They generally contain enough nutrients to provide nutrition to seedling development for up to 2 or 3 weeks. These mixes are optimum for long-term (3 to 10 weeks) transplant production (i.e., tomato, pepper, eggplant, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, watermelon, melon, cucumber, summer squash, pumpkins, and others). Most seedling mixes in local garden centers or agricultural supply stores are typically composed of vermiculite and peat moss. Vermiculite does not need to be sterilized because it is already sterile when purchased. Seedlings grown in vermiculite must be regularly given a water-soluble fertilizer or transplanted to sterile soil when the second pair of true leaves form. Seedlings cannot be grown in vermiculite for very long because there are no nutrients in it. The most widely available and relatively inexpensive seed- starting medium is vermiculite. Growing media can also be purchased at a local garden center or from a seed and garden supply catalog. To sterilize the soil-peat-sand mix, you can bake it in an oven for about 1 hour at 210 degrees F. After it is mixed, sterilize the media to prevent seedlings from being killed by the fungi that cause damping-off diseases. You can easily find these in agricultural supply stores. Growing mix well suited for transplants can be prepared by using one part loamy garden soil, one part shredded peat moss, and one part sand. One of the most essential considerations in growing vegetable transplants for your home garden is the media the transplants are to be grown in and its preparation. Transplants must generally have a well-developed root system and a healthy appearance (figures 1 and 2). All of this adds up to a plant that will perform poorly or not produce much fruit if it survives transplanting. For example, avoid tomato plants with flowers or fruits indicating that plants are growing under stressful conditions. The best plants are not necessarily the largest or the tallest. Most vegetable transplants must have a deep green color, no appearance of disease, and be insect free. Purchasing seedlings is a straightforward process in which healthy transplants must be carefully selected. Growing seedlings demands good care, including the proper selection of growing containers and soilless media, also known as potting mix maintenance of adequate irrigation and fertilization management of air temperature and hardening off, which is the acclimation of seedlings to field conditions. But growers should consider certain factors when purchasing or growing transplants. Healthy seedlings are critical to the success of any vegetable crop. Follow these guidelines for producing thriving transplants for your garden. I know that this step sounds a bit labor intensive because you have to carry everything in and out for several days but you could risk all your hard work if you don't harden them off.Growing healthy starter plants indoors requires particular care. Choose a sheltered spot that is a bit shaded so that your tender seedlings don't get burned from the sun. Bring your seedlings out for a few hours a day. This basically means that you have to get them used to outdoor conditions like sunlight, a breeze, and cooler temperatures. More info on using seaweed in the garden here! Hardening Off The SeedlingsĪ week or two before planting the seedlings out you should harden them off. I would also recommend using liquid seaweed because it really helps the seedlings to grow a good root system and to be disease resistant. If you don't do this you will have to use a liquid organic fertilizer once a week. This will keep the seedlings growing healthily and vigorously and we don't have to worry about adding a liquid feed to the water for 5-6 weeks. We always add some organic fertilizer and seaweed powder for extra minerals to the potting soil. Once you see roots coming out at the bottom of the pot and the seedlings have set the second set of leaves it is time to transplant them into bigger pots. Seedlings that are kept indoors until the weather is warm enough for them like tomatoes might outgrow their small pots, plugs or seed trays after a few weeks.
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