How to use peat seedling pots. Peat seedling cups - how to use? How peat pots are made

) for seedlings are very easy to use. Many people prefer peat pots over other seedling containers.

Some craftsmen make similar products on their own. The raw material is a mixture of equal proportions of well-decomposed humus and peat. A liquid mullein is added to the mass (for viscosity and enrichment with nutrients), pressed using special molds, and dried. But most summer residents prefer to buy goods in stores.

Material

It would seem that peat pots are a simple commodity, but here quality is of paramount importance. Initially, such containers were conceived as peat-humus and just like that they came off the conveyor. In pursuit of simplification and cheapening of production, they were replaced simply by peat ones. The advantages and disadvantages of such pots depend on the quality of the raw materials and their processing. Finally, there were analogues made of cheap cardboard (from recycled materials), which are still called " peat pots"; they require special handling.

Positive properties

Containers made of peat or cardboard:

Environmentally friendly,
not too expensive for the price,
light in weight,
opaque - this means that greenish algae do not grow on the walls from the inside,
disposable - therefore they do not require washing, disinfection, subsequent storage,
when planting seedlings, an earthen lump with feeding roots is preserved.

High quality benefits

Not every gardener can tell offhand a good product from a paper-and-cardboard substitute. As a rule, high-quality peat cups are slightly more expensive in price, even, have a thicker wall, a darkish color and a slightly porous structure. They have a lot of advantages.

1. Due to the porous structure of the material, the roots breathe and do not rot.

2. When watering, excess water flows out freely, without stagnation.

3. Easy to water through the sump (water is absorbed from bottom to top).

4. No rot and mold is formed on the walls of the pots from the outside and from the inside.

5. After planting seedlings in the ground, its roots freely pass through the bottom and walls.

6. Containers decompose quickly in the soil.

Features of second-rate pottery

Cups made of cardboard or poorly processed peat are also suitable for seedlings, you just need to take into account some of the nuances. The paper can quickly get wet and lose strength, distort its shape, and become moldy. The walls, which have a dense structure and a smooth surface, do not allow air and water to pass through well, and they decompose for a long time in the ground. Therefore, if there are doubts about the quality of the proposed peat pots, we take measures:

We do not purchase containers of large sizes,
in the bottoms, be sure to make good holes for the outflow of excess moisture,
for filling we use only a very loose, easily water-permeable substrate,
when planting seedlings in the ground, cut off the bottom or tear off the walls of the pot !!!

Most of the negative reviews after using peat pots are due precisely to the fact that the roots of planted plants cannot break out for a long time, beyond the walls, and growth and development are delayed.

Variety of sizes and shapes

Seedling pots are available in both traditional round shape and square (which is convenient for a denser arrangement and a little space saving). The largest, as a rule, have a diameter and height of about 10 cm, a volume of half a liter. The smallest are 5 cm, 50 ml. A lot of containers of intermediate sizes are produced in this range; you can pick up the best option... Rectangular and square dishes are sometimes made connected in the form of cassettes (according to the principle of cells for transporting eggs). If necessary, they can be separated by cutting off with a sharp knife or scissors.

Purpose of peat pots for seedlings of any plants

In small and medium-sized cups, seedlings of annual flowers are prepared, which have medium-sized seeds, form a compact, fibrous root system, and slowly develop in the initial phase of growth. Sow ageratums, asters, bacopa, marigolds, vervains, gatsanias, annual dahlias, fragrant tobacco, iberis, levkoi, lobelia, Snapdragon, mesembryanthemums, mimulus, nemesias, osteospermums, petunias and calibrachoa, purslane, salvia, phlox of drummond, celosia, cineraria, zinnia, eustoma, etc. They do the same with biennials and perennials - viola coli, gnumumadia , shawls, primroses, daisies, evening primrose, etc.

