The New Year is coming into its own. The garden is snowy and cold. However, it is in the first winter months that vegetable growers open the season. What is the reason for such early sowing? These are the features of growing vegetable products, which will take from 90 to 150 days to technical ripeness. The seedling method allows you to speed up the ripening of vegetables. The date of sowing seeds in greenhouse conditions depends on the individual characteristics of the crop and its variety. When determining the sowing time, it is necessary to calculate the required run for the plant. You shouldn't rush. This can lead to a decrease in the quality of seedlings.
Basic conditions for obtaining planting material
Getting a good harvest of vegetables depends on the quality of the seedlings. To get quality you need:
But before you prepare the seeds and start sowing, you should take care of seedlings and soil.
Soil preparation
How to prepare the land for seedlings? This question is quite important when growing plants indoors. Inexperienced vegetable growers do not pay enough attention to this issue. And as a result, the shoots that appear begin to hurt and die. Let's try to figure out what is the reason. When choosing a soil, you can do several things:
- purchase ready-made soil;
- prepare the soil composition yourself.
Ready soil can be found in specialized stores. Usually this is a universal soil mixture intended for growing vegetable seedlings. But based on the experience of many vegetable growers, it is safe to say that the second way to use the soil is more reliable. It is better to worry in advance and cook it yourself in the autumn period.
Basic requirements for soil composition for vegetable seedlings
Before you prepare the land for seedlings, you should take into account its features. The soil composition should ensure the normal development and growth of a particular vegetable crop. This land has the following requirements:
- fertility;
- the content of the necessary set of trace elements;
- neutral level of acidity;
- sufficient friability and permeability;
- lack of seeds of weeds and pests;
- exclusion of infections and toxic substances.
Components used in the preparation of earth mixture and substrate
The best soil for seedlings can be formulated using various organic and inorganic components in strictly defined proportions. As a rule, it includes from three to four components.
Sod land is the top layer of soil covered with grass cover. It is harvested in summer or autumn. A thin layer of soil cut with a shovel is placed in containers for further use. Sod land is used after special preparation. Also, before use, it is subjected to heat treatment. It is used as the basis of soil for seedlings.
Transitional or lowland) - decomposed dead plants. Enriches the soil with organic matter and improves its structure.
Sphagnum moss is a perennial plant. In the composition of the earth mixture, it is indispensable. The moisture capacity of moss improves the quality of the soil, which acquires a looser structure. The natural bactericidal properties of the plant are an excellent remedy for root rot.
Sawdust - waste after wood processing. Provides looseness and permeability of the soil.
Compost is organic matter decomposed by microorganisms. It is an excellent natural conditioner. The content of humus and trace elements provides plant nutrition.
Sand is used to increase the porosity and looseness of the soil. Promotes the penetration of moisture and air to seedlings. Coarse-grained structures are applied.
Coir - coconut flakes. Used to prepare substrates.
Vermiculite is a mineral consisting of layered plates. Possessing good moisture capacity, this component prevents the soil from drying out.
Perlite is a light porous material. To obtain it, volcanic materials are subjected to heat treatment. The addition of perlite to the earth mixture makes it loose and breathable. It also increases the moisture content of the soil mixture.
In addition to the components listed above, others are shaded that increase moisture capacity, such as:
- hydrogel;
- expanded clay;
- shredded foam.
To reduce the acidity of the soil, it is useful to use following components:
- fluffy lime;
- dolomite flour.
Land for seedlings should be ready for sowing. The preparation of components for it is carried out in the autumn. Store them in polyethylene containers at zero temperature.
Components that should not be used in soil preparation
In order for the planting material to be strong and healthy, before preparing the land for seedlings, you need to know about the components that are not desirable to use in earth mixtures. Quite often the question arises about the use of land from the garden. This is undesirable. The reason is that seeds can be present in it as well as destructive infections. Insects and earthworms can live in such soil. Also, fresh manure should not be included in the composition of the soil. Do not use immature compost and untreated sod land.
Soil preparation for seedlings
Before preparing the land for seedlings, determine the soil composition intended for a particular crop. Growing certain vegetables has individual characteristics. And of course it can be different. Land for tomato seedlings may have the following composition:
- two parts of sod land;
- one part of compost or peat;
- one part sand or perlite.
Placed in a bulk container. It should not contain lumps. The soil is kneaded and mixed well. Compost or peat is added to it. The soil mixture must be homogeneous. After adding sand or perlite to combine all the components, the soil is thoroughly mixed. Land for tomato seedlings is ready. It is transferred to containers for sowing seeds.
