:

With a hole punch, awl or other sharp object, immediately make several holes in the bottom and walls of the peat pot. Subsequently, this will make it easier for the roots of the plant to come out.
To prevent moisture from evaporating through the walls of the peat pot and cooling the seedlings, wrap each pot plastic wrap or package. Before planting in open ground, do not forget to remove this polyethylene.
Before putting soil for seedlings in peat pots, soak them with a solution of mineral fertilizers. This will help the walls of the pots to dissolve faster in the soil and provide the plants with additional nutrition.
To prevent the peat pot from becoming moldy, spray it with a special preparation, for example, foundationol. It will not have a detrimental effect on seedlings.
And finally, you can use peat pots not for all seedlings, but only for the strongest and strongest - for example, the same pumpkin, whose roots easily penetrate the walls of peat moulds.

The excitement around peat pots, as is often the case, is greatly exaggerated. For all their benefits, they also have disadvantages, which, however, are not at all difficult to cope with with a small share of a rational attitude. But they are light, safe for the environment and look much better than variegated plastic packages from cottage cheese desserts. You can start and continue to grow seedlings in peat pots for any agricultural, ornamental, horticultural crops, or abandon them forever, finding a more suitable method. In other words, both the garden season and good harvest depend not on peat pots, but on your skill and attitude. It is no secret that plants, as living organisms and part of nature, are sensitive to the psychological atmosphere around.

Therefore, use peat pots and other garden tools easily, with a smile and in good mood, then the seedlings will be a joy!

Choosing the right seedling pots is a science. Especially now, when all sorts of variations of these simple, but important and necessary garden tools have appeared on the market. An experienced summer resident knows perfectly well what is better to grow this or that variety. fruit crop, but what about a newcomer to the world of gardening? Of course, to study what pots for seedlings are, what are the pros and cons of each type.

These pots can be purchased at any store, even if it does not have a gardening focus. They are made of plastic and can be of two types - with a round and square section. Sizes range from very tiny (about 50 ml) to quite large (1 liter or more). There are also large plastic pots, but they are no longer intended for growing seedlings - rather, only for indoor flowers or landscape design.

The ease of use of the pot often depends on its shape. According to gardeners, it is more convenient to fill with soil round pots, but square ones can be placed on the window more compactly. The disadvantages of square products also include the fact that it is not very convenient to take out a plant together with a clod of earth from them: if a round pot can be “crumpled” with your fingers, and a clod of soil will come out immediately, then it is more difficult to squeeze a plastic one, especially if it is made of dense and high-quality plastic.

On a note! To make life easier for gardeners, they often began to make round inserts at the bottom of the pots that help push the earth along with the plant out of the pot.

Plastic seedling pots usually have drainage holes, although the cheaper the container, the more likely it is that you will have to make holes at the bottom yourself.

Very often, seedling pots are sold as a set, and they come with a pallet that will protect the window sills from moisture flowing from them.

So, here are the benefits of using this type of seedling container:

plastic pots are optimal for growing absolutely any kind of crops;
they well retain the necessary moisture in the right amount;
can be used for several seasons in a row, as they are durable;
perfectly protect the root system of plants from damage;
they are very easy to store.

Disadvantages of plastic pots:

non-compact and take up a lot of space;
it is not always possible to carefully remove a lump with roots during planting seedlings;
are quite expensive and will cost a round sum if purchased in large quantities.

Below is a table that will allow you to choose the required pot size for a particular type of plant.

Table. Selection of plastic pots for seedlings.

By the way, the following recommendations will help determine the size of the pots.

For growing seedlings of crops that definitely need a pick, use pots of the smallest volume - 50 ml.
For small crops that grow without picking, pots of 100-200 ml are suitable
Pots of 500 ml and more are suitable for tall and large crops that grow for a long period of time and develop powerful roots.