Using pots of different sizes

Small

In a small amount of land, indoor balsams, begonias, gloxinia, pelargonium, and cyclamen successfully pass the initial stage of development. In small containers, strawberry seedlings - small-fruited, large-fruited, remontant - are removed from the seeds. From vegetables in such dishes, seedlings of root and stalked celery, fennel, basil, cabbage salads.

Average

Such dimensions are convenient for annuals with large seeds - for example, datura and nasturtium. Relatively large volume seedling substrate is necessary for amaranths, ornamental cabbages, cleomes, cosme, kochia, scabioses. This also applies to loaches - dolichos (hyacinth beans), sweet pea, morning glory, kobei, tunbergia, annual hops, decorative pumpkin and beans. Peat pots for growing seedlings vegetable cabbage, watermelons and melons, potatoes (from botanical seeds) should not be too large or very small. Containers for cucumbers, zucchini, pumpkins, berry physalis are taken a little larger.

Large

Extremely good for producing powerful planting material tomatoes. The same (or slightly less) volume is required by peppers, eggplants, vegetable physalis, and edible nightshades. A large clod of earth is necessary for edible and decorative varieties sunflower and corn.

In peat pots, not only seeds are sown and seedlings dive, they are used for rooting and growing cuttings (for example, chrysanthemums, petunias, pelargoniums, roses, etc.), bulbous and rhizome crops, and shrubs.

Operation of peat products

1. Peat pots must be placed on sturdy supports.

2. A small layer of sphagnum moss or coconut fiber can be placed on the bottom of the pallet (to prevent drying out or decay).

3. Seedling soil should be reliable, lightweight and at the same time moisture-absorbing - quickly (without stagnation) let excess water pass through, but at the same time dry out slowly. Looseness is provided by sand (without admixtures of cement and dust), small additions of hydrogel or crushed coconut fiber retain moisture.

4. The containers are completely filled with a slightly moistened substrate; after watering, the soil settles a little (it is possible to add it if the plants are stretched out).

5. Dusty and very small seeds are sown superficially, small ones are lightly sprinkled with light earth, medium and large ones are placed in holes and covered with soil.

6. Peat containers with seedlings are contraindicated in poor lighting and dampness (mold and rot may develop). For prophylaxis, the outer walls of the pots can be sprayed with solutions of fungicidal action (HOM, potassium permanganate, phytosporin).

7. Wet cups continuously evaporate moisture and cool the root system; it is harmful in case of sudden changes in temperature or constant cold, therefore it is necessary to maintain moderate heat.

8. Sunshine and excess heat require frequent watering... This can provoke the stretching of the seedlings, as with a lack of light. (Special preparations are capable of slowing down the growth of the aerial part and strengthening the root system - the regulators Atlet, Stoprost, etc.)

9. On the eve of the planting day on permanent place over-watering should be carried out to soften the peat (cardboard) well.

Glasses with seedlings are installed in soil pits of the same size without excessive deepening of the root system. Elongated specimens are placed obliquely under the surface of the ridge, at an angle. Mandatory good watering for tight contact of the walls of the dishes with damp ground.

In circumstances when even those who have never taken a rake in their hands in their life before, and learned about the ripening of tomatoes only by their appearance on the shelves, are engaged in gardening, modern industry has created many aids for such novice gardeners. All kinds of devices, tools and chemicals make planting, growing, and caring for the crop easier so that their functionality has been appreciated by experienced plant breeders. And their special attention was paid to peat pots, without which at least one fan of the gardening sector rarely does without. That essentially simple idea turned out to be so useful that now few people grow seedlings without them. Want to try it too? There is nothing easier: it is easy to handle peat pots, 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 can be different, 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 compacted and formed in the form of a round or square container. Such a composition of the material for manufacturing was chosen because it is the most lightweight, durable and effective in terms of the functions that are assigned to it. Every gardener knows about them firsthand, and for everyone else, we will remind once again that most of both fruit and ornamental crops begin their own life cycle from seedlings. This is a kind of "childhood" of a plant, and it, just like in humans, has a decisive influence on the entire subsequent life of a plant: its development, growth, fertile indicators, etc. Therefore, it is so important to properly grow the seedlings and provide them with necessary care... All this is provided for by the composition and design of the peat pots:

