Aftercare Of Plants In The Garden
Once the seeds have germinated, they need to be given the perfect growing conditions to produce independent, healthy and vigorous plants suitable for planting in their permanent position. Poor seedling care if the most usual reason for failure when raising new plants from seed. The aim is to provide a suitable growing environment where the plants can establish and develop without receiving a check in growth. This means that the seedlings indoors need to be spaced pricked out either into seed trays flat or other containers, and those rose outside need to be transplanted or thinned out to the correct spacing.
As soon as they are large enough to handle safely, space seedlings into prepared seed trays flat or modules or into individual pots filled with fresh compost soil mix. Gently lift each seedling individually, holding it by a leaf, never the stem, and support the root system with a dibber, plant label or pencil. Position the seedling at the correct spacing at the same depth as it was before, spreading its delicate roots carefully. Water the tray of seedlings from below by standing it in a bowl of water until the surface of the compost darkens.
Place the seedlings somewhere bright but shaded from direct sunlight and mist occasionally if they threaten to flag. Maintain the correct growing on temperature, depending on the type of plants you are growing until they are ready to plant out. If conditions outside are not suitable, you may have to keep the plants growing in limited amounts of compost for several weeks. If they begin to show signs of starvation, yellowing lower leaves, water them with a dilute liquid feed. Also space plants as necessary so that they leaves do not touch.
About two weeks before you want to plant out, they will need to be weaned off the cozy temperatures found inside the green house to the harsher environment outdoors. This is known as hardening off. Fill the seed tray flat with seed compost and tamp down the compost lightly to produce a level surface. Sow the seed thinly across the compost. Cover with a thin layer of compost, unless the seed needs light to germinate, lightly firm down and label the tray. Labeling is very important as many seedlings look the same. Place the seeds in a propagator. Adjust the temperature of heated propagators as required, seed packets should indicate the best temperature, but you may need to compromise if different seeds need different temperatures.
As soon as they are large enough to handle safely, space seedlings into prepared seed trays flat or modules or into individual pots filled with fresh compost soil mix. Gently lift each seedling individually, holding it by a leaf, never the stem, and support the root system with a dibber, plant label or pencil. Position the seedling at the correct spacing at the same depth as it was before, spreading its delicate roots carefully. Water the tray of seedlings from below by standing it in a bowl of water until the surface of the compost darkens.
Place the seedlings somewhere bright but shaded from direct sunlight and mist occasionally if they threaten to flag. Maintain the correct growing on temperature, depending on the type of plants you are growing until they are ready to plant out. If conditions outside are not suitable, you may have to keep the plants growing in limited amounts of compost for several weeks. If they begin to show signs of starvation, yellowing lower leaves, water them with a dilute liquid feed. Also space plants as necessary so that they leaves do not touch.
About two weeks before you want to plant out, they will need to be weaned off the cozy temperatures found inside the green house to the harsher environment outdoors. This is known as hardening off. Fill the seed tray flat with seed compost and tamp down the compost lightly to produce a level surface. Sow the seed thinly across the compost. Cover with a thin layer of compost, unless the seed needs light to germinate, lightly firm down and label the tray. Labeling is very important as many seedlings look the same. Place the seeds in a propagator. Adjust the temperature of heated propagators as required, seed packets should indicate the best temperature, but you may need to compromise if different seeds need different temperatures.
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