On a note! When choosing a pot, remember to consider diameter and height, not just volume. This is important for proper root formation.

peat pots

Outwardly, the walls of these pots resemble thick cardboard, but they consist of more than 70% of natural natural peat. And the rest of the pot is, by the way, just paper.

Main advantage peat pots- this is the absence of the need to take out seedling bushes for planting in the ground directly from the pot. To do this, simply dig a hole required size in the garden and place the pot there without removing the seedlings from it. Gradually, the peat will rot, turning into a nutritious fertilizer, and the seedlings will grow into a beautiful and strong plant.

Peat pots are ideal for growing fussy crops - usually cucumbers, zucchini, peppers, and others. And using them is extremely simple: just fill it with soil, shed it, place the seeds, put it on a pallet and that's it. Further work on growing seedlings proceeds as usual.

Peat pots come in various sizes and, like plastic ones, come in two shapes - round and square in section. However, here the form does not play a special role, since it is no longer necessary to shake the seedlings with the ground out of the container. Unless you should take into account the free space on the sunny windowsill - square pots can be arranged more compactly.

Advantages of peat pots:

convenient to use;
allow once again not to injure the plants with picks and not to extract them during planting in the ground;
are themselves nutritious fertilizers;
are made from environmentally friendly materials.

Disadvantages of peat tanks:

quickly become limp from water, so you need to water the plants in them moderately;
if the pots are dried out, then the soil in them may become too dense for plants;
when buying, there is a high risk of running into low-quality goods, which will contain only pressed cardboard;
Excessive watering can lead not only to dehydration of containers, but also to moldy walls of pots and soil.

Peat tablets for seedlings - how to use

A peat tablet is a compacted peat washer, small in diameter and height. Before the production of this type of packaging, peat is enriched with microelements useful for seed germination and seedling development. Read more.

How to use peat pots? Everything is simple.

Step 1. Select the peat pots of the required size and process them. To do this, soak them for a short time in a solution of mineral and organic fertilizers, and then dry them.

Step 2 Make drainage holes at the bottom, place expanded clay there.

Step 3 Fill the pots with potting soil, but not too tightly to create the cavities needed for successful root development. Spill the soil.

Step 4 Plant crop seeds, each in a separate cup.

Step 5 Cover the pots with plastic and place in a warm room. Then wait for the shoots and continue to care for the seedlings, watering it moderately.

Step 6 While the seedlings are growing, you will increase the distance between the pots standing on the pallet so that the branches and leaves of the plants do not interfere with each other.

Step 7 When the seedling grows, transplant it into the ground on garden plot as described above, without removing from the pots. Place containers 2-3 cm below soil level.

homemade pots

Many gardeners are unwilling to spend money and purchase ready-made pots for seedlings in the store. With perseverance and fanaticism, they collect various containers or look for new ways to make containers for growing crops. And often they are right - why spend money on something that you can do with your own hands?

There are a huge number of ways and master classes for creating containers for seedlings, and a variety of materials can be used.

Table. Materials for making pots for seedlings with your own hands.