The root system is well supplied with oxygen and water thanks to the porous walls of the pot. Neither nutrition nor respiration of the developing plant is disturbed.
After planting in the ground, the roots grow freely through the pliable and soft walls of the peat pot, without encountering resistance.
The base of the pot is strong enough to withstand the stress of soil and seedlings for as long as needed.
A peat pot, falling into the ground, gradually decomposes and itself becomes a natural fertilizer for the plant, which provides its nutrition and improves growth performance.
The peat pot is completely made of natural ingredients that do not harm either the seedlings or the soil, and do not poison the crop.

It follows from this that peat pots are a really useful invention and a necessary acquisition for growing seedlings. But you didn’t do without them before? Of course, you can grow seedlings in other containers. For this purpose, our mothers and grandmothers used boxes, bags, jars and glasses of yoghurts, cottage cheese, sour cream ... growing seedlings "handy materials". Firstly, some crops with a naturally weak root system (for example, cucumbers, pumpkins, peppers, eggplants, etc.) cannot be planted and then dived in boxes: they simply do not withstand such tests. Secondly, containers from fermented milk products often contain their remnants, and lactic acid bacteria very aggressively affect the roots, causing them to 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 of these dangers can be avoided by using peat pots. And in order to choose the right ones at the first purchase, keep in mind that:

In shape, peat pots are round and square in diameter. This is not of fundamental importance for the success of growing seedlings, but it can save space or otherwise affect ease of use.
The size of the peat pots is also different, so do not rush to buy the first one you come across if their volume seems not very convenient to you. Look for the ones that best suit your needs and give your seedlings maximum comfort and growth.
Peat pots can be separate or stapled into horizontal blocks of several pieces. It is more convenient to store and use piece peat pots. If you expect that you will 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.
Don't 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 comfortable and simple device, there were no downsides. There are also drawbacks regarding the use of peat pots, and they have long been noticed by gardeners. How to treat them - everyone decides for himself, depending on his capabilities, temperament and preferences among garden crops... We invite you to find out about the difficulties that other gardeners have encountered, and decide for yourself how critical they are for you personally: are they worth giving up peat pots altogether, or just take some measures to overcome these difficulties:

Peat pots, due to the looseness of their walls, cannot be dry when filled with moist soil. And if so, the moisture evaporates continuously, and the earth inside the peat pot dries up, forcing 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 the seedlings in a peat pot too much. As a result, the pot becomes covered with mold, which spreads to both the substrate and the seedlings themselves.
Evaporation of moisture inevitably leads to cooling, that is, fragile root system, which needs warmth, in practice begins to freeze, grows slowly and develops poorly.
Some peat pots do not decompose in the soil as quickly as necessary, and remain in the soil in lumps, littering the soil and interfering with other plants. Most often this is a sign of low-quality pots, made not of peat, but of 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 does the job, while peppers get stuck and wither away.

How to grow seedlings in a peat pot
If the above side effects you are not pushed away, and you have not abandoned the idea of growing seedlings in a peat pot, then it is best to follow the standard instructions for using peat pots. And as complications arise, apply a few tricks, which we will talk about further. One way or another, peat pots are far from being criticized by all gardeners, 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 exactly peat-humus pots - and it is better to do this even at the time of purchase, carefully studying the composition of the product by packaging and asking the seller in detail.

