Preparation of land for seedlings of tomatoes. Proper seedling

Soil cultivation with copper sulphate in the spring for tomatoes is carried out by many vegetable growers before planting seedlings. This is done so that the young seedlings are better accepted and grow faster. Sometimes plants are planted in soil that was bought in a store. However, it is not always of high quality and people are increasingly deciding to prepare the ground with their own hands.

This method is more reliable, since a person independently introduces all the necessary elements into the ground. Therefore, before planting tomatoes, you need to familiarize yourself with how to prepare the soil for seedlings.

Ground Requirements

In order for tomato seedlings grown at home to bear fruit well, it is necessary to use special soil for planting seedlings. When preparing the soil for sowing tomatoes, it is necessary to add to it all the necessary nutrients that plants need for normal growth and further development. The soil for tomato seedlings must meet a number of special requirements:

• the soil for planting seeds and seedlings should contain the optimal amount of nutrients, it should contain not only organic matter, but also other useful macronutrients;
• in its structure, the soil should be loose so that young bushes can easily access air;
• the acidity level should not be too high - the optimal indicator is 6-7 pH;
• land for tomato seedlings should not contain fungal spores and painful microbes that can kill tomato bushes;
• high-quality soil should not contain industrial waste and heavy metals.

Soil components

Before cultivating the land, it is necessary to find out what components it should consist of. There is a standard set of elements that must be used during the preparation of soil for seedlings of tomatoes. Various mineral and organic elements are added to it.

Peat

This component must necessarily be part of the soil for tomato seedlings. It makes the soil looser, which allows it to better absorb and retain moisture. Peat has a rather acidic environment, so dolomite flour, chalk and deoxidizers are often added to it. It also needs to be sieved, as it may contain large fibers.

Peat has excellent absorption capacity, so it is often used in greenhouses where the humidity is highest. It constantly absorbs excess moisture and retains it in its pores.

The use of peat in the greenhouse reduces the number of disease-causing elements. This property is very important in closed ground conditions.

Soil preparation for tomatoes with peat has a number of advantages:

• cultivated land becomes lighter and begins to better pass water and air;
• such a fertilizer is the best nutritional component for depleted and poor sandy or loamy soils;
• peat is a natural antiseptic, with which you can get rid of harmful fungi and bacteria in the soil;
• with it, you can increase the level of acidity of the earth.

leafy soil

Such preparation of the soil is carried out in the fall. The leaves are used to make the ground lighter and looser before planting. They do not contain a large amount of nutrients, but they are still very often used.

Leaves that have fallen in autumn are used as the basis for such land. At the same time, they can not be collected from all trees. For example, oak leaves cannot be used to prepare the soil for seedlings of tomatoes, as they contain a large amount of tannins. It is also better to refuse maple and pine leaves.

The most suitable choice are birch or linden leaves. First, they are laid in several layers and sprinkled with fertile soil.

Sometimes freshly cut grass is laid between the layers. Leaf land is being prepared for quite a long time - several years. Throughout this time, the layers of leaves must be mixed several times. If necessary, garden soil, urea and fresh manure can be added to them.

Sand

Most often it is used to loosen the soil for sowing. The best choice for this there will be pure river sand without clay impurities.

Preparing the soil for tomatoes with sand allows you to:

1. Improve drainage. Quite often, it is added to a site with loamy and clayey soil, which has low air permeability and a dense structure. The use of sand makes the structure of the earth looser.
2. Keep warm. Earth mixed with sand warms up much better during the day and cools down more slowly at night. This allows the tomato bushes to develop faster.
3. Retain moisture. The liquid is retained in the soil even in hot weather. summer days. This allows the tomatoes to develop even without regular watering.

Before preparing the soil for seedlings, the sand is disinfected. It must be rinsed with water and warmed up with gas stove or ovens.