Material	Advantages and disadvantages
	Pretty much the same as store-bought plastic pots, only free, since you still get yogurt, sour cream, etc. from the store. The product is eaten, and the jar is washed, drainage holes are made in it and it is removed before planting the seedlings. Neat, with smooth edges, safe and convenient, these containers can be used for many years. The only disadvantage can be small size, and sometimes molding of the soil.
	It turns out that many people make pots for seedlings from plastic bags. This material has a lot of advantages - it is easily accessible, cheap, and making pots from it is very simple. You can cut pieces of polyethylene and tie their lower part with a thread, make holes for drainage. You can take whole small bags - and the pots are ready. Disadvantages: the material does not hold its shape well (especially large sizes) and can provoke molding of the soil.
	Both plastic bottles and plastic cups for drinks are practically free and easily accessible pots for seedlings. They are durable and can be used for more than one season. And if plastic bottles still have to be cut with scissors, then cups are almost ready-made containers. It is enough to make drainage holes and you can use it. And taking out a clod of earth with a plant is as easy as shelling pears - just slightly wrinkle the walls of the glass and the soil will come out by itself. There are practically no shortcomings by gardeners. The main thing is to take care of the accumulation or purchase of this material in time. By the way, plastic cups are much cheaper than special pots for seedlings. True, they are not very large. And one more minus - the edges plastic bottles where the scissors “walked” can be sharp.
	Easily and simply turn into containers for seedlings - just cut off one of their parts (top or bottom) and make drainage holes. Tetrapacks do not leak, do not sag, soft enough to easily and simply remove the bush from them. They get it for free (you buy juices and dairy products?), it remains just to wash the boxes and store them until spring. Minus - fragility.
	An elementary and simple option for making pots for seedlings. It is enough to put such tubes on a pallet, fill it with soil - and you can plant seeds. But such containers are suitable only for plants that need picking, or those that do not grow too much, since the tubes are small. By the way, take seedlings out of the container before planting on suburban area optional - this can be done together with the tuba. Gradually she will rot.

Video - Polyethylene seedling pots

The main advantage of such homemade pots is the absence of costs, since containers can be safely accumulated over winter period by buying basic necessities. The most important thing is not to forget to make drainage holes in such containers.

Advice! Holes for water drainage are easier and more convenient to make with an ordinary thick nail. It must be well heated over a fire (for example, in a candle flame) and with a sharp end, melt holes in the bottom of the container. Be careful - hold the nail with pliers, as the metal heats up very quickly (you can burn yourself).

Unusual pots for seedlings

Pots for seedlings can be made from very unusual materials. Gardeners are creative people, and they can’t come up with anything to make their work easier and provide plants with proper care. Consider three types of unusual seedling pots - one made from eggshells, the second from aluminum cans, and the third from newspapers.

Pots from aluminum cans

A good option for those who are fond of carbonated drinks in cans of 0.33 liters. This material is not afraid of rust, durable, strong enough. It is convenient to rewind such jars in several pieces with tape between each other - you get a kind of aluminum "cassettes".

Step 1. Use scissors or a knife to cut off the bottom of the jars.

Step 2 Cover the neck opening with the remaining tongue, but not tightly.

Step 3 Place a little eggshell or expanded clay on the bottom of the resulting container for drainage.

Step 4 Make gauze bags, place them in containers and fill with soil.

Step 5 Sow seeds and grow seedlings.

Step 6 Take out the grown seedlings from the containers with a gauze bag and plant them in the ground with it.

Egg shell pots

A very interesting way. It is convenient because in the future the plants, together with the shell, are planted in the ground - you do not have to dive and take them out of the "tanks". A "pot" will serve as additional fertilizer

Step 1. Take egg shells and make a small hole in the bottom of each with a needle.

Step 2 Fill them halfway with soil.

Step 3 Plant the seeds and cover them with soil.

Step 4 Put the filled "pots" on the egg cell and grow the seedlings (as usual).

Gardeners prefer to use peat pots. The main element in the composition peat pots is peat, auxiliary elements are cardboard, wood.

The highest quality pots are those that are at least 70% peat. The right pots are very loose, so they perfectly pass air to the root system of plants, which contributes to the active growth of strong seedlings.

The loose structure of the products allows the roots to break through their walls with minimal effort. After planting the seedlings in the ground, the pots dissolve quite quickly - 33-38 days.

The density of cups, in which a lot of cellulose (cardboard) is added, does not have such advantages, so there is a big risk that the plants will develop poorly, and after planting in the soil they may even die.

A quality peat pot should contain at least 70% peat

Before as buy peat pots Be sure to familiarize yourself with their composition, so as not to spend money on low-quality goods.

Advantages of peat pots

Absolute environmental friendliness of products - they do not contain toxic substances harmful to humans and the environment.

