Growing tomato seedlings in peat pots: how to plant, care for and move to the ground? Peat pots for seedlings - how to apply and how to choose the right one? How to plant seedlings in peat pots.

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 from 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:

1. 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.
2. After planting in the ground, the roots freely grow through the pliable and soft walls of the peat pot, without encountering resistance.
3. The base of the pot is strong enough to support the load of earth and seedlings for as long as it is needed.
4. 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.
5. 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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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
Having mentioned the fakes of peat pots, we came close to the actual topic of 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:

1. 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”.
2. 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.
3. Evaporation of moisture inevitably leads to cooling, that is, weak root system, which needs warmth, in practice begins to freeze, grows slowly and develops poorly.
4. 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.
5. 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.

1. Fill the peat pots with soil suitable for each particular type of seedling, pre-moistened and nutritious.
2. Lightly compact the soil, but not much, so that the seedlings can break through the ground and receive enough oxygen.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Make sure that the soil in the peat pots is always moist. Water it directly or through a drip pan.
6. 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.
7. Plentifully water the seedlings in peat pots about a day before planting them in open ground.
8. 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.
9. 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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Before putting soil for seedlings in peat pots, soak them with a solution mineral fertilizers. This will help the walls of the pots to dissolve faster in the soil and provide the plants with additional nutrition.
4. 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.
5. 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 by finding more suitable way. In other words, both the garden season and a 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 a good mood, then the seedlings will be a joy!

Peat pots for seedlings appeared on sale about two decades ago, but most gardeners began to actively use them relatively recently. Not all farmers have yet been able to appreciate this product. Moreover, the first negative experience of using cups of their peat for growing seedlings led some experimenters to abandon their use in the future. Moreover, the disappointment was so strong that unfortunate farmers and others began to dissuade from the idea to use these unusual molds for seedlings. Others, on the contrary, cannot get enough of peat cups and do not agree to exchange them for plastic ones. Which of them is right? Let's try to figure it out.

What is a peat pot?

On the shelves of flower and gardening shops you can find brown pots of a cubic, trapezoidal shape or in the form of cups, porous or denser. Square ones are often connected several in a row, cylindrical ones are nested one into the other. Having asked the seller what kind of containers they are and what they are for, the curious buyer will most likely hear in response that these are peat pots for growing and picking seedlings.

In fact, peat pots made of peat are only partially composed, in best case by 70 percent, at worst - by half. The rest is impurities: humus, cellulose. This mixture is dried and pressed.

High-quality cups contain a lot of peat and little paper or wood pulp, they are looser, they pass air better, it is easier for roots to break through them, they dissolve faster in the ground (on average for 32 days). Poor quality would be more correct to call cardboard: they are half composed of highly compressed paper. Their density is quite high, little oxygen enters the roots through them, and the roots themselves cannot break through their wall. They decompose slowly in the ground. Gardeners who use such cheap cups often notice that a plant planted in open ground suddenly stops growing and dies, and then they find undecomposed pieces of cardboard in the soil.

The size of containers is different: from 5 to 10 centimeters in diameter or along any facet. The difference between the nearest sizes is 1 centimeter. The height of the pots depends on the width. The size of the cup is important, as it depends on the type of future seedlings. The thickness of the walls also matters.

What seedlings are suitable for?

The main value of a peat cup is that it decomposes in the soil, serving as a fertilizer at the same time. This product is indispensable for seedlings with fragile roots: cucumbers, eggplants. Removing seedlings from plastic containers can damage the roots. It is not necessary to remove it from peat pots: such cups are planted in the ground along with seedlings, because they do not interfere with the development of the root system, and later completely dissolve. The conclusion suggests itself: for seedlings of eggplant, cucumbers, peat cups are better suited than plastic ones.

Peat increases the acidity of the soil, so peat pots are suitable for plants that grow well in slightly acidic soil, it is acceptable to use them for plants that prefer an acid-neutral environment. These categories include tomatoes, peppers, white cabbage, zucchini, pumpkin, the same cucumbers and eggplants. Can be grown in peat pots and strawberry seedlings.

Peat pots are categorically not suitable for plants that love slightly alkaline, calcareous soils. These include color Chinese cabbage, lettuce, onion and garlic. When growing seedlings of these crops, it is better to opt for the usual plastic containers filled with soil suitable for them.

How to choose?

As already mentioned, peat cups differ in shape and size, as well as wall thickness. Form does not play any role other than aesthetic. It is worth paying attention only to the first two parameters.