Fill the peat pots with soil suitable for each type of seedling, pre-moistened and nutritious.
Compact the soil lightly, but not too much so that the seedlings can break through the ground and get enough oxygen.
Sow the seeds into the soil right in the pot, drown the bulbs in the ground "up to the shoulders", plant the cuttings and seedlings depending on their size.
Place the seedling pots on a wide tray. You can push them in tightly at first, and move them apart as the root system grows to provide adequate space, light and aeration.
Keep the soil in the peat pots moist at all times. Water it directly or through the drip tray.
Do not allow the soil to dry out in peat pots: this is fraught not only with drying out of plants, but also crystallization of salts, which further damage fragile seedlings.
Water the seedlings abundantly in peat pots about a day before planting them in open ground.
Do not remove seedlings ready for planting in the ground from the 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 a solid container 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 the disadvantages of peat pots cannot be ignored either. Therefore, we suggest that you do not close your eyes to them, but, on the contrary, 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 himself chooses what devices to use in his activities - fortunately, you can find, choose and buy literally any tools today. Listening to the opinions of others, you should try growing seedlings in a peat pot at least once 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 reserve, do not rush to get upset and count the “thrown away” money. There are no unnecessary things on the farm, and now we will prove this to you again with the example of peat pots:

With a hole punch, awl, or other sharp object, immediately poke several holes in the bottom and sides of the peat pot. Subsequently, this will make it easier for the roots of the plant to get 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. Remember to remove this plastic before planting outdoors.
Before putting soil for seedlings in peat pots, saturate 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, foundation. This will not have a detrimental effect on the 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 the peat molds.

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 amount of rational attitude. But they are lightweight, safe for environment and they look much better than assorted plastic packaging for 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 more suitable way... In other words, both the gardening season and a good harvest do not depend 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!

The use of peat cups in gardening is still considered new technology... Some gardeners use them with enthusiasm, others resolutely reject them. Everything new and progressive is always not without difficulty being introduced into life. There are advantages to using peat cups. There are also disadvantages, but they only cause problems for inexperienced gardeners.

What are peat cups and why are they used?

Gardeners relatively recently began to use peat cups for growing seedlings. Even 20-25 years ago, they were very rare. V last years peat cups appeared on sale different sizes and forms. They are small containers, most often in the form of a truncated cone, but they can be in the form of a cube or a trapezoid, or connected in blocks of several pieces. Their sizes vary within 5–10 cm in diameter with a wall thickness of 1–1.5 mm.

The material from which the cups are made is a mixture: 50–70% peat, the rest - humus and cellulose. Thick water solution this composition is pressed into special forms and receive containers of various sizes and designs.

The seedlings grown in them no longer need to be removed, disrupting the root system of the tender young plant... It is planted in the ground directly in a cup, placing it in a prepared hole. Then sprinkle with earth and watered. The seedlings are planted!

Being in the soil, the peat cup gets soaked from the irrigation water, dissolves in the ground, while fertilizing the soil around the plant roots. The roots easily penetrate the porous thin walls and take up the entire surrounding space. The plant begins to develop fully, in contrast to planting with a damaged root.

How to use peat pots for seedlings - video

https://youtube.com/watch?v=I7OQ4-DMj10

Advantages and disadvantages

Experienced gardeners who are not afraid to experiment have no consensus about peat cups. To appreciate the advantages of this planting method, the products must be used correctly. The advantages are as follows:

Peat cups environmentally friendly, since they are made from natural materials.
They have sufficient mechanical strength and do not fall apart during the period of seedling growth.
The walls are porous, which provides free penetration of air and water to the roots of young plants.
When transplanting to a garden bed, there is no need to remove the plant from the container. The roots are not injured, which is very important for plants such as cucumbers and eggplants, which do not like transplanting.
Seedlings easily take root in a new place, because peat soaks and decomposes, enriching the soil useful substances, which are needed to feed the plant.

There are also disadvantages:

Manufacturers do not always make quality products. Sometimes the cups are too thick. For this reason, they do not soak in the soil, and roots cannot grow through the walls.
Excessive watering can lead to moldy cups.
The porous material does not retain moisture, which causes the soil to dry out quickly. It is necessary to ensure very precise, dosed watering.