Land for seedlings of pepper can be the same as for tomatoes. You can use a different composition:
- three parts of sod land;
- one part of compost;
- one part sawdust;
- one part sand.
Land for seedlings of pepper and tomatoes is prepared in advance. A week before sowing seeds, the soil is distributed into seedlings and moistened with pink. After that, mineral fertilizers and wood ash can be added.
Substrate preparation for vegetable seedlings
The main component of the above soil compositions is earth. However, it is possible to grow seedlings without land. For this purpose, substrates are prepared instead of ordinary soil. One of the options for the landing composition may be as follows:
- two parts of sawdust;
- one part sand.
Coconut substrate can serve as an interesting option for growing seedlings. It is obtained from the skin of coconuts. This substrate has good performance, the main of which are sterility and environmental friendliness. It is a balanced fertile mixture with good water and breathability. Alternatively, coconut tablets are used to grow seedlings - pressed coconut flakes.
In addition to coconut substrate, peat substrate can be used. Its basis is natural material - peat.
Modern methods of growing planting material
New methods of growing seedlings make it possible to do without soil and substrate. For this purpose, sawdust, paper or hydrogel are used. Growing seedlings without land allows you to get enough planting material in a limited space. For growing on paper, the seeds are pre-soaked. Then they are placed on a damp cloth placed in a plastic container. From above they are covered with polyethylene. Next, make sure that the napkin is damp. After the emergence of sprouts, the seeds are constantly moistened. In this case, the temperature should not fall below 25 degrees.
Wet sawdust can be used to grow vegetable seedlings. Seeds are sown in sawdust treated with boiling water. Seedling containers are covered with foil. After the emergence of shoots, the film is removed. Containers are installed in a well-lit place. Care is regular watering. Also spend 2 subcortex mullein.
Growing seedlings without land has its advantages. The main one is sterility. Eliminates the possibility of infection, weed seeds and pests.
Peppers belong to Solanaceae crops. Therefore, the rhizome in adult plants is quite tender. What can we say about sensitive young growth, which is extremely demanding on the composition of the soil. To create strong healthy seedlings, watering and feeding is often not enough, the situation is much more serious. A good soil is needed, which will provide the vegetable crop with minerals and give a start to active development. So soil preparation for pepper seedlings- the very first point, the implementation of which gardeners must think about.
Most gardeners, especially inexperienced ones, sow pepper in ordinary soil from their own garden. Some go further and buy the universal composition in the flower department. Both are fundamentally wrong without first studying the soil.
So, a good land for pepper should have the following characteristics:
- loose breathable structure that will allow moisture and oxygen to penetrate to the rhizome;
- good fluid permeability without the formation of a hard crust on the bed;
- mandatory presence of organic compounds;
- the composition should be enriched with minerals (phosphorus, potassium, iron, nitrogen);
- acidity should be low or neutral (no more than 7 pH).
And the soil with the following characteristics is not suitable for pepper under any circumstances:
- with the content of pest larvae, fungal spores;
- with high acidity (it contributes to the development of the "black leg" and keel);
- clay soil (too dense, the roots will begin to "suffocate" and not get enough moisture);
- which is completely peat mass.
If you buy a mixture for young shoots in a store, choosing the right one becomes easier than ever. On each package, the manufacturer fixes the composition of the soil, the level of acidity and other characteristics.
Important! Some manufacturers may be cunning and indicate the ingredients not entirely honestly. Therefore, to create strong seedlings, it is still recommended to prepare the soil mixture for peppers yourself.
Components for ground under pepper
In the soil of its own production, each component has its own function. The soil is enriched with all the necessary substances and allows the seedlings to develop qualitatively. So, for a good result, the following ingredients are most often selected:
- peat mass;
- humus;
- leaf substrate;
- turf;
- baking powder.
It is not necessary to use all the ingredients when mixing, but several components must be present in the soil. More details about each of them can be found in the table below.