Perlite

Spring soil preparation for planting tomatoes with perlite is carried out so that the earth absorbs more moisture. It has a reflective property that promotes the development of young bushes. Perlite is applied to the top layer of soil under seedlings so that it reflects ultraviolet rays and prevents the soil from overheating under the sun. The main benefits of perlite include:

• this material does not contain microorganisms and is completely clean;
• its use helps to strengthen the weak root system of tomatoes;
• perlite does not cake and provides good breathability;
• It has excellent thermal insulation properties that prevent plant roots from overheating or overcooling.

Humus

Humus is applied in autumn under tomatoes. It is recommended to add only overripe humus to the soil for tomato seedlings. If you constantly use fresh, it can lead to the death of tomato seeds and their seedlings.

Quite often, slurry is used to create planting soil. For its preparation, manure is mixed with several liters of water and poured onto seedlings and soil after watering.

Invalid Components

Not all components can be added to the ground for seedlings during the preparation of the soil mixture at home. There are restrictions that you should be aware of:

1. Organic fertilizers that are in the process of breaking down can harm the growth of seedlings. They emit a lot of heat, which gradually destroys the seeds and seedlings of tomatoes.
2. It is not recommended to add earth or sand with clay to the soil for tomato seedlings. It makes the soil more dense and heavy, which greatly complicates the flow of air and moisture.
3. Do not add soil collected near busy highways to the soil mixture. It contains heavy metals, which adversely affect plant health.

Disinfection

Land preparation for seedlings begins with its disinfection, during which all larvae and bacteria are removed from the soil. This procedure is carried out to prevent the death of bushes and obtain a good harvest.

You can disinfect the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate. It is prepared from several grams of the substance mixed in a bucket of water. After that, the soil should be sprayed with the resulting mixture. In addition to potassium permanganate, you can use the steaming method.

To do this, pour 2-3 liters into the pan hot water. Then a clean cloth is attached to the top of the container, into which the earth should be poured. A pot of water and soil is placed on a slow fire and boiled for 40 minutes. Under the influence of high temperature, all pathogens will die.

• use the services of a special laboratory and pass tests in it;
• use litmus paper to test;
• plant wild herbs on the site that do not grow in soil with high acidity.

If the acidity is too high, then I cultivate the land with lime or dolomite flour. About 20 grams of the substance is consumed per kilogram of soil mass.

Creating a planting mix

After preparing all the necessary components, you can start mixing the seed soil. It is not recommended to do this immediately before sowing seeds. Soil preparation is carried out a few days before planting, so that the earth can sit well and does not form voids after watering. There are several ways to prepare the soil for seedlings.

First way

During the creation of the planting mixture - this recipe is used most often. The same amount of humus, sand, leaf soil and copper sulfate is added to a part of the soddy land. All components are thoroughly mixed and added to a mixture consisting of 15 liters of water, 30 grams of sulfate, 40 grams of superphosphate and 15 grams of urea. The resulting solution is poured into the soil in which the seeds will be sown.

Second way

Turf land is mixed with the same amount of sand and peat. If there is no peat, then purchased prepared soil can be added instead. If necessary, a liter jar of wood ash and three tablespoons of superphosphate can be added to the mixture.

Third way

We prepare a solution from two parts of soddy land, part of bottom sand and humus. Then half a liter of wood ash is added to the resulting mixture. The prepared mixture is applied under the tomatoes in the spring.

Conclusion

Not all people know how to properly prepare the land for planting tomato seedlings. To deal with this, you need to familiarize yourself with what components the soil mixture consists of and in what ways it can be prepared.

Harvested and it's time to prepare for next year. Beginning gardeners sigh more freely. All major work has been completed. It remains to buy seeds and sow in cups in ordinary soil taken from your garden. And their surprise is great when an unknown weed sprouts instead of a tomato seedling. The mistake of such gardeners is that they try to feed the baby with roughage instead of baby food. Seedlings need a different soil composition. Such a mixture can be bought ready-made in specialized stores, but it is best to prepare it yourself.