For plants with a strong root system, you can take thick-walled pots: a pumpkin can easily break through a peat layer up to 2.5 millimeters thick. But for seedlings of cucumbers, eggplants, only thin-walled ones are suitable. These include products in which the wall thickness does not exceed 1.5 millimeters.

The size of the pot should depend on the type of seedlings.

• For dill, parsley, cilantro and other herbs, 50 ml pots are suitable, their diameter is only 5 cm.
• For some flowers such as asters, dahlias, pots with a capacity of 100 ml, 6 cm in diameter are needed.
• Strawberries require pots with a volume of 200 ml, their diameter is 7 cm, they are also suitable for seedlings of cabbage, melon, watermelon.
• For zucchini, cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes, you can take cups with a capacity of 250 to 400 milliliters, the size of which is 8 or 9 cm in diameter.
• The largest pots (10 cm in diameter, 500 ml in volume) are needed for eggplant seedlings and some types of flower crops (fuchsias, cyclamen, gerberas, begonias, primroses).

When buying, you should carefully study the composition of the products and refuse to purchase those in which peat is less than 70 percent.

Advantages

Compared to plastic counterparts, peat cups have a number of advantages.

1. The main advantage of peat cups is their biodegradability and environmental friendliness. They dissolve in the soil, fertilizing it, without exerting a toxic effect on it and plants. So it is convenient and safe to plant seedlings with a fragile root system in open ground.
2. The second advantage is their safety for future seedlings. They are processed, they do not contain bacterial spores, pest larvae, and they cannot infect seedlings. Plastic cups from fermented milk products are not safe for her, since lactic acid bacteria can remain on their walls, due to which the plant can “get sick”.
3. Through the peat walls, the roots of the seedlings can “breathe”, which is why the plant becomes stronger and grows faster.
4. Decaying, peat pots fertilize the soil, nourishing the roots of the plant. This accelerates its growth, increases productivity.

With a reasonable approach, all these advantages can be used.

Flaws

During the use of peat pots, gardeners noted a number of significant shortcomings.

1. The loose layer absorbs water from the soil during irrigation, it quickly evaporates, so the soil dries out, and the roots suffer from hypothermia. As a result, seedlings not only grow poorly, but sometimes die.
2. Trying to prevent the soil from drying out, the gardener begins to intensively water the seedlings. The result is an excess of moisture, molding of the pot and the seedlings themselves.
3. The roots fail to break through the walls of the pot after it is planted in the ground; it does not dissolve in the soil, “capturing” the roots. As a result, the plant dies, sometimes without even bearing fruit.
4. The pots are disposable. On the other hand, they replace fertilizers, so it is difficult to call their acquisition a waste of money.

Most of these problems can be solved if you use peat containers correctly and taking into account the positive experience of gardeners who have found an “approach” to them.

How to use?

When purchasing peat pots, you should carefully study the tips on their correct use. Only then growing seedlings in them will not turn into flour.

1. First of all, it makes sense to soak the pot with fertilizers that are suitable for the particular type of plant whose seedlings will be grown in them. To do this, you need to make a solution, immerse the pot in it, remove it and dry it. This will make it a more useful fertilizer when it dissolves into the soil after the plant is planted outdoors.
2. After that, the pot should be treated with an antifungal drug. This will not harm the seedlings, but it will protect it from mold.
3. With the help of an awl in the bottom and walls, experienced gardeners recommend making small holes. In the future, this will help the roots break through.
4. Now it's time to fill the pot with soil. The soil must be clean, neutralized, suitable in composition. It is impossible to stuff it tightly into a pot, otherwise it will be difficult for the roots to germinate. There should be a little left to the edge of the container free space about a centimeter. The earth is moistened.
5. Having made a small depression in the soil, you need to plant one seed or one sprout in it when picking seedlings.
6. Further, gardening experts advise wrapping each pot in cellophane, leaving the bottom free. This will help the pot to keep its shape and not dry out, not overdry the soil.
7. Polyethylene-wrapped pots are placed in Plastic container with sufficiently high edges (almost flush with the cups). Watering is carried out through the pan: water is absorbed from it through the walls and bottom of the pots and moistens the ground.

Otherwise, growing seedlings is carried out in the same way as in plastic containers.

If it is not known why the seedlings are growing slowly, then you should carefully look to see if the instructions are violated. In most cases, the problem lies in the improper use of a peat pot or improper care of seedlings.

In open ground, seedlings are planted directly in peat cups, immersing them in the ground so that the edges of the cups are deepened by one and a half to two centimeters. Care for sprouts is also carried out in exactly the same way as when planting a plant in the ground without a pot.