Table 1. Required ingredients for soil preparation for pepper seedlings.
| Name | Description | Peculiarities |
|---|---|---|
Manure or compost | Contrary to the opinion of some summer residents, humus and compost are not at all the same things. Compost is a mixture of leafy residue that rots in containers or compost heaps. Good compost should include:
| Good humus works best as an organic fertilizer for nightshades. Manure is rotted manure. It can ripen up to 5 years and is unique for almost all plants, from vegetables to flowers. Humus must be mixed into the soil of its own manufacture. But if the latter is not available, you can take high-quality rotted compost. |
baking powder | These elements serve to give airiness to the soil. As a rule, a sandy composition of a large fraction is taken for this, but it can also be replaced by the following elements:
| Any of the proposed components will be an ideal soil baking powder. If desired, these elements can be combined with a lower dosage. |
| There are 3 types of peat mass:
| Peat improves soil structure by making it porous. In addition to this, it saturates it with nutrients and enriches with nitrogen. However, you need to choose peat only the one that is suitable for peppers. |
leaf ground | It is formed from fallen leaves after overheating. In another way, it is called leaf humus due to the abundant concentration of useful components. There are two ways to get it:
| As for the first method: foliage and soil can only be dug out from under certain trees. Vegetation from aspen, maple and oak will not work. Birch and linden leaves are considered ideal raw materials. With self-preparation, it is worth adding urea, lime and a little humus to the leafy ground. These ingredients will help speed up the decomposition. |
| This is the surface part of the soil, which retains the highest concentration of minerals and nutrients. Their useful properties remain for several years. There are 3 types of turf:
| A light and medium sod substrate is added to the soil mixture for sowing pepper. It is best to shoot it in August or September/October along with dried foliage. Until the next season, the earth is left in wooden boxes. |
Manure prices
humus
Soil recipes for pepper seedlings
If, nevertheless, it was decided to prepare the soil with your own hands, you must prepare all the necessary ingredients in advance. The procedure is carried out in the fall. The components of the future soil mixture are distributed in bags or buckets, and then left for the winter to freeze.
Some gardeners mix pepper soil on their own, trusting their intuition. Others should check out tried and tested pepper soil recipes:
- Humus, garden soil, sand, peat. Mix in equal proportions.
- Sod, compost, peat and earth are mixed in similar parts. Pour ash into the resulting composition: 1 cup per 10 kg.
- Soddy soil + garden soil along with sand and peat. All components are taken in one serving.
- Nutritious peat along with humus and a small amount of phosphate.
- One part of sand and peat + two portions of sod substrate.
- Leaf substrate, turf, humus in the same proportions.
- Wood shavings and sand in one part + three parts of the turf composition.
Instead of sand in any of the recipes, you can use any other baking powder. It is not recommended to add fresh humus, manure and non-disinfected turf to the ground for peppers. Any recipe can be supplemented with superphosphate and potassium sulfate as a top dressing.
Important! When buying a ready-made universal mixture, you need to carefully study its composition. As a rule, such soil mixtures are 90-100% peat.
Soil preparation for sowing
So, the soil was mixed in the fall and left to winter. At the beginning of the next season, it's time to remember him. It is recommended to finally prepare the land 7-8 days before the planned sowing. As a rule, pepper seedlings are sown in the last week of February / early March.
Preparation includes defrosting and disinfection. The last procedure can be performed in several ways:
- Treatment with insecticides or fungicides. These chemicals are only allowed if gardeners have doubts about the quality of the potting mix. For example, the composition was bought in a store or unreliable components were used in the creation (perhaps earth from the forest). When cultivating the land with preparations, one should not forget about gloves and the recommended dosage.
- Steaming. The land is treated with hot steam for a couple of hours. After such disinfection, the soil is placed in waterproof bags or jars with a tight lid.
- Calcination. The soil mixture is poured into a refractory container. The oven is heated to 55 ° C and a container of earth is placed there for several hours. Some summer residents advise using temperatures much higher, but under such conditions, good microorganisms can also die.
- Disinfection. The earth is well shed with a pink solution of potassium permanganate.
The process of disinfecting the soil can disrupt its nutritional properties. Therefore, it is necessary to additionally feed the earth. However, it is not necessary to oversaturate it: in too “fortified” soil, the pepper will start to hurt and may subsequently dry out.
The most optimal way to fertilize is to feed the earth with compositions with potassium gutamate. It could be drugs "Gumi" or "Baikal".
Fertilizer prices Baikal
fertilizer Baikal
Is it possible to add soil to seedlings?
Usually pepper seedlings do not require sprinkling of the earth in the process of growing. However, in case of urgent need, you can add soil so as not to cover the first cotyledon leaves with it. For bedding one of two options is used:
- The soil that remains after mixing.
- Earth after treatment with a strong solution of tea leaves.
The soil is added in several stages.