The composition of the material used for the manufacture of cups does not contain pathogenic microflora that contributes to the development of various diseases. Also in the mixture for the manufacture of peat products there are no weed seeds.

Seedlings planted in this way are more likely to quickly take root in a new place.

accelerated process survival rate guarantees an early and high harvest. Harvest dates come earlier by 14-21 days, and the amount of the crop increases by about a third.

When the pot is completely dissolved in the ground, it turns out to be beautiful, which feeds the plants for less than three months.

Disadvantages of peat pots

Despite a significant number of advantages, peat products have some disadvantages.

The soil often dries out due to the fact that the loose structure of the cup absorbs all the water and it quickly evaporates from it. The plant "freezes" due to the fact that, during evaporation, the soil cools. If you do not make timely watering, the seedlings will grow poorly or may even die.

To prevent the soil from drying out, the pot is watered excessively, which provokes the development of mold.

There are frequent cases when, after the pot is planted in the ground, it does not dissolve, thereby capturing the roots - later they cannot get all the necessary substances from the soil and slowly die.

Excessive watering can lead to the formation of mold on pots

How to use peat pots?

A gardener who first decided to try a similar container for growing seedlings has a very obvious question - how to plant in peat pots?

Peat cups must first be soaked in a mixture of organic and mineral dressings, and then dried thoroughly. In order for the roots to surely be able to break through the walls of the container, it is recommended to make small holes over the entire surface of the pot. An ordinary clerical hole punch will do an excellent job with this task.

Purchased soil or a soil mixture made by yourself must be poured into cups. Please note that the soil should be loose and airy, so you can not carefully compact it.

Seeds are planted in pots according to the required timing, as well as the depth recommended for planting the selected plant. Watering is best done with a spray bottle or a small watering can.

In order for the plants to enter quickly and amicably, the container is covered with a polyethylene film and placed in a warm place, while the temperature ranges from 20 to 25C. Two days before planting the seedlings on the site, the pots should be watered abundantly in order to speed up the process of their dissolution in the soil.

Before moving young plants to the site, they must certainly be hardened, otherwise they will react painfully to sudden changes in environment. Five days before planting, the seedlings are taken out into the street and gradually increase the time they are in the fresh air.

Most gardeners grow in peat pots tomatoes and pepper. In cups, you can grow chestnut crops, or even bushes (raspberries, gooseberries, roses).

In the photo, tomato seedlings in peat pots

According to peat pot reviews in order to successfully grow seedlings in such a container, you need to get used to it a little: often, but in small quantities.

Most amateur gardeners praise the cultivation of seedlings cucumbers in peat pots, because in this way it is possible to sow seeds earlier than usual and as a result to get a harvest in the shortest possible time.

Types of peat pots

peat pots may be square or round. Pots are made individually or in the form of sections (a certain number of cups interconnected).

In diameter, pots can have different sizes: 5cm, 6cm, 7cm, 8cm, 9cm, 10cm. The height of the container coincides with its diameter - for example, 5 cm wide and 5 cm high.

The photo shows a variety of peat pots

Size peat pots is selected depending on which plants are planned to be planted. The wall thickness varies in the range of 1.5-2.5 mm. Packed peat containers must have a label with the composition.

peat pots it is advisable to buy in specialized stores in order to secure yourself from the purchase of low-quality goods. Price of peat pots depends on the size and on their type (pieces, blocks). The minimum cost is from 10-15 rubles apiece.

How to make a peat pot?

For creating peat pots for seedlings First of all, you need to prepare a solution with the correct consistency. Here are a few recipes for the mixture: mix peat, sod land and mullein in a ratio of 7: 2: 1, combine 60 peat and 20% humus soil, 15% sod land and 5% mullein. The components are diluted with water to a relatively thick state.

After preparing the mixture, it is best to use a stainless steel container, which during reusable will not corrode.