Peat pots have a number of advantages over plastic cups. However, if used incorrectly, they can turn from a gardener's assistant into seedling destroyers. If the rules for using peat containers are violated, the plant suffers either due to excessive moisture or due to dryness of the earth.

It is also of great importance right choice peat pots, which differ in size, wall thickness and, most importantly, composition. Quality pots are 70% peat. Cheap cardboard analogues are tightly pressed and do not dissolve in the ground, due to which a plant planted in them in open ground may die.

Russia is the only country in the world that has eight climatic zones (the United States has five zones). These temperature features have to be taken into account when growing agricultural crops. So to get a good harvest, many crops need to be planted only in seedlings.

In addition to climate and weather conditions, even for the southern territories of Russia, it is necessary to take into account biological features many annuals and plant them with seedlings:

• Plants (cultures) with a long (juvenile period);
• Vegetable crops, the growing season of which requires planting seedlings;
• Early maturing crops, but they are planted with seedlings for an early harvest.

Growing seedlings requires special attention and strict observance of the norms necessary for fast and high-quality seed germination. It is equally important to properly plant seedlings in a greenhouse or open ground. To avoid possible problems when transporting transplanting seedlings, use separate forms for each plant. This also allows you to avoid the procedure of diving seedlings.

Important to remember a simple formula. What kind of seedlings you will have - such will be the future harvest.

The main external signs of quality seedlings:

• Developed and healthy root system;
• Strong and powerful stem;
• Leaves are vibrantly colored.

Modern gardeners and farmers have an excellent opportunity to grow seedlings in peat pots. This technology combines two necessary element- a pot as a container and peat, as an environmentally friendly fertilizer.

The advantage of using peat pots for growing seedlings.

This container represents molds (cups) different kind, but the most popular are peat pots pressed in a dry way from peat raw materials. They are strong and light in weight, making them versatile in agricultural technology.

Main advantages of peat packaging:

• They do not have toxic elements, unlike plastic containers;
• Ecological cleanliness and absence of heavy metals;
• Absence of pathogenic flora and weeds.

You should, when choosing a peat container, pay attention to the walls of the pot (thickness is not less than 1.2-1.6 mm), they should provide the necessary strength and decay time in the soil of 30-35 days. For every type of plant there is your required pot size. This must be taken into account. The market is represented by a wide variety of peat containers (pots).

The structure of the peat material tends to dry out, this must be controlled when using pots. Try to avoid overflowing water when watering seedlings, thereby you will prevent the appearance of mold. There should be enough water to prevent the extinction of the root system.

Consider processes of water evaporation from peat containers, as this entails a decrease in the temperature in the pot.

1. If you make several punctures in the walls before planting seeds in a pot (peat container), you will greatly facilitate the development of the plant's root system.
2. For seedlings High Quality for shorter maturation periods, it is enough to impregnate each container (cup, pot) with fertilizers containing the necessary trace elements. In addition to accelerating the growth of seedlings, you thereby accelerate the decay of the pot in the ground.

What will you get as a result of using peat containers (pots) when growing seedlings:

1. Maximum seed germination - average germination of 95-100%.
2. Optimal balance nutrients(contents of organics and mineral components).
3. Rapid growth of healthy plants.
4. Ideal air humidity and its optimal supply to the plant.
5. Your plants will be protected in the most reliable way from the penetration of pests and pathogenic bacteria.
6. Maximum survival of plants after planting in the ground without damage and stress.
7. Transportation of plants over a long distance without loss of moisture and mechanical damage to the root system.

Users of peat containers are sometimes offended by manufacturers, not having achieved the desired results.

In most cases, this can be due to several reasons. You did not purchase peat containers (pots) but a fake (pressed cardboard cups). Unfortunately this is happening. Second, you didn't follow technological process seedling cultivation.

Let's summarize briefly.

If you strictly follow all the rules for growing seedlings in peat pots, the results will only pleasantly surprise you. You will get strong, very "live" seedlings with a developed root system.

You can easily transport and drop off on time at your convenience. It will not dry out, will quickly take root and give an excellent harvest. A peat container will serve as an excellent eco-friendly fertilizer.

In order to enjoy vegetables in the summer, already in the winter you need to start preparing for the summer season and, first of all, you should grow good seedlings. Avid summer residents think about the future harvest all year round and acquire peat pots for seedlings much earlier and do it even in autumn.

Why are peat shop pots convenient that even the most ardent conservative gardeners switch to them? How much work you need to invest in a garden on the windowsill in order to get a decent seedling of vegetables and flowers, so you don’t want to buy an unnecessary or low-quality thing. Today on the agenda is how to choose the right pots for seedlings from peat and how to use this novelty.