Important! When the lower part of the seedlings hardens, the bedding stops. Otherwise, you can provoke decay and inhibition of the development of the rhizome.
Soil preparation for planting seedlings
In order to remain strong and healthy until it turns into an adult bush, the soil at the permanent residence of the pepper also needs to be prepared. On the issue of planting, gardeners are divided into two camps: some are used to planting peppers in a greenhouse, others prefer open ground.
in the greenhouse
Still, peppers are heat-loving plants, so they ripen best in greenhouse conditions. Land preparation consists of several stages, they are presented in the table below.
Table 2. Stages of preparing greenhouse land for planting pepper seedlings.
| Stages | Implementation |
|---|---|
Primary digging | Occurs in the fall in the season preceding the planting season. It is necessary to dig up the earth and along the way add organic fertilizers to it. It can be humus, compost or manure no more than 5 kg per 1 m² of land. During wintering, the mixture will perepreyut in the soil and make it fertile. |
Secondary digging and top dressing with fertilizers | Re-digging occurs in the spring before the immediate landing. So, this time, add to each bed:
|
Loosening and creating holes | After high-quality fertilizer, the earth must be loosened. It will become airy and porous. Loosen to a depth of about 25 cm, after which holes are made. Each is well watered - about 1.5-2 liters of water. |
Warming up the air | On the eve of planting peppers, you need to create a suitable microclimate in the greenhouse. To do this, the air is heated. The temperature must be above 15 ° C, otherwise the peppers become sick and can no longer absorb nutrients. For soil, a temperature of 25 °C is recommended. |
Planting seedlings and mulching | Seedlings are transferred to prepared holes along with a clod of earth in which they ripened. The first leaves should be at the level of the beds. Then the soil around the plant is well compacted and covered with mulch to avoid evaporation of the liquid and protect the seedlings from weeds. Straw or peat is used as mulch. |
After planting seedlings, greenhouses should be regularly ventilated. This is best done after watering. You also need to periodically loosen the peppers. A couple of days after transferring the plants to the greenhouse, it is recommended to spud after watering. They make a mound no higher than 4 cm, which will help young peppers take root well.
In the open ground
The land in the open field is prepared in the same way as a greenhouse. It is only required to pre-arrange the beds and spill them with settled water. It is important to choose the right plot for the beds: it should be well lit, without wind and drafts.
Seedlings are transferred to open ground at the end of May. By this time, she should already be strong and immune to disease.
Important! If the pepper receives all the nutrients it needs from the ground, its ripening period is reduced by 1-2 weeks. From fertilized land, pepper gives a bountiful harvest much earlier than a plant without top dressing.
You can learn more about how to grow peppers in open ground by reading on our website.
How to store soil
As a rule, gardeners store untreated soil in a garage or on a balcony. In winter, the temperature there remains at around 0°C. However, the soil after processing requires completely different storage conditions:
- the place must be dry and protected from direct sunlight;
- medicines or foodstuffs should not be stored nearby;
- the required air temperature is not lower than -30°C and not higher than +40°C (it is better to store at negative temperatures).
If you correctly observe all storage conditions, you can extend the shelf life of the soil by several years.
Soil prices
soil earth
Experienced gardeners offer some tips to help you grow healthy pepper bushes with a bountiful harvest:
- About a month before the planned sowing, the soil components are placed in a warm place so that they thaw and warm up. And after 2 weeks you can start mixing.
- Fertilizers should be in moderation. If the components for the soil have been selected correctly, the soil is already becoming fertile. Top dressing is added in a small amount, otherwise the pepper will begin to dry out from an oversupply of food.
- Liquid fertilizers are applied only after at least two true leaves appear on the seedlings.
- Sod, garden soil and humus are pre-screened. From these compositions, all foreign objects, pebbles and remnants of roots must be completely removed. Knead the earthen clods so that the soil is completely homogeneous.
Thanks to the development of technology, it became possible to grow pepper without land at all. To do this, use coconut washers, a mixture of sand and sawdust, or peat cushions. Some summer residents grow pepper on plain paper. This unusual method allows you to maintain the sterility of seedlings.
Video - Preparing the soil for peppers
Peppers and eggplants are permanent residents in summer cottages, which are grown year after year. With the onset of the hot season of conservation, they are simply indispensable for every housewife. Therefore, happy owners of land try to plant them and get a harvest on their own. Such attempts do not always end in success, in the sense of a plentiful, high-quality crop of vegetables.