Seedlings in prepared soil. © seedtosalad Content:

Soil requirements for seedlings of vegetable crops

Ordinary garden soil is not suitable for sowing seeds. The components of the future mixture must be prepared in the fall. They are harvested in dry weather to avoid the development of the entire set of soil infections and pests.

Soil mixtures for seedlings grown per family will need 1-3 buckets, so it will not be difficult to collect several components in different containers and store them away from autumn rains.

The main requirements for the soil mixture are light, air- and water-permeable, moisture-absorbing, porous, rich in organic matter and mineral nutrition in the form of available salts of basic fertilizers and microelements. The pH of the mixture should be 6.5-7.0, that is, it should be neutral in acidity. From autumn we lay out in separate containers:

• humus (rotted manure) or biohumus;
• forest sheet or sod land;
• garden soil from your site, from places where herbicides, fungicides and other chemicals were not used;
• sifted wood ash;
• straw cutting or sawdust (not coniferous), perlite, expanded clay, hydrogel, necessary for loosening the soil.

We replenish home first aid kit mineral fertilizers and the composition of trace elements. We buy biological products against soil infection and pests. The mixture must contain a large amount (up to 30%) of loosening substances in order to weak root system seedlings did not meet resistance when growing into the soil.

Preparation of universal soil mixture for seedlings

In free winter time from the prepared ingredients we prepare the soil mixture. The simplest all-purpose potting mix can be made with 3-4 ingredients.

• 1 part leaf (rotted leaves) or sod land;
• 2 parts of mature humus. Manure, even half-rotted, cannot be used so as not to burn the young roots of the awakened embryo. Instead of humus, weathered non-acidic peat (moor) or biohumus can be used;
• 1 part sifted river sand or sawdust, to loosen the mixture.

Mix the mixture thoroughly and arrange in containers (bags, boxes) for disinfection. By disinfecting the soil mixture, weed seeds, soil pests and diseases are eliminated.

Soil disinfection

Disinfection of the prepared soil mixture can be carried out in several ways, including:

• freezing;
• steaming;
• calcination;
• pickling.

In the southern regions, it is more expedient to use hot disinfection by steaming or calcining, and in the northern regions, it is easier to use freezing. Well disinfects the soil dressing with preparations. It is better to use biological products, potassium permanganate, which do not harm humans and animals.

freezing

With the onset of frost, the container with the mixture is taken out into the street under a canopy so that snow does not fall. In the open air, the mixture is 3-5 days. With constant frosts of -15 ... 25 ºС, most pests and seeds of some weeds die. After freezing, the container is brought into a warm room with a temperature of + 18 ... + 22-25 ºС.

Surviving seeds and pests begin an active life. After 10 days, the container with the soil mixture is again exposed to frost. The procedure is repeated 2-4 times. During this time, the vast majority of weeds and pests die.

Steaming

A month before sowing the seeds, the soil mixture is subjected to steaming in a water bath, which can be done in several ways.

1. In small portions, pour the mixture into a colander lined with gauze or other loosely woven fabric. We cover the colander with a lid and hold it over a container (bucket or pan) with a small amount of boiling water. The duration of steaming is, depending on the size of the colander, from 10-15 to 30-45 minutes.
2. Pour water into the bottom of the tank, set a high stand. We place the soil mixture in an old small-perforated bag on a stand. Steam from boiling water steams the mixture for about 1-2 hours.

Scatter the steamed moist soil in a thin layer on paper or cloth and dry it in air to a mature state. Properly dried soil mixture should, when squeezed and then opened, easily crumble into small loose particles, slightly velvety to the touch.

Calcination

We moisten the soil mixture and scatter it on trays with a layer of 5-6 cm. We warm up in the oven, heated to + 40 ... + 60 ºС for 30-40 minutes. Then we cool.