To avoid drying out, it is recommended to cover the tray with seedlings in peat cups with foil and remove the cover from time to time to remove excess moisture and fumes.

Which cups to choose: peat, paper or plastic

Vegetable growers often use plastic and paper homemade cups... Peat has several advantages over them:

The plastic cups are required to be cut before planting in the garden. With this action, a clod of earth with roots can crumble; seedlings do not need to be removed from a peat pot.
Plastic walls do not allow air and moisture to pass through, peat walls provide good aeration and moisture to the roots.
Homemade paper cups break and soak. They do not guarantee the safety of seedling roots. It takes time to prepare them for landing.
Neither plastic nor paper cups provide additional feeding for the roots of the plant.

How to plant seeds in cups correctly: instructions

Planting seeds in cups is a simple process.

If the peat cups are covered with mold, it means that they are waterlogged. At the bottom of the pallet in which they stand, there is water that needs to be drained. Wipe the surface of the glass with alcohol, vinegar or soda solution. If mold damage is significant, such containers should be disposed of. For prevention, regularly ventilate the room in which the seedlings are located, reduce the dose of watering, gently loosen upper layer soil in cups.

The mold should be removed and the glass should be wiped with alcohol, vinegar or baking soda solution

Where to buy and how to choose

To get a good result, you need to use quality materials... Beginning, inexperienced vegetable growers complain that the seedlings often dry up, and the plants planted in the garden in cups do not develop and die. This comes from the use of not quality products. There should be at least 50–70% of peat in them.

When choosing peat cups, give preference to dark, porous and soft to the touch, with a wall thickness of no more than 1.5 mm. Light, dense glasses are a fake, where there is more cellulose than peat.

Peat cups should be purchased in specialized stores and only in branded packaging, it is advisable to require a quality certificate. Buying them in bazaars is fraught with undesirable consequences.

Do not be tempted by the diminutiveness and originality of the shape of some glasses. They are round or square, this does not affect the development of seedlings at all... In small cups (5 cm in diameter), the roots will be cramped. Better to buy large, 8-10 cm tall, pots. In such, the root system of any seedlings will grow full-fledged.

Self-made peat cups

Some craftsmen make peat cups with their own hands. Such a simple production can be organized in any rural yard or at a summer cottage. The main thing in this business is to properly prepare the mixture:

Collect all necessary materials v the required quantities: peat - 7 parts, humus - 2 parts, mullein - 1 part, a little slaked lime.
Sift peat and humus thoroughly. There should be no large solid particles in the mixture.
Mullein to breed in hot water... The amount of water is determined in each specific case empirically.
Add the diluted mullein to a container with peat and humus and mix thoroughly with a shovel until a homogeneous mass is obtained.
A little lime can be added to the resulting solution. Fill if necessary hot water... The moisture content of the mass is determined by trial molds of the cups.
At home, you can mold the pots with two plastic strong glasses that have the shape of a truncated cone.

Production of peat pots for seedlings - video

In order to enjoy vegetables in summer, already in 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 get peat pots for seedlings much earlier and do it even in autumn.

Why are store-bought peat pots so convenient that even the most ardent conservative gardeners switch to them? How much work must be invested in the garden on the windowsill in order to get decent seedlings of vegetables and flowers, so I don’t want to buy an unnecessary or low-quality thing. Today on the agenda is how to choose the right pots for peat seedlings and how to use this new product.

What kind of peat container is it?

Peat pots for seedlings of different sizes are suitable not only for sowing seeds for future seedlings, but also relieve an experienced gardener from the need to transplant seedlings, make their transportation to country cottage area more convenient and practically safe.

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 enjoy great success due to their many characteristics. One of them is the low weight of each container, the ability to grow one sprout in a separate container. Also, the comfort of summer residents is given by the various sizes of such products.

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

How to use peat pots for growing seedlings?

