Spring time is a time full of worries and troubles in planting seedlings and seedlings, starting with peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes, and ending with flowers and fruit trees. Every gardener and gardener is ready to grow seedlings in order to speed up the period of harvest and flowering. At the moment, there are many containers, mini-greenhouses, various containers and devices specifically designed for seedlings. Peat tablets are an incredibly convenient thing designed for growing seedlings of crops that are painful to transplant. You need to sow the seeds carefully. For example, planting cucumbers in tablets for seedlings is the most correct way than planting seedlings in boxes.
Cucumber seedlings in peat tablets: proper planting and cultivation.
Probably everyone knows that cucumber is a rather fastidious crop, which is not so easy to grow in seedlings and then replant.
Therefore, to make this whole process less painful and not “shatter” your nerves so much, it is better to overpay a little and stock up on peat tablets, in which the cucumber seedlings will be planted. Of course, most likely, you no longer ask this question, since all modern gardeners have used them at least once or, at least, seen them once. But, if this word still doesn’t explain much to you, then this information will help fill in the gaps a little.
What are peat tablets?
So, peat tablets are small pucks of pressed peat, which are covered with a natural mesh. On top of each such ring there is already a depression in which it is very convenient to place the seeds. In its original form, the “tablet” consists of low 8-mm washers, which, when soaked in water, and this procedure is carried out immediately before planting, increase approximately five times.
A mixture of wet peat and soil is simply an ideal environment. Cucumber seedlings in peat tablets feel just great. Due to the fact that the mixture in the tablet retains moisture very well, the seeds are protected from fungi, which cause the fall of seedlings grown in poor-quality soil.
Benefits of peat tablets
If you still have some doubts that cucumber seedlings in peat tablets are much better, then you will definitely be convinced by the main advantages of such nutritional “pucks”: – significant cost savings on seed germination and rooting; – very high air capacity; – almost complete absence of injury to seedlings during transplantation; – efficient use of space; – protection against waterlogging.
Planting cucumbers in peat tablets
In principle, this procedure is not particularly complicated and planting cucumbers in peat tablets will not take you much time. You just need to follow some tips and the whole process will go very quickly and successfully:
– Peat tablets should be placed next to each other in a high tray and filled with warm water for 10 – 20 minutes until completely swollen.
– Carefully place cucumber seeds in the existing recesses of the formed containers and lightly (only 1 – 2 mm) cover them with a mixture of tablets.
– We move the tablets to the seedling box. A special heated container is best suited for these purposes. If there is none, then you can simply place the box with future seedlings on some warm surface. This will allow the seeds to germinate faster.
– It is very important to monitor the air temperature (20 – 25 0C) and ambient humidity. It is also highly advisable to use fluorescent lamps, which will provide additional illumination.
– The humidity of the substrate must be checked very carefully, since cucumbers love to “drink” water. It is best to water using a spray bottle.
– After the seeds germinate and seedlings form, they can be opened during the day, allowing access to fresh air. At night the box is closed again.
After the time has come, it is necessary to plant the seedlings in the garden bed. To do this, the tablets are taken out of the container and placed in the previously prepared recesses, after which they are covered with earth and carefully compacted. You can get the finished harvest of green cucumbers approximately 10 - 14 days earlier than if you planted them directly in the garden. And this is another significant “plus”, isn’t it?
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Seedling care
After planting, the seeds need to create greenhouse conditions; cover the cassettes or whatever you used with film or glass. It is very convenient to cover plastic glasses with a cut-off plastic bottle, the upper part where the lid is, since the planting needs to be ventilated for five minutes every day, in the version with bottles you can simply remove the lid and you’re done, you just don’t need to screw it on, just cover it on top and that’s it. As soon as the seed hatches, remove the covering.
Since the cucumber is still a southerner, it accordingly loves the sun and warmth. Grow seedlings on a southern windowsill at a temperature of at least eighteen plus degrees. If it is not possible to provide a minimum daylight hours of about nine hours, use additional lighting with special lamps. A simple fluorescent light bulb, the so-called energy-saving lamp, will do. You can also use simple LED lamps, but not Ilyich bulbs; ordinary incandescent lamps are not suitable, plants do not see them as light, they do not perceive them, only as a source of heat.
As for watering, everything is simple here - keep the soil mixture constantly moistened; at the initial stage, so as not to expose the tender cucumber roots, it is better to use a sprayer. Once the plant is sufficiently rooted, water in a thin stream at the root. It should be noted that peat tablets dry out quite quickly; you will have to water them virtually every day. Use only settled water and only at room temperature. Do not overwater, but do not overdry the soil, keep the humidity at the same level. As they say, everything is good in moderation.