This is due to the fact that peppers and (especially the latter) are quite capricious. One of their main requirements is a competent approach to the selection and preparation of the soil. What kind of land do peppers and eggplants like? In order for the plants to grow well, develop and please with large fruits, the soil must be light and nutritious. This applies both to the stage of growing seedlings, and directly to the crops themselves in the beds.
Substrate preparation for growing seedlings
The growing time for pepper and eggplant is approximately three months. The best option for obtaining an early harvest is to sow seeds for seedlings in early February.
Seeds for seedlings can be sown in already enriched soil purchased at the store. Or prepare the substrate by mixing it yourself to choose from:
- sod land and humus in a ratio of 1: 2;
- humus, and sawdust in a ratio of 2: 2: 1;
- in equal parts humus and peat.
For each bucket of the resulting substrate, add one tablespoon of superphosphate and 2 tablespoons of ash.
Soil preparation in the beds
Not every gardener can boast of loose and fertile soil in his garden. However, due to the presence of a wide range of fertilizers, it is possible to improve the composition of the soil.
Preparation of beds for peppers and eggplants begins with autumn digging. Secondary digging is done in the spring with the simultaneous addition of organic matter and mineral fertilizers.
To improve the composition of the soil, fertilizers are applied depending on the structure of the soil:
- Loamy (clay) earth. , sand, sawdust and peat in the ratio 1:1:0.5:2.
- Peat land. They scatter humus, soddy soil and sand in equal amounts over the beds.
- Sandy land. One and a half buckets of clay soil, half a bucket of sawdust, one bucket of humus and peat are brought in.
Fresh manure is not used to fertilize the soil, so as not to burn the seedlings.
In addition, wood ash is scattered on the beds before digging. From mineral fertilizers, potassium sulfate and superphosphate are added (a tablespoon per square meter), as well as urea (1 tsp).
Land for seedlings of pepper, eggplant and tomatoes - video
Harvested and it's time to prepare for next year. Beginning gardeners sigh more freely. All major work has been completed. It remains to buy seeds and sow in cups in ordinary soil taken from your garden. And their surprise is great when an unknown weed sprouts instead of a tomato seedling. The mistake of such gardeners is that they try to feed the baby with roughage instead of baby food. Seedlings need a different soil composition. Such a mixture can be bought ready-made in specialized stores, but it is best to prepare it yourself.
Seedlings in prepared soil. © seedtosalad Content:
Soil requirements for seedlings of vegetable crops
Ordinary garden soil is not suitable for sowing seeds. The components of the future mixture must be prepared in the fall. They are harvested in dry weather to avoid the development of the entire set of soil infections and pests.
Soil mixtures for seedlings grown per family will need 1-3 buckets, so it will not be difficult to collect several components in different containers and store them away from autumn rains.
The main requirements for the soil mixture are light, air- and water-permeable, moisture-absorbing, porous, rich in organic matter and mineral nutrition in the form of available salts of basic fertilizers and microelements. The pH of the mixture should be 6.5-7.0, that is, it should be neutral in acidity. From autumn we lay out in separate containers:
- humus (rotted manure) or biohumus;
- forest sheet or sod land;
- garden soil from your site, from places where herbicides, fungicides and other chemicals were not used;
- sifted wood ash;
- straw cutting or sawdust (not coniferous), perlite, expanded clay, hydrogel, necessary for loosening the soil.
We replenish the home first-aid kit with mineral fertilizers and the composition of trace elements. We buy biological products against soil infection and pests. The mixture should contain a large amount (up to 30%) of loosening substances so that the weak root system of seedlings does not meet resistance when growing into the soil.
Preparation of universal soil mixture for seedlings
In our free winter time, we prepare a soil mixture from the prepared ingredients. The simplest all-purpose potting mix can be made with 3-4 ingredients.
- 1 part leaf (rotted leaves) or sod land;
- 2 parts of mature humus. Manure, even half-rotted, cannot be used so as not to burn the young roots of the awakened embryo. Instead of humus, weathered non-acidic peat (moor) or biohumus can be used;
- 1 part sifted river sand or sawdust, to loosen the mixture.
Mix the mixture thoroughly and arrange in containers (bags, boxes) for disinfection. By disinfecting the soil mixture, weed seeds, soil pests and diseases are eliminated.
It is better to start harvesting components for soil mixtures in the fall. © Erin Soil disinfection
Disinfection of the prepared soil mixture can be carried out in several ways, including:
- freezing;
- steaming;
- calcination;
- pickling.