Etching

Pour the prepared soil mixture into a container. We prepare a solution of potassium permanganate at the rate of 3 g of the drug per bucket of water. Pour the mixture with a solution of potassium permanganate and mix thoroughly. Lay out to dry.

After all types of disinfection, the dried soil mixture is treated with antifungal biofungicides (trichodermin, phytosporin, hamair) and bioinsecticides (boverin, fitoverm, actofit). To restore beneficial microflora, we use the dry preparation "Emochka-Bokashi" or the working solution "Baikal EM-1". After their introduction, slightly moisten the soil mixture. In a warm, humid environment, beneficial microorganisms multiply intensively, destroying the remnants of pathogenic microflora.

Preparation of containers for sowing seeds

In the 3rd decade of January, we prepare containers for sowing seeds. For sowing, you can buy 50 g plastic or polyethylene cups, peat humus cubes. You can save money and make your own cups of thick paper without a bottom (they are laid out in small boxes, the bottom of which is covered with a film), make humus-earth or peat-humus cubes with a cross section of 5-6 to 7-10 cm.

Fertilization of prepared soil mixtures

Compiled and disinfected soil mixtures are the basis of the substrate used for sowing seeds.

Some gardeners use a universal type of soil mixture for seedlings of all grown vegetable crops. Add 7-10 g of ammonium nitrate, 10-20 g of superphosphate, 5-10 g of potassium sulfate, 40-50 g of lime, a glass of wood ash to a bucket of disinfected soil mixture. The resulting substrate is thoroughly mixed and the containers for sowing are clogged by 2/3.

Table 1 shows the compositions for some vegetable crops based on a universal soil mixture and according to a special recipe. It should be noted that the above formulation of the compositions is not mandatory. Each gardener can use both the given recipe and their own practice-proven compositions.

Table 1: Substrate options for vegetable crops

The use of purchased soil and ways to improve it

Self-preparation of the basic soil mixture for growing seedlings is not a difficult job, but it takes a certain period of time. Therefore, some gardeners, often beginners, buy ready-made soil mixture. However, when buying ready-made soil, you cannot be sure that it is a quality product. It can be acidified, with a high content of lowland peat, not disinfected, which means that fungal microflora will definitely be present in it, etc. Therefore, when buying a ready-made substrate, be sure to:

• Check it for acidity, and even if positive, add 2-3 tablespoons of dolomite flour or a little slaked lime;
• Carry out the disinfection procedure using one of the methods described above;
• If the soil mixture contains a large amount of peat, if necessary, add garden soil(approximately 30-40% of the purchased mass);
• So that the soil mixture after adding garden soil and other components is sufficiently moisture-intensive, add a little hydrogel. In a humid environment, it increases in volume by 200-300 times, do not overdo it.

For each bucket of such a modified soil mixture, add 20-30 g of complete mineral fertilizer (nitroammofoska, azofoska). Remember! The procedure for improving the purchased soil mixture will pay off with high-quality seedlings. If you rely entirely on the integrity of the producers, you can be left without seedlings.

The topic of today's article is the ideal soil for peppers: for seedlings and for planting mature seedlings. Do-it-yourself soil preparation for pepper seedlings.

Correct soil

Good land for planting should:

• be loose, light, with a porous structure, provide free access to air and water;
• contain life-giving microflora, organic;
• contain in optimal proportions for seedlings potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus, iron, copper, zinc;
• correspond in composition to the soil in which it will be;
• be water-permeable, retain moisture for a long time without forming a surface crust;
• have an adequate neutral pH for peppers pH ~ 5-7. This acidity protects peppers from black leg and keel.

A good land should not:

• be infested with weeds, larvae, eggs of pests, worms, fungal spores, toxic substances, pathogens, rotting organic matter;
• have an admixture of clay.

An ideal soil composition for pepper seedlings, containing phosphorus and potassium oxides, sulfur, boron, molybdenum, zinc, iron, copper, manganese, magnesium, and calcium in the right proportions.