If you grow cucumber seedlings in pure peat tablets, then fertilizing is simply necessary. This is done when the plant has four true leaves. Many, as you can see, recommend all sorts of chemicals, mineral supplements and others. I will say the following - at the initial stage of the growing season, a plant needs two components - nitrogen and phosphorus, all of this is present in sufficient quantities in vermicompost, they sell such fertilizers in almost any garden store, they cost a penny, and the benefits are very noticeable, I personally use fertilizer based on vermicompost for title - "Ideal". When growing cucumber seedlings in humus-peat tablets, you do not need to fertilize; humus contains everything you need.
Read also: Ox heart tomatoes: reviews with photos and growing tips
How to plant cucumber seedlings in peat pots
If all the rules for planting and caring are followed, cucumber seedlings in peat pots will be strong and will give a good harvest in the future. The growing method itself using tablets or pots is relatively new, but already quite popular. Let's consider the entire technology in order, and also determine the pros and cons of this method.
How to plant cucumber seedlings in peat pots
Selection rules
To successfully grow cucumber seedlings in peat tablets, you should select a high-quality container of the required size - no more than 400 ml.
When purchasing, you should give preference to containers with a smooth, even surface, without fibers sticking out inside.
It is important that the walls are of medium thickness, because in pots that are too thick, plant roots will not be able to break through and fully develop. If you choose too thin, then after a while they will get wet from moisture and lose their original shape.
High-quality peat pots have a flat, stable bottom with a neatly processed and leveled top. It is easier to cover containers of the same height with glass for germinating seedlings in greenhouse conditions.
Advantages and disadvantages
Planting cucumbers in peat tablets or pots has several important advantages:
- high-quality material decomposes well in the soil and does not interfere with the further growth of seedlings in the garden;
- the possibility of safe and convenient planting of fragile sprouts;
- the plant is less susceptible to various diseases, since such containers undergo a disinfection procedure before use;
- walls made of peat and cardboard do not interfere with the access of oxygen to the roots, which has a beneficial effect on the development of both above-ground and underground parts of plants;
- the decomposed material after transplanting to the garden bed is an excellent fertilizer for cucumbers.
Despite all this, such landing containers also have several disadvantages:
- the soil dries out quickly, so it is important to monitor its condition and regularly moisten it;
- Watering should be moderate and only after the soil has dried out, because... if there is excess moisture, the sprouts may become moldy;
- when choosing thick-walled pots, the roots of the plant are not able to break through, which leads to their death;
- planting containers are intended for one-time use.
Soil preparation
In order for the plant to grow actively and produce fruit of high quality, you need to sow the seeds in soil that is very similar in mechanical and chemical composition to the soil in which cucumbers will grow in the future. This will improve the adaptation of the roots of the young plant to the new environment after transplantation.
Preparing the soil for cucumber seedlings
Cucumbers love to grow in an environment with humid air, but they are afraid to spend the night with wet leaves - this can lead to the development of fungal diseases. Prolonged hypothermia or excessive heat can also affect seedlings, triggering the development of “black leg”. This form of the disease is accompanied by the appearance of root rot at the base of the plant. Unfortunately, the affected plant can no longer be saved, so it must be dug up and destroyed immediately. It is also necessary to destroy the soil in which the affected seedlings grew - sources of the disease accumulate in it. The rest of the seedlings do not need to be removed, just treat them with fungicides.
The soil mixture for seedlings should consist in equal proportions of:
- sand;
- peat;
- humus soil.
Drainage is placed at the bottom of the container - this helps eliminate excess moisture. The role of drainage can be sunflower seed husks, expanded clay or other materials that can absorb various substances.
Preparing soil for seedlings
Growing in peat pots
Very comfortable potties
Before sowing cucumber seeds, you need to prepare a planting container, soil and seeds.
Preparing containers and soil
For full growth and development, the plant requires oxygen, so each container must be perforated with an awl. You can make several holes.
It is better to plant seeds in light, loose soil with a neutral level of acidity and alkali. Loamy or sandy loam soil with rotted manure and sawdust mixed in a 2:1:1 ratio is suitable.
You should not replace humus with peat, because The walls of the container are made of this material; as a result, the soil will be too acidic. In such soil, sprouts will develop poorly.
Before planting, the soil must be calcined in the oven or spilled with a highly concentrated solution of potassium permanganate. This will completely destroy all pathogenic bacteria and microbes. The dried soil is poured into containers, leaving 1 cm of empty space from the top.