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

How to sow seeds in peat containers

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 some small holes in them, especially at the bottom of the container or at the bottom.
Putting the soil in the cups is not very tight: 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 sowing dates of a particular crop. The depth of immersion of the 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, the containers must be moved apart from each other. Such measures are taken to prevent the intertwining of the root systems of plants that are in close proximity.

Attention! Peat seedling pots are available in various sizes and shapes. Thanks to this, you can pick up a glass required size, taking into account individual characteristics every vegetable or flower crop.

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

Since seedlings are planted in open ground together with a pot, it is necessary to accelerate the process of container decay. 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 trauma to the roots.
After decay, the peat pots turn into fertilizers.
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, it does not dry out.

Important! When purchasing this new product for you, you should pay attention to the packaging and the manufacturer. This will allow you to buy a quality peat product, not a cardboard cup. The cardboard is denser and pressed, and the original peat pot is fragile and 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 higher than that of peat, a young root system cannot germinate through the pot. That is why it is recommended to make tears at the bottom of the pot.
The 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, excessive moisture will lead to mold formation. It can develop both on the walls of peat containers and on the soil. The quality of the seedlings will decrease.
A young root system does not tolerate cold well. The temperature decreases as a result of the evaporation of a large volume of liquid exiting such a container.

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

Each summer cottage season begins with the cultivation of seedlings. Everyone understands why this is being done - you can significantly increase the growing season and get not only an earlier, but also a much larger harvest. On the territory of our country, there are regions in which heat-loving vegetables cannot be grown in any other way.

As the first stage of development passes, so will the subsequent ones continue - this is the law of nature. To improve the development of plants, many gardeners and gardeners use peat pots. How to use these little helpers? Should I buy them for growing seedlings? Consider the pros and cons of these cups.

What are they made of?

Before purchasing peat seedling pots, find out what they are made of. Such devices are made from peat, to which cardboard or wood is added. Most of all, gardeners praise cups with a basic substance ratio of 70% and an additive of 30%. Beware of low-quality goods, it happens that unscrupulous manufacturers increase the percentage of impurities, or even use only cheap cardboard at all. Before you buy agricultural machinery, read what is written on the package.

Environmental justifications

Peat products have many advantages over their counterparts made of plastic, paper or ceramics. For plants, this will be a real ecologically clean house... The peat used for the production of containers for growing seedlings does not contain pathogenic microflora, there are no weed seeds. In such products, the content of harmful toxic substances, for example, heavy metals, benzopyrene and pesticide residues, is significantly lower. The concentration of such substances will be several times lower than the permissible agriculture norms for growing plants and crops. Lightweight peat is safe for use, it does not contain pathogens of various diseases of vegetable and flower crops.

When choosing peat pots for growing seedlings, carefully examine them. For good quality products, the wall thickness should be one to one and a half millimeters. Such walls will be strong enough to last the entire period of plant development, but the roots of the seedlings will be able to develop unhindered. After planting in the soil, a high-quality pot will begin to decay quickly, thereby facilitating the work of cleaning the fields. The decay period for quality products lasts approximately 27-32 days.

Peat seedling pots. Pros of using

Due to the porous walls, the best air-water regime of the root layer is ensured. During planting in the ground, the plants freely let their roots through the walls and bottom.
Such containers do not contain pathogens and toxic substances, while they have a large mechanical strength both wet and dry.
When planting seedlings together with a pot in the ground, the survival rate reaches almost 100%. Later, when decomposed, the pot will serve as fertilizer.
Due to the accelerated survival rate of seedlings, more early harvest, mainly for this, seedlings are planted in peat pots.