On a note! Pepper seedlings develop well in the removed surface layer of soil from under the acacias.

seedling mixtures

How to prepare the ground for seedlings of peppers:

1. One part each: sand, peat, humus, earth.
2. Sod, garden soil, compost, sand - in equal shares. Sprinkle with wood ash at the rate of a glass per 10 kg of the compound.
3. Equally low-lying peat, humus. Enrich with potassium sulfate and superphosphate.
4. One measure of compost (peat), sand (perlite), two sods.
5. To one part, equally mixed sawdust and sand, add three shares of soddy soil.
6. Equally leaf and sod land, the same amount of humus, a little sand, vermiculite, perlite to choose from.
7. Earth, humus, sand, wood ash.
8. Mix soddy soil, river sand, peat in equal proportions, pour a bucket of water with superphosphate, potassium sulfate (30 g) and urea (10 g).
9. Earth, humus, peat in the same volume, half a liter of wood ash, 2 matchbox superphosphate.

On a note! If you buy ready-made soil, carefully study the composition. Often it is 100% peaty. In such an environment, pepper seedlings do not develop.

More about the components of mixtures

Peat

It is used as a baking powder. Most soil mixtures require peat additives. There are three types:

• lowland: not acidic, rich in nutrients;
• transition;
• surface requiring enrichment with lime or ash. The introduction of phosphate, magnesium fertilizers is welcome.

coarse sand

Provides proper drainage, contributing to the formation of the supporting part of the bush. Makes the soil porous, light.

Turf

To saturate the soil mixture, improve the structure in the summer-autumn period, the top soil layer is removed along with the grass. Stacked in boxes. Warm up before use.

sphagnum mosses

Increase moisture content. With bactericidal properties, prevent rotting of the root system of seedlings.

Sawdust

Wood waste additives lighten the soil, increase its permeability.

Compost

Contains humus, so necessary for the successful development of seedlings. Increases fertility, ventilation.

Perlite

When growing seedlings in mixtures containing a substance of volcanic origin, the risk of fungal diseases and decay of seedlings is reduced. Protects against the formation of lumps, caking, tamping, temperature changes.

Vermiculite

Crushed layered mineral saves from drying out.

Ash

Experienced gardeners prefer birch.

On a note! To facilitate seedling land cocktails, they add: husks of seeds, husks from grains, expanded clay, hydrogels, foam plastic granules, rotted foliage that does not contain tannins (oak, willow, chestnut leaves), ground eggshells. To remove acidification, lime fluff, chalk and dolomite flour are added.

Preparing the land for pepper seedlings

At the end of summer and autumn, store the available components: earth, turf, peat, moss, sawdust, compost. You can keep blanks in plastic bags, bags, boxes, buckets, at sub-zero temperatures. It is desirable that they freeze well.

On a note! Earth with garden plot may contain seeds of unwanted plants, harmful insects and their larvae, pathogens. Do not use without decontamination, or replace with store bought.

Do not add fresh manure, fresh compost, untreated turf to seedling mixes.

You can improve the soil for seedlings in the following ways:

• To lower pH levels, neutralize unwanted chemicals, treat with preparations such as Flora-S.
• Treat with fungicides, insecticides. This procedure is reliable and lasts a long time. It must be borne in mind the danger of such drugs for health, follow all the precautionary rules.
• Steam for up to an hour, stirring occasionally. Store the steamed soil in sterilized containers in a cool, dark place. With this treatment, pernicious bacteria, fungus, larvae and eggs of insects die, but the necessary trace elements and minerals are preserved.
• To improve microflora treat with a solution like "Baikal", "Gumi" in accordance with the instructions.
• Ignite for half an hour in the oven, oven at a temperature of + 40-50 °. The disadvantage of this method is that along with undesirable factors, the necessary beneficial substances are destroyed.
• Freeze. 30-40 days before planting, warm up, mix with the rest of the ingredients, freeze again.
• Disinfect with potassium permanganate solution. Additionally, walk with an antifungal agent.

