What can be planted in peat pots. Peat pots and tablets for tomato seedlings

15.06.2019

The use of peat pots for growing seedlings has been practiced in Russia for about 20 years. This tool has many benefits. The value of these peat pots is known not only to professional gardeners, but also to the villagers. Self-disintegrating peat pots are able to extend the growing season of plants. In this article we will tell you about what peat pots for seedlings can be. In addition, you can learn how to use them correctly.

What is the main meaning of the idea

And the idea is pretty simple:

After the plant has reached the desired growth, the peat pot is placed in open soil, along with all the contents. After a certain time, the pot begins to gradually disintegrate in the ground into individual microparticles.

Many gardeners are engaged in the cultivation of young plants that do not need to be disturbed during the period of planting them in open ground or an open outdoor greenhouse. Since some fruit plants and flowers simply die at the time of transplantation.

When in the walls of a peat pot, the roots of the plant are well supplied with oxygen, since the material is porous. It is able to pass oxygen molecules. Based on this, a young plant in its first weeks of life is additionally strengthened.

On a note! No need to dig peat pots after the plant is fully able to take root in the ground. You can thus harm its root system. You should not worry about the remnants of peat. After a few rains pass, it will completely go into the soil.

A suitable solution in this case would be natural materials under seedlings. Plants will thrive in these pots. It is clear that the inventors of these pots decided in this way to protect the soil from the harm of chemicals. Yes, it is worth noting that they managed to do it. In addition, the material itself is of great benefit to the surrounding soil, and fertilizes it additionally.

The main advantages and disadvantages of peat pots

Recently, peat pots for seedlings have been used quite often. When a person faces a choice, he always tries to weigh all the pros and cons. In the same way, the choice regarding peat pots occurs. This question, as a rule, is of interest to beginners who have begun to develop gardening and horticulture quite recently.

Advantages.

To these benefits peat pots include the following properties:

The natural circulation of moisture at the time of transplanting into the soil (moisture freely penetrates the peat walls of the pot (usually back and forth).
Until the pot has decayed, the root system of the developing plant is free to grow through the material.
Additional fertilization of the soil with natural peat after the complete collapse of the pots. Peat is an excellent organic material that is included in the formulations for the manufacture of many modern fertilizers.
Durability of peat pots. Carries real tasks - the pot is able to maintain its shape from the moment it is required. The inventors were able to calculate the right density of the material so that it could withstand the load from the contents.
Environmental Safety. We've talked about this before.
Providing plants with a state of rest - Protecting their roots from possible damage at the time of transplantation. (seedlings are placed in the soil together with a peat container. It is not removed from it.

The main disadvantages.

Are there disadvantages? And finding them is not so easy. Here are a few reasons for you to think about it:

In the peak summer season, these products can simply not be found on sale in specialized stores, as they are sold out very quickly. To avoid this, you need to buy pots in advance, or order them on the appropriate Internet sites.
peat pots are disposable products. You will need to purchase them annually. But can this circumstance be attributed to the main disadvantages? You should take into account the fact that this material, after decomposition, becomes part of the soil on your personal plot nourishing and enriching it.
Increasing cases of dishonesty coming from the manufacturers of peat tanks. Unfortunately, they are starting to add cardboard to the peat. As a result, peat begins to decompose in the soil not completely. And a year later, when digging up the soil, you can find the remains of paper on your site.

On a note! Do not purchase this product in questionable markets. You need to use the services of only trusted stores and outlets.

Peat is able to create an acidic environment in the soil. In the event that the plant negatively tolerates it, then in order to reduce acidity, lime, chalk or special additives will need to be added to the soil.
On sale you can also find products of very low quality. The walls of the pots begin to collapse at the time of seedling growth. And mold appears on the sides of these containers.

How to use pots

If you are thinking about the next question, is it possible to plant seedlings in peat pots? Then, you realized that you can do it. Next, we will tell you how to use these products.

Pots with a square section are often soldered to each other in one tray. Something like egg cells. In this form, the finished product leaves the conveyor immediately after stamping. Before you start using the pots, you need to cut them with scissors. It is very inconvenient to work with a single plate.

Peat pots with a round cross section are usually sold in cellophane wrap.

At the time of purchase, it is quite difficult to guess the density and thickness of the material. Especially if you are buying products for the first time.

