How to plant seeds in peat tablets and why they are good
With the advent of peat-distillate tablets, many gardeners and flower growers breathed a sigh of relief. This is because these little flat discs made growing seedlings a lot easier. There are many crops that absolutely do not tolerate transplantation. The seedlings have sprung up, grown up and it's time to dive them. And here strong, healthy plants after this procedure begin to hurt, because their delicate roots were damaged. But thanks to peat tablets, you can save seedlings and at the same time make your work easier. What you need to know about how to plant seeds in peat tabletsand what are they?
What do peat tablets look like?
Before sowing, the tablet should be soaked so that the peat swells. Its diameter remains the same, but its height grows 5 times. To maintain its shape, in most cases peat is placed in a fine mesh. It does not allow wet peat to crumble. There are "models" without a grid. These must be placed in separate small cups or pots. Tablet sizes are also different. The smallest ones have a diameter of 2.5 cm, and the largest ones - up to 7 cm.
The former are usually used for small seeds, such as petunias. For vegetable seedlings, a 4 cm diameter is more suitable.
How to plant seeds in peat tablets?
The process of growing seedlings in tablets is simple and consists of the following:
- The tablets are laid out in a tray or container with sides and water is poured into it. It is important to install them correctly: the side with the groove should look up.
- Soak for 10-15 minutes in water and drain the remaining liquid from the container. During this time, the peat swells.
- Make a depression in the peat with a match and put a seed (one) in it.
- The planted tablets remain in the tray. For the first time, it is covered with a lid.
Water should be added to the container periodically - peat dries quickly. Also, the seedlings need to be ventilated. When the roots appear from the pill, the plants are transplanted into a pot or garden bed. At the same time, the mesh is cut so that it does not interfere with the development of the root system.
Benefits of pressed peat tablets
Pills have a lot of advantages. They take up little space, which is especially important in an apartment. There is no need for picking seedlings, which means that the roots are not damaged. If the seeds have sprouted unevenly, it is possible to remove the germinated, leaving the rest.
Separately, it is worth mentioning the transplantation of seedlings from peat tablets. They can be planted together with plants, after cutting the mesh.