Most of all garden crops growing in suburban areas begin their lives indoors when planting seedlings. And the heat-loving and capricious eggplant is simply not able to go into active growth and give a good harvest when planting seeds in open ground. The most pressing issue in the cultivation of seedlings remains the question of choosing the ideal soil so that the eggplant seedlings turn out strong and take root in the open environment without any problems. Today I propose to discuss what secrets exist for preparing the soil for eggplant seedlings.
The main properties of the soil
The main qualities that land must have for growing any seedlings, and not just eggplant, are:
- fertility
Fertile soil contains the maximum amount of organic and mineral substances.
- breathability
The soil should be loose, not compressed under the action of water, so that oxygen can freely flow to the roots of plants.
- moisture absorption
When preparing the soil, do not get carried away with the use of peat mixtures, since peat does not absorb the moisture necessary for the roots to feed the seedlings.
- acidity
Eggplants do not like acidic soils. Therefore, choose a neutral soil for this vegetable crop.
In addition, remember the mandatory processing and disinfection of the earth and containers before planting eggplant seedlings.
Optimal composition
When preparing the ideal soil mixture, it is necessary to use organic and mineral components. The optimal soil should contain:
- sod land
Prepare the soil in the fall so that the turf has time to overheat during the winter.
- leaf ground
It is worth using not fresh soil, but more mature soil.
- lowland peat
Peat, due to its qualities, loosens the earth well. But a lot of this component should not be taken, otherwise difficulties with watering are guaranteed.
- manure or compost
For seedlings, it is worth taking compost, which is at least 3-4 years old.
- sphagnum or coconut fiber
Sphagnum moss and special coconut briquettes can significantly improve the moisture-absorbing properties of the earth.
Also, vermicompost, eggshell powder, can be added to the finished substrate. And you can reduce the acidity of the soil with the help of dolomite flour or ash.
Use of garden land
If you prepared for the new sowing season in advance and stocked up garden soil, then you need to prepare it before using it, that is, disinfect it. To do this, you can use the following methods:
- freezing;
- calcination at high temperatures;
- steaming in a water bath;
- treatment with fungicides or etching with a solution of potassium permanganate.
Inorganic components
Soil properties can be improved by adding inorganic substances to the substrate:
- river sand
With the help of sand, the air permeability of the earthen mixture can be increased.
- perlite or vermiculite
Thanks to these components, moisture will linger in the soil longer.
In addition to the listed components, expanded clay, polystyrene, hydrogel are used to improve the quality of the soil.
Each gardener decides for himself whether to harvest the land on his own or use ready-made universal soil mixtures. In both the first and second cases, the soil composition must be brought to the ideal by adding various organic and mineral components to it. And in order to save yourself from many problems in the fight against pests and diseases in the future, the soil must be thoroughly disinfected.
Perhaps you have your own secrets for preparing the perfect substrate for eggplant seedlings? Share them in the comments.
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