Until you have the necessary experience, just in case, you need to make small holes at the bottom of the pots and in the walls with an awl. Thanks to this method, you will be able to guarantee the roots of plants the possibility of their release during growth.

We choose the size.

What dimensions should be taken into account? Here are some tips from experienced gardeners and gardeners.

10*11cm. (volume 0.5 liters). Perfect for growing seedlings of peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, and also eggplant. As for flowers, you can grow fuchsia, cyclamens and gerberas.
9*9. (volume 0.4 liters). These pots are suitable for growing peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers. You can grow flowers: begonia, primrose, balsam.
8*8. (volume 0.25 l). Suitable for tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, wild strawberries. As for flower crops, coleus, cyclamen, hydrangea, primrose.
7*7 (volume 0.200 liters). Suitable for watermelon, melon, garden strawberry, cabbage, and also for annual flowers.
6*6 (volume 0.100 l). We advise you to grow annual flowers in them (ageratum, levkoy, dahlia, aster).
5*5 (volume 0.5 l). Suitable for growing edible greens. (lettuce, cilantro, dill, basil, fennel, parsley).

Planting seeds.

It is worth noting that growing seedlings in peat pots requires some rules, which we will list below.

Main rules:

It is necessary to fill the pot with earth not to the very edge. You need to leave some space. (8-15 cm from the edge of the pot to the seedling level). Why is this required? At the time of placing the seedlings in protected soil, some natural soil will need to be added to the base of the plant. This procedure will help speed up the adaptation of the plant to local conditions.
2-3 seeds should be placed in one pot. This measure applies to untested seeds - in the event that you doubt whether they will be able to sprout or not. And if every seed you planted sprouts, the sprouts can be placed in separate pots.
At the bottom of the peat tank, it is imperative to lay nutrient soil and fertilizer mixtures.
The planting seed must be in the soil at a depth of about 1 cm from the top level of the soil in the container.
All peat pots should be installed in a tray tightly to each other. This procedure will be able to secure the fall of individual containers in case of careless handling.
Best placed under a peat pot polyethylene film, or pour a small amount of soil, sand or gravel. This procedure will help to keep the water flowing out at the time of watering the seedlings from below.
The regularity of watering the plant will depend on the dryness of the room.

Landing in the soil.

After the time comes to plant the plants in the soil, the following steps must be taken:

First of all, you need to prepare the bed.
Then you should deal with the placement of the furrows, descending from the number of plants you have in the garden, and the density of their placement.
Dig holes or grooves.
Moisten the soil with water before planting.
Each peat pot must be installed evenly in the allotted place. Then sprinkle it with soil.

Finally

Planting plant seeds in peat pots does not require any difficulties. And planting finished plants in the soil is not difficult. Thanks to these advantages, peat pots are so popular in our world and have only positive feedback from Russian summer residents.

Reading: 6 minutes

You can provide yourself with healthy, strong and hardy seedlings by buying it at a spontaneous market or in a store, but it’s better to grow it yourself. Moreover, the market offers a lot special means for growing seedlings.

This is soil with a special composition that takes into account the needs of a particular plant, and cassettes, tablets, pots or cups for sowing or planting it. The indisputable advantage of growing vegetables through seedlings is the low cost.

After all, buying already grown plants is much more expensive than buying seeds and sowing them. In addition, it is not always possible to find exactly the kind of crop that you want to grow, while seeds provide an unlimited choice.

Peat pots are very convenient for sowing seeds.

An excellent option for utensils for sowing seeds or diving them are peat cups. They are a natural material that contributes to the proper air exchange of the root system of the plant, as well as a kind of additional fertilizer.

What is the point of using such pots?

To understand in more detail the advantages of using this particular type of utensil for sowing seeds, it is worth gathering a little information about them. They are made from peat, cellulose and water, sometimes from peat, sawdust, cardboard and chalk.

On the market you can find peat products in the form of cups, pots or whole cassettes, with a certain number of cells. They are a great alternative wooden boxes, paper cups and especially plastic, which were a favorite a few years ago.

Using peat cups for sowing or diving, there is no need for additional feeding of plants with fertilizers, because they themselves are an excellent organic fertilizer. In addition, there is no need to transplant or remove the plant before planting in open ground.