On a note! Don't overdo it with . With properly selected components, the soil mixture turns out to be quite fertile. Experienced vegetable growers advise applying liquid fertilizers after the appearance of two true leaves on the seedlings.

Start mixing the components kept in heat 2-3 weeks before the start of sowing. Sift the earth, sod, peat, humus. Select the remains of plants, pebbles, foreign objects.

Place the selected components in a suitable container. Break up lumps. Mix thoroughly until smooth. Add sand, perlite. They will combine all the components into one whole, mix again.

A week before, fill the seedling containers with the prepared composition. Irrigate with a light manganese solution. Add ash, fertilizer.

On a note! Modern technologies allow growing pepper seedlings on landless substrates: a mixture of sawdust and sand, coconut tablets, peat cushion. It is possible to grow seedlings simply on paper. The advantage of this unusual method is the sterility of the material.

Is it possible to add earth to pepper seedlings?

Pepper seedlings do not require additional land.

But, if such a need arose, sprinkle seedlings without covering the first cotyledon leaves left from planting with soil mixture, or sprinkle with a mixture of cultivated land with used tea brewing. Add in multiple steps.

After lignification of the lower part of the stem, stop adding seedlings, otherwise the formation of the root system will slow down, and rotting may begin.

Soil preparation for pepper seedlings

How to prepare the ground for pepper seedlings? In order not to destroy carefully grown seedlings, you should prepare the soil for permanent place pepper residence:

• Arrange beds in advance, apply a complex of fertilizers corresponding to the type of soil.
• A few days before produce abundant.
• Make holes, depth equal to the capacity of the finished seedlings, fill with distilled water room temperature.
• plant peppers.

The more carefully, in compliance with all agrotechnical rules, the soil was prepared, the stronger, more resilient the seedlings will grow. depends on the fertility of the soil

Every gardener knows that in order to grow and get a good harvest of tomatoes and peppers, it is very important to observe 3 important points: high-quality seeds, the right soil for seedlings and compliance with growing conditions (temperature, humidity, light).

A balanced soil for seedlings of tomatoes and peppers ensures the development of the root system and the nutrition of the whole plant. Experienced vegetable growers share the secrets of preparing soil mixtures on which healthy and strong seedlings grow - the key to a rich harvest.

Taking care of the soil in which the seeds will germinate is necessary first of all. It should be light, loose, porous and not too acidic (preferably close to neutral, pH in the range of 6.5-7.0).

The soil for growing seedlings should be fertile, optimally saturated with organic matter and mineral fertilizers. For normal growth and development of seedlings, it must not only absorb moisture well, but also retain it. Such indicators can be achieved by properly preparing the substrate for seedlings.

Novice growers often admit typical mistake: sow seeds directly into the soil from the garden. An ordinary earthen mixture taken from the beds is highly dense; it will be difficult for plants to develop in it. Therefore, many fail to grow vegetable seedlings at home and have to buy plants that are ready for planting.

Soil mix components

1. Humus - obtained from rotted plants or manure, it provides the soil with high nutritional and fertile properties.
2. Peat - helps to increase the friability of the soil, absorbs and retains moisture well, providing the plant with the necessary amount of it.
3. River sand - used as a baking powder, should be large, clean, without inclusions of clay. Before use, it must be washed and calcined on fire or in the oven.
4. Perlite - eco-friendly material, which can replace sand, absorbs moisture well, gives looseness to the soil.
5. Sawdust - can be used as a baking powder instead of peat and sand, must be clean, they are treated with boiling water before use.
6. Leafy soil is loose soil with a low nutrient content, which is used in combination with other types of soil. They collect it in the forest where deciduous trees grow. Experts do not recommend using the land collected under oak, willow, chestnut: due to saturation with tannins, good quality soil for seedlings will not work out of it.