In the southern regions, it is more expedient to use hot disinfection by steaming or calcining, and in the northern regions, it is easier to use freezing. Well disinfects the soil dressing with preparations. It is better to use biological products, potassium permanganate, which do not harm humans and animals.
freezing
With the onset of frost, the container with the mixture is taken out into the street under a canopy so that snow does not fall. In the open air, the mixture is 3-5 days. With constant frosts of -15 ... 25 ºС, most pests and seeds of some weeds die. After freezing, the container is brought into a warm room with a temperature of + 18 ... + 22-25 ºС.
Surviving seeds and pests begin an active life. After 10 days, the container with the soil mixture is again exposed to frost. The procedure is repeated 2-4 times. During this time, the vast majority of weeds and pests die.
Steaming
A month before sowing the seeds, the soil mixture is subjected to steaming in a water bath, which can be done in several ways.
- In small portions, pour the mixture into a colander lined with gauze or other loosely woven fabric. We cover the colander with a lid and hold it over a container (bucket or pan) with a small amount of boiling water. The duration of steaming is, depending on the size of the colander, from 10-15 to 30-45 minutes.
- Pour water into the bottom of the tank, set a high stand. We place the soil mixture in an old small-perforated bag on a stand. Steam from boiling water steams the mixture for about 1-2 hours.
Scatter the steamed moist soil in a thin layer on paper or cloth and dry it in air to a mature state. Properly dried soil mixture should, when squeezed and then opened, easily crumble into small loose particles, slightly velvety to the touch.
Calcination
We moisten the soil mixture and scatter it on trays with a layer of 5-6 cm. We warm up in the oven, heated to + 40 ... + 60 ºС for 30-40 minutes. Then we cool.
Etching
Pour the prepared soil mixture into a container. We prepare a solution of potassium permanganate at the rate of 3 g of the drug per bucket of water. Pour the mixture with a solution of potassium permanganate and mix thoroughly. Lay out to dry.
After all types of disinfection, the dried soil mixture is treated with antifungal biofungicides (trichodermin, phytosporin, hamair) and bioinsecticides (boverin, fitoverm, actofit). To restore beneficial microflora, we use the dry preparation "Emochka-Bokashi" or the working solution "Baikal EM-1". After their introduction, slightly moisten the soil mixture. In a warm, humid environment, beneficial microorganisms multiply intensively, destroying the remnants of pathogenic microflora.
Preparation of containers for sowing seeds
In the 3rd decade of January, we prepare containers for sowing seeds. For sowing, you can buy 50 g plastic or polyethylene cups, peat humus cubes. You can save money and make your own cups of thick paper without a bottom (they are laid out in small boxes, the bottom of which is covered with a film), make humus-earth or peat-humus cubes with a cross section of 5-6 to 7-10 cm.
Formed briquettes of soil mixture for seedlings. © Cheryl Casselman
Fertilization of prepared soil mixtures
Compiled and disinfected soil mixtures are the basis of the substrate used for sowing seeds.
Some gardeners use a universal type of soil mixture for seedlings of all grown vegetable crops. Add 7-10 g of ammonium nitrate, 10-20 g of superphosphate, 5-10 g of potassium sulfate, 40-50 g of lime, a glass of wood ash to a bucket of disinfected soil mixture. The resulting substrate is thoroughly mixed and the containers for sowing are clogged by 2/3.
Table 1 shows the compositions for some vegetable crops based on a universal soil mixture and according to a special recipe. It should be noted that the above formulation of the compositions is not mandatory. Each gardener can use both the given recipe and their own practice-proven compositions.