They are endowed with a remarkable property - to decompose in the soil under the influence of heat and moisture, while turning into soil fertilizer and nourishing the root system. Thus, the roots of plants become strong, hardy, and the plants are strong and healthy.

Pros and cons of peat cups

Dealing with everyone possible consequences From the use of peat-ware for growing seedlings, the following advantages can be distinguished:

low cost or availability;
a wide range of options (type, size);
ease of use;
the possibility of planting plants in the ground directly in the dishes;
excellent ability to fertilize plants;
plants take root in open ground much faster, as they do not get sick, as is usually the case with a standard transplant;
good air exchange of the root system.

Picked young seedlings.

Speaking about the negative aspects of using peat products, we can only highlight the following:

rapid evaporation of moisture and, accordingly, drying of the top layer of soil;
the possibility of deformation of the walls of the vessel due to waterlogging or improper handling;
inability to apply on some types of plants.

Given the above, good points there are much more in the use of this type of utensils, so it is definitely possible and even necessary to use them.

How to use for growing seedlings?

If a decision is made to grow vegetable or flower crops from seeds, peat cassettes, peat tablets or pots are best suited for this process. Any of them must be placed on a plastic tray or put in another container to prevent water from leaking onto the windowsill.

Peat tablets are a great option for initial stage seedling cultivation. They are placed in any container in which the seeds will subsequently grow and pour warm water. After a couple of seconds, they increase in size and become suitable for sowing. Seeds are placed in special holes and covered with 1-2 centimeters of peat mixture on top.

Due to the fact that this type of mixture practically does not retain excess moisture, fungal infections are not terrible for crops. You can safely plant peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, cabbage and other vegetable crops in them. Flower crops such as petunia and other crops that are not very fond of transplanting will also quite like peat tablets.

Photo of seedlings in peat cups.

Pots are more versatile, since there are an unthinkable number of their varieties. You can choose exactly the size that will fully satisfy the needs of a particular plant and withstand the growth of its root system.

How to choose the right container size?

If you plan to grow cucumbers or watermelons, it is preferable to choose small pots, as the seedling will grow in it in splendid isolation. In addition, their root system is poorly developed; almost any container of a minimum volume (0.05 liters or 0.07 liters) can satisfy the needs of these crops.

Reference! A few years ago, some gardeners grew seedlings of cucumbers in a whole eggshell. To do this, a hole was made in a raw egg, the contents were used as food, and the shell was allowed to dry. Then it was filled with soil and seeds were sown. It was believed that it is able to saturate plants with calcium.

For plants to be pickled, for example, tomatoes or peppers, it is better to purchase a larger pot (from 0.25 to 0.5 liters). Peppers and tomatoes, under favorable conditions for their cultivation, get stronger very quickly and their root system is quite developed. Therefore, the pot must withstand the plants themselves and give free rein to the development of the root system.

How to plant: seed planting technique

Naturally, in order to grow high-quality seedlings, it is necessary to carefully select the seeds. They must be of high quality, proven, have friendly germination. You should also be picky about the choice of soil, now in stores you can find ready-made soil mixture designed to meet the needs of each individual plant. For unpretentious crops, you can get by with universal soil.

Illumination of seedlings on the balcony.

The container is filled with soil, without adding 1.5-2 centimeters to the top, lightly tamping, this can be done by lightly tapping on the table. Then put 2-3 seeds each and sprinkle another 1 centimeter of soil. All filled or seeded pots are sent to a plastic container, or pallet, set in even rows. Then it is necessary to carefully spray the ground with a spray bottle and cover with a film or container lid until sprouts appear.

Advice! The sown containers can be placed in a warm and dark place and left there for about a week. This is the minimum period for which the first shoots are able to grow.

Having found the first shoots (even if it will be the only one), it is worth immediately moving the pallet to the windowsill. Lack of light can be very harmful to plants, they will stretch out and be weak.

Seedling care involves regular watering and preventing hardening of the topsoil. Due to the fact that peat is porous, it is well ventilated, so you can only moisten the soil with a spray gun.

Planting seedlings in the ground

After waiting for the onset of warm nights in the region, you can safely begin the process of hardening plants. To do this, they are taken out into the air, first for 30 minutes, then for 1-1.5 hours, gradually increasing the intervals of their stay on the street. The final stage of hardening can be considered the ability to leave the seedlings to "spend the night" under open sky. If the plants survived the night, you can safely send them to grow in open ground.

