In order to get a good harvest, it is important to responsibly approach the choice of seedlings. However, in this case, it is important to remember that the growing process is quite time-consuming, requires special equipment and experience in order to obtain complete, well-developed plants.
It is always easier to buy ready-made material. This option leaves the probability of acquiring low-quality plants and you run the risk of being left without a crop at all or, at a minimum, losing part of it. And sometimes you may not be sold what was originally stated. For this reason, experienced connoisseurs decide to grow crops on their own: from the beginning to transplanting into open ground. In this case, it is necessary to take into account a number of mistakes when growing seedlings and try to avoid them as much as possible.
Using substandard material
A mistake at the seed selection stage can cost you a harvest, so you should take this event as seriously as possible. Experienced gardeners, most often, use planting material collected from their own beds.
If, for some reason, this is not possible, it is recommended to purchase seeds in specialized stores. The bundle must necessarily contain information on the amount of material, expiration date and batch number.
Inappropriate seed storage
Quite often this mistake is made by inexperienced gardeners. From the time of purchase to the start of preparatory procedures before sowing, it is recommended to store seeds at temperatures up to + 10 ° C and humidity of about 55-60%. It is better to pour the material into paper envelopes or glassware, because in plastic bags the seeds can stain and mold.
Errors during the preparatory work before landing
Often enough, in order to strengthen the future plant, gardeners treat seeds with various chemicals. Such manipulations create protection for the culture from various fungal diseases. However, it is important to strictly follow the instructions for the drug when using it, so as not to exceed the concentration and not to destroy the seeds.
Interesting fact! Peter Glazybrk was included in the Guinness Book of Records thanks to the largest bow in the world, which he grew on his farm. Vegetable rose to a record 9 kg.
If you bought planting stock in a store, be sure to read the description on the bundle before proceeding. Manufacturers of quality seeds sell them after a protective treatment and the additional effects of chemistry will do much harm to them.
Seed hardening
This procedure is carried out when the seedlings are planned to be grown in a relatively cool place. If it grows at a temperature of about + 23 ° C, then the point of hardening the seeds is absolutely lost. Such plants will not retain their immunity obtained by hardening.
It is important to remember that only seeds without sprouts are hardened. First they need to be soaked for 6-12 hours in clean water at room temperature, then dried for about 6 hours at a temperature of + 15 ... + 20 ° C, and then sent to the refrigerator for 12 hours. If you carry out this procedure after hatching, then you will destroy the sprout and nothing will grow out of it.
Sowing error
If you make a mistake in choosing the time of sowing, this will undoubtedly harm the plant. If sown too early, then by the time of transplanting into the ground it will be still cold and the seedlings will begin to outgrow, waiting for favorable weather. But if you are late - the seedlings will be underdeveloped and, most likely, will not give a good harvest.
Incorrect soil
The basis for the cultivation of good seedlings must be of high quality, be rich in useful trace elements, nutritious and disinfected. Many beginner gardeners are gaining land in their area, thereby jeopardizing future crops. It is not recommended to use such a soil, because it can be depleted and absolutely not enriched with important minerals.
Seed too deep
It is important to choose the optimal depth when immersing the seed in the hole. If you deepen too much, the seedlings will appear late or not at all. The universal depth for planting seeds of vegetable crops is 1.5-2 cm. In the case of other plants, it is necessary to immerse the seeds to a depth, which is equal to two seed diameters.
Interesting fact! The largest turnip was grown by a Chinese farmer and listed in the Guinness Book of Records. Her weight was 16 kg, length - 120 cm.
Watering immediately after sowing
This is exactly what you can’t do categorically. If you fill the place of sowing, the seeds will go deep and may not germinate. It is better to moisten the soil before planting the material or after a while, but use a spray bottle for this.
Placing containers with seedlings in a dark place
This error appears after the first shoots. Inexperienced gardeners leave containers with shoots without light. Growing a plant in this way will lead to the fact that, from the absence of light and the presence of moisture, harmful bacteria and fungi begin to develop in the soil, and the seedlings get sick.
Belated Dive
It is important not to miss the moment when the plant is worth diving. If this is not done or a moment is missed, then the plants will begin to thicken, stop growing and become sick. The optimal time for this procedure is considered the moment when 2-3 full leaflets appear.
Growing seedlings requires the gardener to have certain knowledge and skills. Such material will undoubtedly be of good quality, but it is important to adhere to the rules of cultivation and not to make mistakes. If you perform this process incorrectly, then you risk being left without a future crop.