What is a peat container?

Peat pots for seedlings different sizes suitable not only for sowing seeds for future seedlings, but also save an experienced gardener from the need to replant seedlings, make it transportable to country cottage area more convenient and practically safer.

Manufacturers supply the consumer market with many interesting devices and equipment for summer residents and gardeners. Not so long ago, peat pots for growing seedlings appeared and immediately fell in love with many, let's get acquainted with them.

They are very successful due to many indicators. One of them is the small weight of each container, the ability to grow one sprout in a separate container. Also, the comfort of summer residents is given by the varied size of such products.

Attention! In the ground, a peat pot almost completely decomposes in 25-35 days, and at the same time, it somehow additionally fertilizes the soil. First of all, it is worth forking out for such peat pots when growing eggplants, cucumbers, pumpkins or zucchini, since seedlings of these vegetable crops does not tolerate transplant very well.

How to use peat pots for growing seedlings?

Peat pots for seedlings are considered environmentally friendly containers - they are 70% peat and 30% wood. These are more expensive than plastic ones, and they can only be used once.

How to sow seeds in a peat container

• Before laying the soil in containers, they must be soaked in a solution with mineral and organic fertilizers. Then they must dry. It is also recommended to make several small holes in them, especially at the bottom of the container or at the bottom.
• It is not very tight to put soil in cups: the soil must remain airy for the normal development of the root system.
• After filling the container with soil, seeds are planted in it. Each seed is placed in a separate glass. Planting is carried out in accordance with the timing of sowing a particular crop. The depth of immersion of seeds is also taken into account.
• After planting seeds for seedlings in peat pots, it is advisable to cover them with foil.
• In the process of growing seedlings, containers must be moved apart from each other. Such measures are taken to prevent the interweaving of the root systems of plants that are in close proximity.

Attention! Peat pots for seedlings are available in various sizes and shapes. Thanks to this, you can choose a glass required size, with considering individual features each vegetable or flower crop.

How seedlings are transplanted from a peat pot into the ground:

• Since the seedlings are planted in open ground along with the pot, it is necessary to speed up the process of disintegration of the container. To do this, 1-2 days before planting, seedlings in peat pots must be watered abundantly.
• When planting, peat cups are lowered into the prepared soil 2-3 cm lower than the soil level.

Pros and cons of peat cups

The advantages of using them are obvious:

• The material from which these products are made is environmentally friendly, which has a beneficial effect on the young root system.
• Planting seedlings in open ground is carried out directly in this container. This avoids injury to the roots.
• After decay, peat pots turn into fertilizer.
• In the composition of such containers there are no seeds of weeds and microorganisms.
• Due to its ability to accumulate moisture, during transportation, the soil in which the seedlings grow does not dry out.

Important! When purchasing this novelty for you, you should pay attention to the packaging and the manufacturer. This will allow you to buy a quality product from peat, and not a cardboard cup. The cardboard is denser and pressed, and the original peat pot is quite fragile and has pores.

In addition to positive reviews and characteristics, peat pots for seedlings have some disadvantages:

• As mentioned earlier, many unscrupulous manufacturers use pressed cardboard instead of peat. Since the density of such cardboard is much greater than the density of peat, the young root system cannot grow through the pot. That is why it is recommended to make tears at the bottom of the pot.
• Peat pots dry out quickly, and the process of controlling soil moisture with seedlings becomes problematic. In this case, the root system may die due to drought. At the same time, excess moisture will lead to the formation of mold. It can develop both on the walls of peat containers and on the soil. The quality of seedlings will decrease.
• The young root system does not tolerate cold well. The temperature decreases as a result of the evaporation of a large volume of liquid coming out of such a container.

Based on the above, we can conclude that peat pots for growing seedlings have both advantages and disadvantages. Yes, it’s more convenient with them, but it’s expensive for the family budget, so everyone decides for himself what is best and more comfortable for him.

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. An indisputable advantage growing vegetables through seedlings is a small 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.

Considering the foregoing, there are much more positive aspects in the use of this type of dishes, so it is definitely possible and even necessary to use them.

How to use for growing seedlings?

If a decision is made to grow vegetables 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 an excellent option for the initial stage of growing seedlings. 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.

Thanks to this species the 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

natural to grow quality seedlings seeds must be carefully selected. 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 container 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 bottle.

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" in the open. If the plants survived the night, you can safely send them to grow in open ground.

Before landing in open ground.

Before planting strong, well-formed, and most importantly hardened seedlings, the glass 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?

Given 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.

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