You need to take a glass with a removable bottom and pour a little mixture there, then with the help of the second part of the equipment - a pusher of a slightly smaller diameter than the container, displace the excess mixture from the mold.

The contents are carefully rammed with a pusher, after which it is removed, and the glass is left for a while so that the contents dry out a little. At the end of production, peat cups are dried outdoors under the sun or in a heated oven.

To make good pots, it may take some time to correct mistakes: add certain components, increase the drying time of finished products.

The essence of the method lies in the fact that when the tomato seedlings reach the desired age, the peat pot is placed in open ground along with the seedling. With this method, the plants do not die, which often happens with other transplant methods.

Important! After the tomatoes take root, you do not need to dig out the pots. This can harm the root system.

What are these containers?

Peat pots are small containers.

They are in the form:

truncated cone;
trapeze;
cube.

You can find peat pots connected in blocks of several pieces.. The wall thickness is 1-1.5 mm, the transverse dimensions range from 5 cm to 10 cm.

They are a mixture of:

peat 50–70%;
cellulose;
humus.

Peat pots do not harm the soil, seedlings and crops.

Properties

Peat pots are used due to the integrity of the roots; when transplanted to a new place, the plants quickly take root and grow. In the earth, poured into such containers, moisture is retained longer. The roots of tomatoes from the moment of sowing until the period of landing in a permanent place are in the same substrate.

located nothing prevents seedlings from getting the necessary nutrition and oxygen in pots. After planting in the ground, the roots calmly grow through the soft walls of the pot. They hold up well to the ground.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of peat pots for tomato seedlings are:

moderate porosity;
natural circulation of moisture when transplanted into the ground;
free germination of the roots of a growing plant;
strength.

There are no downsides to high-quality peat pots for seedlings, except for the fact that these products are disposable.

To use good products, you need to buy them in specialized stores. The purchase of a bad product, in which plain cardboard is added to peat, leads to the fact that in next year when digging up the earth, you can find the remains of paper.

Training

It is recommended to buy peat pots in specialized agricultural stores. The average price of one container is 3 rubles, and the cost of a set depends on the number of pots and varies from 120 to 180 rubles. You can also make them yourself at home.

To do this, mix:

garden, humus, compost and sod land;
sand;
stale straw cutting or sawdust.

To prevent the resulting cube from falling apart, you need to add water and mullein to the consistency of thick sour cream.

After thorough mixing, the mixture is poured into a greenhouse or a box in which a film is laid. The thickness of the poured layer is 7-9 cm.
After drying, cut along and across with a knife.

The ideal size of a peat pot for tomatoes is 8 x 8 cm. To start planting tomato seedlings in peat pots, you need to prepare the soil.

To do this, mix in equal proportions:

sod land;
humus;
sawdust;
sand;
vermiculite.

The composition must be disinfected. To do this, you can warm it in the oven or spill it with a solution of potassium permanganate.

cups

At the bottom of the peat cups, it is required to make small holes with an awl to drain excess water. This will also allow the roots to break through more easily. So that the pots do not dry out, experienced gardeners advise wrapping each with plastic wrap. Otherwise, the salt contained in the soil will crystallize and harm tender tomato seedlings. You need to remove it right before planting the bushes in a permanent place.

Seeds for germination

consists of the following steps:

rejection;
disinfection;
soak;
stratification.

During culling, empty, overdried and broken seeds are removed. They are left in solution for 5-10 minutes. table salt. Those that surface are thrown out, as they are not suitable for landing.

In the process of disinfection in 3% hydrogen peroxide or 1% potassium permanganate solution, the seeds become resistant to various diseases. The soaking procedure helps the seed to germinate faster.

The seeds are spread on wet wipe or cotton wool, which is covered with a lid. All this is put in a warm place, thanks to the swelling, they begin to germinate.

The stratification procedure consists in placing the sprouted tomato shoots in the refrigerator for the night, for the day they are placed in a room where the temperature reaches + 18 ° С ... + 20 ° С. This must be done several times. As a result of the stratification, the seedlings become resistant to temperature changes.