Table 1: Substrate options for vegetable crops
| culture | The composition of the soil mixture | Additives (per bucket of soil mixture) | Sowing dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| cucumbers | 1 glass of ash, 15 g of urea, superphosphate and potassium sulfate | Early April - mid May. | |
| 2. Sod land (1 part), compost or humus (1 part). | 8-10 g of ammonium nitrate, 10-15 g of superphosphate, 10 g of potassium sulfate, 10 g of dolomite flour | ||
| 1. Universal mix (in parts): 1 sheet or sod land, 2 mature humus, 1 sand, 1 sawdust or perlite | Ash (0.5 cup), 20-25 g superphosphate, 10-15 g urea or potassium sulfate | Mid-March - eggplant and peppers, late March - early April - tomatoes. | |
| Eggplant, tomatoes, sweet pepper | 2. Garden land (2 parts) humus (2 parts), peat (1 part), rotted sawdust (0.5 parts). | 8-10 g of ammonium nitrate, 80 g of superphosphate, 20-30 g of potassium sulfate | |
| tomatoes | 3. Humus (1 part), peat (1 part), sod land (1 part), rotted sawdust (1 part). | 1.5 cups of ash, 20-25 g of urea, 60 g of superphosphate, 20 g of potassium sulfate | |
| Cabbage | 1. Universal mix (in parts): 1 sheet or sod land, 2 mature humus, 1 sand, 1 sawdust or perlite | 15-20 g of ammonium nitrate or urea, 20-25 g of superphosphate, 10 g of potassium sulfate, 25 g of dolomite flour or lime | February - early cabbage, mid-March - medium. |
| 2. Sod land (20 parts), ash (5 parts), lime (1 part), sand (1 part). | Without additives |
The use of purchased soil and ways to improve it
Self-preparation of the basic soil mixture for growing seedlings is not a difficult job, but it takes a certain period of time. Therefore, some gardeners, often beginners, buy ready-made soil mixture. However, when buying ready-made soil, you cannot be sure that it is a quality product. It can be acidified, with a high content of lowland peat, not disinfected, which means that fungal microflora will definitely be present in it, etc. Therefore, when buying a ready-made substrate, be sure to:
- Check it for acidity, and even if positive, add 2-3 tablespoons of dolomite flour or a little slaked lime;
- Carry out the disinfection procedure using one of the methods described above;
- If the soil mixture contains a large amount of peat, if necessary, add garden soil (approximately 30-40% of the purchased mass);
- So that the soil mixture after adding garden soil and other components is sufficiently moisture-intensive, add a little hydrogel. In a humid environment, it increases in volume by 200-300 times, do not overdo it.
For each bucket of such a modified soil mixture, add 20-30 g of complete mineral fertilizer (nitroammofoska, azofoska). Remember! The procedure for improving the purchased soil mixture will pay off with high-quality seedlings. If you rely entirely on the integrity of the producers, you can be left without seedlings.
The topic of today's article is the ideal soil for peppers: for seedlings and for planting mature seedlings. Do-it-yourself soil preparation for pepper seedlings.
Correct soil
Good land for planting should:
- be loose, light, with a porous structure, provide free access to air and water;
- contain life-giving microflora, organic;
- contain in optimal proportions for seedlings potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus, iron, copper, zinc;
- correspond in composition to the soil in which it will be;
- be water-permeable, retain moisture for a long time without forming a surface crust;
- have an adequate neutral pH for peppers pH ~ 5-7. This acidity protects peppers from black leg and keel.
A good land should not:
- be infested with weeds, larvae, eggs of pests, worms, fungal spores, toxic substances, pathogens, rotting organic matter;
- have an admixture of clay.
An ideal soil composition for pepper seedlings, containing phosphorus and potassium oxides, sulfur, boron, molybdenum, zinc, iron, copper, manganese, magnesium, and calcium in the right proportions.
On a note! Pepper seedlings develop well in the removed surface layer of soil from under the acacias.
seedling mixtures
How to prepare the ground for seedlings of peppers:
- One part each: sand, peat, humus, earth.
- Sod, garden soil, compost, sand - in equal shares. Sprinkle with wood ash at the rate of a glass per 10 kg of the compound.
- Equally low-lying peat, humus. Enrich with potassium sulfate and superphosphate.
- One measure of compost (peat), sand (perlite), two sods.
- To one part, equally mixed sawdust and sand, add three shares of soddy soil.
- Equally leaf and sod land, the same amount of humus, a little sand, vermiculite, perlite to choose from.
- Earth, humus, sand, wood ash.
- Mix soddy soil, river sand, peat in equal proportions, pour a bucket of water with superphosphate, potassium sulfate (30 g) and urea (10 g).
- Earth, humus, peat in the same volume, half a liter of wood ash, 2 matchboxes of superphosphate.
On a note! If you buy ready-made soil, carefully study the composition. Often it is 100% peaty. In such an environment, pepper seedlings do not develop.
More about the components of mixtures
Peat
It is used as a baking powder. Most soil mixtures require peat additives. There are three types:
- lowland: not acidic, rich in nutrients;
- transition;
- surface requiring enrichment with lime or ash. The introduction of phosphate, magnesium fertilizers is welcome.
coarse sand
Provides proper drainage, contributing to the formation of the supporting part of the bush. Makes the soil porous, light.
