February is the right time for pleasant troubles in the greenhouse
Hardworking farmers try not to miss the opportunity to prepare for the new gardening season. When a new leaf appears on the calendar with the word February, it's time to think about the greenhouse. Let the cold wind still be blowing and blowing outside, but time is inexorably running forward. Only after 28 days spring will come and ask: “Are the greenhouse and beds ready? What did the gardener do in the last month of winter? " It's good when the job is done, and you are not ashamed to show the fruits of your hands. And the return will not be long in coming.
Repair and preparation of a greenhouse at a summer cottage
When repairing the outer covering, you should carefully remove the remnants of the film, replacing it with a new one. Cracked glass on the structure is changed in the same way. Such roofing works are performed on a fine winter day, when precipitation does not fall on your head. In areas where there is a lot of snow in February, regular cleaning of the greenhouse is essential to prevent the roof from breaking under its weight.
It so happens that during the period of hibernation, annoying rodents made a "ditch" in the greenhouse and the supports tilted slightly. It is very important to strengthen them in time so that the entire structure does not suffer. February is the right time to start internal work in the greenhouse:
- Cleaning. If weeds or rhizomes of last year's crops remain in the beds, they are taken out into the street. The inner part of the coating is cleaned of dirt by washing from both sides.
- Disinfection. An effective way to control pests is sulfuric bombs. If you want to use the classic method, a slaked lime solution is suitable. It is prepared according to the following proportion: for 10 liters of water, take 3 kg of lime plus 0.5 kg copper sulfate... Mix everything thoroughly. The resulting mixture is used to process the ceiling, walls and frame of the greenhouse.
- Improving the quality of soil fertility. To improve the fertility of the soil, it must be changed regularly. In February, gardeners remove the topsoil, replacing it with a purchased one.
If it is not possible to purchase high-quality soil for the greenhouse, you can prepare it yourself. To do this, mix sand with turf soil, add peat neutralized with lime and humus to the mixture.
Having completed such work in February, we can safely say that the greenhouse is ready to grow a new crop.
Working in the beds in the last month of winter
Someone might think: "What kind of work in the beds in the winter?" But summer residents know what it is about. It's time to start growing seedlings in artificial beds indoors.
As the sun shines brighter in February, and the day has become a little longer, gardeners are starting to grow seedlings. Cabbage seeds are laid out in the prepared beds, early varieties of tomato and cucumbers. You can sow parsley and dill.
Depending on the local climatic conditions, vegetable crops should be sown, taking into account their planting in open ground. As a result, the seedlings will not outgrow, which affects the crop yield.
Sowing seeds of early vegetable crops on the beds, the following operations should be performed:
- cover the sown seeds with a layer of sand half a centimeter high;
- water gently;
- cover the beds with foil or glass;
- when shoots appear, the cover is removed;
- put containers in a well-lit place;
- keep the temperature in the room at least 18 degrees;
- the strengthened seedlings dive into separate containers.
Seedlings grown in this way, sown in February, take root well in the open field.
Purchase of planting material
When the ground is still resting under the snow, it's time to think about the future harvest. After all, it is in February that seeds appear on sale. For sellers, of course, this is a golden time, and for gardeners - a serious game of roulette. Either you won or you were left with nothing. To make the right choice of seeds, it is important to remember a few tips. Planting material should be:
- in pure form;
- the same size;
- without soil impurities;
- some scent (carrots or onions).
Most often, seeds are sold in sealed packaging, which makes it difficult to check their quality. There are still some things that can be done. By carefully feeling the contents of the bag, it is easy to notice debris or lumps of earth in it. If you rub the carrot seeds lightly, a delicate aroma will appear. This indicates the freshness of the planting material.
In addition, it is advisable to buy seeds in specialized stores with a good reputation. Also, do not neglect the information printed on the package. Before buying a product, you should carefully read about the proposed variety and the number of seeds in a pack. When to plant and harvest them. Prudence in this matter never hurts. After all, it is not for nothing that it is said - "what a man sows, that he will also reap" in his field. So let us sow seeds in a fertile land, and gather abundant harvests.
When choosing seeds, it is almost impossible to say for sure whether they will sprout or not. Therefore, you need to be prepared for any result.