Before landing in open ground.

Before planting a strong, well-formed, and most importantly hardened seedling, the cup must be lowered into warm water. When air bubbles stop appearing in the water, you can safely lower the pot into the prepared hole.

Peat with regular moisture decomposes quite quickly, usually in 20-25 days there will be no trace left.

Is it worth buying peat products?

Considering the many advantages in the use of this type of product, its beneficial effect on plants, and the soil as a whole, the answer is unequivocal: “Of course, yes!”. It does not matter at all what type of peat container you choose for your seedlings, the main thing is that it will really help you grow a beautiful, strong and healthy culture without special efforts.

Useful video

Peat cups- this is a very convenient disposable container for growing seedlings of vegetables and flowers at home. Firstly, by planting the plants immediately in separate containers, gardeners avoid picks that injure the roots. Secondly, the root system of seedlings remains intact when planted in open ground. Plants take root as quickly as possible in a new place and develop rapidly.

How to choose the right peat pot?

For the development of seedlings, it does not matter what the shape of the cups will be, but this can play a role in the compactness of their placement. Gardeners recommend giving preference to divided cups rather than whole cassettes. The size of the pot is selected according to the needs of the culture, as in all other cases.

Important advice: when purchasing a seedling cup, make sure that it is really peaty. Sometimes a cardboard cup is mistaken for peat, which has significant functional differences.
Do not confuse a peat seedling cup with a cardboard one.

Peat cups - how to use them?

There are no special differences in the use of peat containers for growing seedlings. Here's what needs to be done:

Prepare a nutrient substrate suitable for a particular crop, pour it into a peat pot, lightly tamp, moisten.
Dig a hole in each cup, submerge the seeds and sprinkle with earth.
Place all containers on a stand end-to-end.
When the roots of the seedlings begin to grow, the cups should be moved a short distance from each other so that the young sprouts receive more heat and light.
Make sure that the soil is always moist - watering can be done either through the top or from the bottom through the stand.
It is good to water the seedlings 24 hours before planting in the exhaust gas or greenhouse.
Place each cup in a dug hole, either level with the ground or 1-2 cm below.

In the purchased cups, small holes are made in advance with an awl on all sides. This is necessary in order to then make it easier for the roots to break through. Growing seedlings, it is better to wrap each cup with plastic wrap. It is removed only immediately before planting the plant in a permanent place.

An interesting trick: before filling the pot with a substrate, impregnate it with a solution of mineral fertilizer. What will it give? First, nutrition for the plant. Secondly, accelerated decay in the earth. Also, the glass is often treated with an anti-mold agent. It is better to fill it with soil not to the very top, but 1.5 cm below. So after moving to a permanent place, this space can be filled with soil from the beds so that the plant quickly gets used to the new conditions.

How many seeds do experienced gardeners put in each peat container? If there is no complete confidence in the seeds, then two or three, and if there is a guarantee that they will all sprout, then one. From several seedlings in a glass, the strongest is chosen for further growth. The rest pull out.

After moving the seedlings to a permanent place, there is no need to somehow try to dig up and remove the remnants of the cup. It dissolves on its own under the influence of water. You should not purchase peat pots for seedlings if you plan to use them on next year. To do this, it is better to purchase a cheaper plastic container. In the case of purchasing a cassette, which is several connected containers, they must be cut before landing.

And one more important advice, which is given to inexperienced gardeners in the use of peat cups by those who have been dealing with them for a long time - one should not take lightly the quality of the container. Poor peat pots do not decompose well in the ground after planting and may contain harmful impurities. Trust only trusted manufacturers. An experiment in this case can cost you dearly.

You have not yet seen in practice how convenient it is to use peat cups for seedlings? You now know how to use this latest development in the field of agronomy. What prevents you from personally verifying its merits and practical benefits?

Watch a video about sowing pepper seeds in peat cups

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, the container from under fermented milk products often contains their residues, 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 treat them - everyone decides for himself, depending on his capabilities, temperament and preferences among horticultural 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 pan.
Do not allow the earth 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 chooses for himself 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 with plastic wrap or a bag. 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 environment and they look much better than assorted 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!

Growing plants by seedling method can significantly accelerate the maturation of garden and garden 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.

In order to protect seedlings from damage to roots and trunks when transplanting into open ground, 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.

Seedlings are watered with 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.