In the case when old seeds are used, they are advised to be treated with phytohormone compounds. that stimulate the growth of seedlings.

Important! It should be borne in mind that if seeds are used from fruits that were deficient in manganese and potassium, then their germination will be low. So that such seedlings do not stop growing, they must be soaked for 24 hours in a solution of complex fertilizer before sowing, and dried before planting.

Growing step by step instructions

Consider how to grow tomato seedlings in peat cups. To sow tomato seedlings, you need seeds and peat pots with suitable soil. A drainage layer is poured at the bottom of the pot. It can be crushed eggshells, cooked soil on top of it. It should not reach the edge by about 1 cm. After sowing the seeds, the pots are placed on a pallet or in a box, which is covered with polyethylene.

Sowing tomato seeds

For sowing, you need to take dry seeds, then mold will not appear. Sowing material in pots is sown 1-2 pieces, immersing to a depth of no more than 15 mm. From above they are sprinkled with earth and sprinkled with water. If the temperature is + 22 ° С ... + 25 ° С, then germination will take 6 days, if it increases to + 30 ° С, seedlings may appear after 2 days. After their appearance, it is desirable that the temperature be reduced during the day to + 20 ° С, at night - + 16 ° С.

Seedling development is adversely affected:

drafts;
lack of sunlight;
very high temperature.

Pulling seedlings and the presence of thin stems indicates a lack of lighting or planting density, they need to be thinned out. If several tomato seedlings come out in one pot, you should leave only one, choosing the most developed and strong one. It is best to pinch the remaining ones, otherwise, when pulling out, you can damage the root.

How to care for seedlings before planting in the ground?

After 2 leaves appear on the seedling, they start picking. To stimulate the appearance of small roots, gardeners advise pinching the tap root by a third. At the beginning of their development, seedlings should not be exposed to direct sunlight. It is necessary to put peat pots with seedlings of tomatoes from each other at a short distance. The dense arrangement interferes with air exchange.

After the second pair of leaves appears, the temperature in the room where the seedlings are located should be + 18 ° ... + 20 ° С during the day, + 8 ° С ... + 10 ° С at night. Such indicators should be observed for three weeks, and then at night it should be increased to + 15 ° C. A few days before planting in open ground, seedlings are put outside for the night to gradually get used to the place of their future growth.

A week after planting seedlings in peat pots, they must be fed with liquid mineral fertilizers. It is recommended to water this kind of seedlings often, but not plentifully. Peat is a material that holds and retains water well. Bottom watering helps to avoid the appearance of fungi and mold.

When and how to plant in the ground?

The growing cycle of tomato seedlings in peat pots is 60 days, and the date of planting in open ground depends on the tomato variety and region. Most often it is April in the southern regions, northern - May-beginning of June. It is necessary to plant seedlings in already warmed soil up to + 12 ° С ... + 15 ° С, and also when the danger of return frosts disappears.

First of all, beds are prepared and furrows are marked out, depending on the number of bushes in the garden, and the placement density.
Then the holes are dug.
Attention! Holes must be dug at least as deep as the height of the peat pot. by the most suitable option it is considered if they are 1.5-2 cm deeper.
You need to plant seedlings of tomatoes together with a pot, before that it is advised to pour them with water and treat them with a solution of Bordeaux mixture.
Landing sites are also spilled with water and installed in them. peat pots, which are sprinkled with soil on all sides.

After planting in the ground, it must not dry out, because the cups will become stiff. In the future, seedlings should be watered to the very root.

Common Mistakes

When the seedlings lower leaves turn yellow, the cause is:

lack of light;
nutrient deficiency;
blackleg development.

The technology for growing tomato seedlings in peat pots is not complicated. This method allows you to get healthy and high-quality seedlings. And in the future to collect a good harvest.