How to use? General requirements for the use of peat pots

The containers are filled with a slightly moistened nutrient soil, slightly crushed. After that, it starts in peat pots. You can sow bulbs, cuttings or seedlings.
Place prepared cups on pallets, pesos, plastic wrap, gravel or soil layer.
Seedlings should be watered frequently to keep the soil moist.
Peat pots must not be allowed to dry out. How to use them correctly? Wrap plastic wrap around each unit to prevent drying out. Otherwise, the salt contained in the earth may crystallize and, in concentrated form, pose a danger to delicate seedlings.
When the plants grow, the pots should be placed freer to increase illumination and aeration. In addition, a more spacious arrangement prevents intertwining of the root systems of neighboring plants.
Growing seedlings in peat pots ends with planting in the ground. You do not need to dig up the plants; plant them directly with the old container.

Seedlings of zucchini, cucumbers, pumpkin, eggplant, squash

Seedlings of these crops do not like transplanting. For the plants to take root, take peat pots for growing. How do I use them? What size is preferable?

For seedlings of cucumbers intended for planting in greenhouses, pots with a diameter of 11 cm are suitable. The duration of cultivation is approximately 30 days. How to plant in peat pots? One sprouted seed is sown in one glass.

If vegetables are to be planted in open ground, then for seedlings of zucchini, squash and cucumbers, containers with a diameter of 8 cm should be chosen, for pumpkin better fit 11 cm and planted one in each pot. Planting depth 1 cm. Cucumbers can be planted in 2 pieces in one container.

On average, pumpkin seedlings will be ready in 20 days, and the rest of the vegetables in a month. You yourself can calculate optimal terms landing.

The finished pots are placed on pallets tightly to each other, carefully watered and left in a warm place where the temperature is maintained at 25-30 degrees until shoots appear. When yellow-green sprouts appear, the temperature should be reduced to 20-22 degrees. Such temperature regime supported for 2-3 days.

Watering

Water the cucumber seedlings with warm water heated to 25-30 degrees. If there is cold watering, plants can get sick or even die.

Hardening

To prevent plant diseases after transplanting into the ground, they are hardened - 7-10 days before planting - the premises are often ventilated, the temperature is lowered to 15 degrees, and less often watered.

Landing in open ground

The prepared plants are planted in the soil directly in the pots. Some gardeners break the cups before planting or pull out the seedlings along with an earthen ball. You can do that too. However, gardeners who used peat pots to grow seedlings leave the following reviews about planting - they believe that it is better to make holes in the containers first. When decaying, the cups will nourish the plant, helping to get a large harvest.

Seedling cabbage

In March, cabbage is sown in special boxes. After the seedlings appear, they dive, and planting begins in peat pots. Cups with a diameter of about 7 cm are suitable. You can use round specimens or peat blocks, in which there are 6 cells at once. At the end of April, you can start disembarking at

Lettuce seedlings

Lettuce seedlings for planting in greenhouses are prepared with a pick of seedlings in pots. Suitable pots measuring 50x50 mm or, as they are also called, peat cells. After about a month, the seedlings will be ready for planting in a greenhouse or greenhouse.

The roots of many plants can penetrate the bottom and walls of peat cups. However, most gardeners do not wait for this - they are guided by the size of the aboveground part of the seedlings.

Experienced gardeners say that if peat pots are immersed in warm water until the release of air bubbles from the walls stops, then in this case the soaked walls and bottom will not create obstacles and will be easily processed by soil inhabitants.

Disadvantages of peat pots

Not all plants tolerate the acidic environment inherent in peat. Some manufacturers add special mineral fertilizers, as well as lime and chalk, which reduce acidity.
Mandatory frequent watering is required.
Evaporation from the surface of the pots, the water greatly cools the soil, as a result of which the root system develops much worse.
Some plants cannot break through the peat walls; they have to be removed from the containers during transplantation.
Mold often appears on low-quality pots, the walls collapse
The high cost of peat cups, especially when growing large volumes of seedlings.

Unfortunately, some unscrupulous manufacturers give out pots made of ordinary cardboard for high-quality peat products. Gardeners complain that sometimes in the fall, when digging a plot, they find undecomposed pots with remnants of roots.