Unacceptable soil additives

For growing seedlings of pepper and tomatoes, organic fertilizers that are in the process of decay cannot be used. Fresh manure, tea leaves, unripe leaves, falling into the ground, begin to decompose.

A large amount of heat generated during this can burn the seeds. If they have time to ascend, then the seedlings will still die from the high temperature. With the decomposition of organic components in the substrate, the amount of nitrogen decreases, which is very harmful for young plants.

Sand or earth mixed with clay is not suitable for making a nutrient mixture: clay compacts and makes the soil heavier, and this is unacceptable for seedlings. In heavy soil that does not allow air and moisture to pass through, the seedlings will get sick and may even die.

Do not use soil collected near a busy highway or even on the territory of an abandoned chemical enterprise for preparing a substrate. Heavy metals quickly accumulate in the soil and remain in it for a long time, and plants can easily absorb them.

How to prepare the soil mixture with your own hands?

A ready-made substrate for growing seedlings of tomatoes and peppers is easy to purchase at the store today. Many gardeners, fearing low-quality goods, prefer to prepare the soil for seedlings with their own hands at home. Each vegetable has individual preferences and needs, so experienced vegetable growers are advised to prepare a mixture for seedlings of various crops separately.

The soil must be prepared in the fall so that it freezes well in winter. It is better to take the land from the forest or collect it on a site where garden crops have not grown for 2-3 years. Weeds and grass must be removed, the earthen mass must be sifted through a sieve so that it becomes soft and loose. This contributes to the formation of a developed and powerful root system in plants.

Experienced gardeners advise taking land at the place where nettle grows. The roots of the plant are not strong, it does not allow the neighborhood of weeds, so this mass is suitable for vegetables.

It is recommended to start preparing the soil for seedlings by mixing the components, which is best done not immediately before sowing the seeds, but at least a few days in advance. During this time, the soil will settle and will not form voids that are washed out during irrigation. Having spread the polyethylene, each component is poured onto it in the required proportions.

Substrate preparation options for pepper and tomato seedlings:

1. One part of garden or sod land, peat and river sand. Mix the mixture thoroughly and pour well with a nutrient solution: 25-30 grams of potassium sulfate, 30 grams of superphosphate and 10 grams of urea per 10 liters of water.
2. Mix in equal proportions garden or turf soil, humus and peat, add a half-liter jar of wood ash and 2 matchboxes of superphosphate to the resulting mixture.
3. Mix 2 parts garden or sod land with 1 part humus and 1 part river sand. Add a half-liter jar of wood ash to a bucket of the mixture.

Proper preparation of the soil and the use of fertilizers rich in minerals and trace elements helps to reduce the period of growing seedlings by almost 2 weeks. Peat-based soil contains long fibers that perform the function of deoxidizing fertilizers that have an increased acidity.

If the main soil itself is nutritious, it is not worth over-fertilizing the soil mixture for seedlings of tomatoes and peppers. The plant does not require many trace elements at the initial stage of seed germination. Only with the advent of the first true leaves does the need arise for them. Additional nutrition can be applied a few weeks after germination in the form of liquid fertilizer.

Some vegetable growers practice mixing their own prepared substrate with a purchased one. From the ready-made mixtures presented in stores, you can choose the following: "Gardener", "Flora", "Krepysh", "Gardener", "Humimax". To avoid fakes, it is recommended to purchase them from trusted retail outlets.

Soil disinfection

Disinfection - important point in the process of preparing the mixture for seedlings. To obtain a good harvest and prevent the death of plants from the soil mass, it is necessary to remove pathogenic larvae and bacteria.

In order to disinfect the soil, various methods are used:

• freezing;
• watering with disinfectants;
• steam processing.

After undergoing "thermotherapy", the composition is heated, a teaspoon of urea, 2 teaspoons of superphosphate and half a glass of ash are added. After mixing, pour in a manganese solution (3 grams per bucket of water). After 2 weeks, seeds can be planted in a disinfected substrate.