Turf
To saturate the soil mixture, improve the structure in the summer-autumn period, the top soil layer is removed along with the grass. Stacked in boxes. Warm up before use.
sphagnum mosses
Increase moisture content. With bactericidal properties, prevent rotting of the root system of seedlings.
Sawdust
Wood waste additives lighten the soil, increase its permeability.
Compost
Contains humus, so necessary for the successful development of seedlings. Increases fertility, ventilation.
Perlite
When growing seedlings in mixtures containing a substance of volcanic origin, the risk of fungal diseases and decay of seedlings is reduced. Protects against the formation of lumps, caking, tamping, temperature changes.
Vermiculite
Crushed layered mineral saves from drying out.
Ash
Experienced gardeners prefer birch.
On a note! To facilitate seedling land cocktails, they add: husks of seeds, husks from grains, expanded clay, hydrogels, foam plastic granules, rotted foliage that does not contain tannins (oak, willow, chestnut leaves), ground eggshells. To remove acidification, lime fluff, chalk and dolomite flour are added.
Preparing the land for pepper seedlings
At the end of summer and autumn, store the available components: earth, turf, peat, moss, sawdust, compost. You can keep blanks in plastic bags, bags, boxes, buckets, at sub-zero temperatures. It is desirable that they freeze well.
On a note! Land from a garden plot may contain seeds of unwanted plants, harmful insects and their larvae, pathogens. Do not use without decontamination, or replace with store bought.
Do not add fresh manure, fresh compost, untreated turf to seedling mixes.
You can improve the soil for seedlings in the following ways:
- To lower pH levels, neutralize unwanted chemicals, treat with preparations such as Flora-S.
- Treat with fungicides, insecticides. This procedure is reliable and lasts a long time. It must be borne in mind the danger of such drugs for health, follow all the precautionary rules.
- Steam for up to an hour, stirring occasionally. Store the steamed soil in sterilized containers in a cool, dark place. With this treatment, pernicious bacteria, fungus, larvae and eggs of insects die, but the necessary trace elements and minerals are preserved.
- To improve microflora treat with a solution like "Baikal", "Gumi" in accordance with the instructions.
- Ignite for half an hour in the oven, oven at a temperature of + 40-50 °. The disadvantage of this method is that along with undesirable factors, the necessary beneficial substances are destroyed.
- Freeze. 30-40 days before planting, warm up, mix with the rest of the ingredients, freeze again.
- Disinfect with potassium permanganate solution. Additionally, walk with an antifungal agent.
On a note! Don't overdo it with . With properly selected components, the soil mixture turns out to be quite fertile. Experienced vegetable growers advise applying liquid fertilizers after the appearance of two true leaves on the seedlings.
Start mixing the components kept in heat 2-3 weeks before the start of sowing. Sift the earth, sod, peat, humus. Select the remains of plants, pebbles, foreign objects.
Place the selected components in a suitable container. Break up lumps. Mix thoroughly until smooth. Add sand, perlite. They will combine all the components into one whole, mix again.
A week before, fill the seedling containers with the prepared composition. Irrigate with a light manganese solution. Add ash, fertilizer.
On a note! Modern technologies make it possible to grow pepper seedlings on landless substrates: a mixture of sawdust and sand, coconut tablets, a peat cushion. It is possible to grow seedlings simply on paper. The advantage of this unusual method is the sterility of the material.
Is it possible to add earth to pepper seedlings?
Pepper seedlings do not require additional land.
But, if such a need arose, sprinkle seedlings without covering the first cotyledon leaves left from planting with soil mixture, or sprinkle with a mixture of cultivated land with used tea brewing. Add in multiple steps.
After lignification of the lower part of the stem, stop adding seedlings, otherwise the formation of the root system will slow down, and rotting may begin.
Soil preparation for pepper seedlings
How to prepare the ground for pepper seedlings? In order not to destroy carefully grown seedlings, you should prepare the soil at the permanent residence of pepper:
- Arrange beds in advance, apply a complex of fertilizers corresponding to the type of soil.
- A few days before produce abundant.
- Make holes, depth equal to the capacity of the finished seedlings, fill with distilled water room temperature.
- plant peppers.
The more carefully, in compliance with all agrotechnical rules, the soil was prepared, the stronger, more resilient the seedlings will grow. depends on the fertility of the soil