The most common way to grow cucumbers is seedlings. Germination of seeds at home, growing seedlings on the windowsill, regular crop care allow you to plant strong and healthy cucumber bushes in the open ground in spring. Recently, peat tablets have been gaining popularity, in which more and more summer residents sow seeds.
Peat tanks: pros and cons
Peat tablets consist of compressed peat and are shaped like a washer, which gave rise to the name. The peat is enclosed in a fungicide-impregnated mesh that protects the young plant from disease. Interacting with water, the flat washer increases several times.
Having tested the pills on my own experience, I can highlight the benefits of using them.
- The organic constituents of peat are ideal for growing cucumber seedlings.
- Uniquely absorb and retain moisture.
- Growing in such containers is simple and convenient.
- They contain trace elements necessary for growing, which frees the owner from fertilizing.
- When transplanting, the root system of cucumbers is not injured, the plant quickly adapts to a new place and does not get sick.
- In peat tablets, the root system is provided with full access to air, which affects the active growth of seedlings.
- Plants are protected from bacterial, fungal and viral infections.
Cons are minor. I refer to them as follows:
- Annual financial cost of acquisition.
- The use of pallets.
- Daily monitoring of the state of humidity, as the tablets dry out quickly.
Choosing peat containers for growing cucumbers
Tablets are sold in several sizes and are designed for growing a variety of seedlings. For cucumbers, a diameter of 40 mm and above will be required. You will have to purchase not only the washers themselves, but also special pallets for them.
You can use not only special pallets, but also any containers that fit peat tablets. The main condition is the absence of holes in them.
Sowing and transplanting to beds
Before sowing, peat seed containers must be prepared. To do this, I put them in pallets and fill them with warm water. Having increased from the water, they will resemble cups wrapped in a net. Sowing seeds is carried out as soon as the cups stop increasing in size.
I place the seeds in a special recess, 2-3 cm. The depth of immersion of seeds depends on the variety.
IMPORTANT! When using peat tablets after planting, the seeds are not sprinkled with anything!
On top of the pallet I cover with a transparent lid or film. Every day I check the level of humidity, if necessary, I wet the peat containers. I remove the film after the emergence of shoots.
I try to plant seedlings 3 weeks after its appearance. If weather conditions do not allow, then add a few days. The main thing is that the seedlings should not be on the windowsill for more than 4 weeks.
Transplanting seedlings grown in peat tablets does not cause absolutely no difficulties and problems. The container with the sprout is removed from the pallet and moved to the prepared hole. This method keeps the root system of cucumbers intact, which avoids disease and death of plantings.
Peat tablets make it possible to simplify the task of growing cucumber seedlings, save time, and maintain the health of the crop. Growing seedlings in them is the most convenient way for me to cultivate plants. In the comments under the article, you can either agree with me or refute my opinion.
Read also: I’m talking about the main diseases that await seedlings of cucumbers: it is important to quickly determine the cause in order to destroy the “enemy”
Another related article: I grow cucumbers in a greenhouse: from soil preparation to harvesting - all about the process
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#cucumber seedlings#peat tablets#planting seedlings in the ground