One of the effective methods of disinfecting the earthen mass is steaming. At the bottom of a metal container, it is necessary to pour 1-1.5 centimeters of water, with the help of an elastic band, fix the edges of a clean natural fabric and pour the earth mixture into it. For 20-30 minutes, put the container on a slow fire so that the water boils away.

Under the influence of high temperature, the larvae and pathogens will die. When steaming, the soil is additionally saturated with moisture. Some gardeners practice calcining the earth in the oven, but with such treatment, along with pathogenic microbes, nutrients can also disappear from the soil.

Checking the acidity level

It is necessary to check the level of acidity of the soil mass: slightly acidic soils contribute to the infection of plants with clubroot and black leg. Among the methods for determining the acid-base balance of earthen mass, gardeners use laboratory tests, testing with a special litmus test, determination using wild herbs, many of which choose a specific type of soil.

To carry out analyzes in the laboratory, you need to dig holes and place the contents in a bag, sign and indicate the coordinates. Special tests sold in stores are also effective: paper turns red on an acidic surface, darkens on an alkaline one. Another folk method- moisten a clod of earth with vinegar. If the acidity is lowered, it will make noise.

When determining the type of soil using wild herbs, it is important to know that plantain, wheatgrass, veronica, pikulnik, heather prefer to grow on soils with neutral or high acidity. Alkaline surfaces are chosen by pine, ash, larkspur, European spindle tree. Buttercup creeping, bird buckwheat, white gauze, wild strawberry, field bindweed will develop on any soil.

With increased acidity, 15 grams of dolomite flour is added per 1 kilogram of soil mass. The quality of seedlings of tomatoes and peppers will improve significantly if you fertilize the mixture with grated eggshells.

In our article we will tell you how to prepare the soil for your own hands.

What should be the soil

sod land

The component has a huge amount of trace elements that ensure the full growth of seedlings. It is recommended to use the land on which they previously grew and.

Mullein

The component is rich in useful trace elements, provides proper nutrition to the plant. Thanks to him, productivity increases, plants receive a full complex essential vitamins. Can be used both dry and fresh.

Sand is used in the preparation of the soil mixture, as it is an excellent baking powder. Give preference to coarse, clean river sand that does not have clay inclusions. AT without fail it must be washed and calcined on fire or in the oven.

Perlite

Sometimes this component is used instead of sand. It is characterized by its environmental friendliness, gives the soil looseness, perfectly absorbs moisture.

Sometimes ordinary ones act as a substitute for peat and sand. In this case, only purified components can be used; before use, they are scalded with boiling water. Do-it-yourself seedling land will definitely have the best quality than purchased.

But if you do not know all the nuances of preparing such a mixture, you should not risk the entire crop - it is better to seek the advice of specialists and choose the soil that is best for your seedlings.

Important! Do not immediately purchase a large capacity of the soil mixture. Buy a small bag and try to germinate the seeds. If everything goes well, you can proceed to more ambitious work.

Ready-made soil preparation schemes with sawdust

If you decide to prepare the soil yourself with sawdust for seedlings, we offer a choice of several common schemes.

• Scheme 1. It is necessary to take 2 parts of sawdust and 1 part of sand. Before this, sawdust should be treated with a balanced mixture that contains a complex of nutritional components. They can also be used as a baking powder. This mixture, although it has a simple composition, but allows you to achieve a rich harvest.

• Scheme 2. It is necessary to mix peat, sod land, sawdust in the following ratio: 4:1:1/4:1:1/2. To 10 kg of the mixture obtained, it is worth adding: river sand - 3 kg, - 10 g, - 2-3 g, - 1 g.

• Scheme 3. Humus, peat, sod land, rotted sawdust are taken in the ratio 1:1:1:1. Add to the bucket with the mixture:

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