Deadlines
The optimal time for sowing seeds is the end of February or the beginning of March. By the time of planting in open ground (mid or late May), the seedlings will have become stronger, will reach a height of 20-25 cm and will produce 2-3 pairs of leaves.
Seed preparation
For sowing, you need to use high-quality, medium-sized seeds without signs of mold, yellowness or black spots on the surface.
To select high-quality seedlings, you can carry out the procedure of soaking in a saline solution (1 tablespoon of salt per liter of water).
All seeds that have sunk to the bottom are removed, dried and dipped into a solution of a growth stimulator (Epin or Kornevin). After half an hour of soaking, the seedlings are washed with water, wrapped in a damp cloth and left for a day.
2 seeds are planted in each container to a depth of 2 cm. Then they are sprinkled with earth, lightly crushed and irrigated with a spray bottle. Peat cups with seeds are placed in a warm place on the windowsill and covered with transparent material - film or glass.
The seeds are kept in damp gauze for about 3 days; it is necessary to make a depression (2-2.5 cm) in the soil.
Place one sprout in each container, sprout up, and carefully sprinkle with soil. To avoid damaging anything, there is no need to compact the soil. The crops are watered from a sprayer and covered with glass.
Features of care
6-7 days after the emergence of sprouts, the crops require stable heat within 20-23°C, diffused light, regular irrigation from a spray bottle and ventilation at least once a day.
Cucumbers should be kept in a room where there are no drafts or sudden temperature changes.
The shelter is removed and regular watering is carried out to prevent the soil from drying out. Watering is carried out every other day from a spray bottle; grown seedlings are watered from a watering can.
Something to think about
In my garden, my cucumbers live in the open ground - in a bed 4.5 m long and 1.3 m wide. Several tall spears are dug in the center with a small-diameter metal pipe lying on them, to which I tie the whips. In the spring I install arches and tighten the covering material. When the ground underneath warms up (usually the beginning of May), I plant the seedlings in two lines in manured ditches dug at a distance of 40-45 cm from each other. And along the perimeter of the bed, along the edges, I sow radishes and some greenery, which protect the young seedlings from cold winds.
This happened last year, but May has begun, and it’s cold outside. The cucumbers at home begin to overgrow and fall over - I put up supports. And how to transport them then? After all, they will break! That’s it, I think I’ll be left without cucumbers - before it’s too late, I need to plant new seedlings. But the land is gone, but from last year there are still peat tablets in which I grew tomatoes and peppers. So I used them. Now in hindsight, I’ll note that I didn’t notice much difference in the development of cucumbers grown in soil and in tablets
.
But I noticed a number of advantages of this method: sowing seeds is now less labor-intensive and cleaner work, tablets take up less space on the windowsill, and it is more convenient to transport seedlings.
I used two types of tablets: coarse-grained and fine-grained. So, the latter are not entirely convenient: when watered, they turn into shapeless heaps, and it is very difficult to replant the plants growing in them without damaging the roots. And the coarse-grained ones are bordered with fabric, which prevents them from falling apart when they swell, so they can easily stand on any substrate (photo 1).
I return to that “dashing” season. Only in the first days of June was I able to plant my cucumbers in the garden: in pots on one side of the bed, and in tablets on the other. Care was usual: watering, ventilation, fertilizing (fermented grass and diluted chicken droppings). The soil around the roots was periodically pollinated with ash - this is both protection and fertilizer - and the plants themselves were sprayed with organomineral fertilizers. And by the time of flowering, the cucumbers were almost equal in growth.
It was not easy to tie them to the pipe due to bad weather. I had to install higher second arcs and “fence the garden”, letting the lashes fly along the ropes (photo 2). Only in the second half of July did my garden bed take on its usual appearance (photo 3). Cucumbers from tablets bore fruit no worse than their brothers grown in pots (photo 4). For longer fruiting, I constantly removed all the yellow leaves that appeared on the bushes. And, despite all the difficulties, I was not left without cucumbers.
I would like to draw attention to an important point, from my point of view. When planting seedlings in tablets in the ground, I carefully removed the fabric rims, since I thought that the delicate roots of the cucumbers could be damaged when passing through them, and thereby slow down their development
When planting seedlings in tablets in the ground, I carefully removed the fabric rims, since I thought that the delicate roots of the cucumbers could be damaged when passing through them, and thereby slow down their development.
What prompted me to this idea was an observation made when planting tomatoes: the rims were removed from some tablets, but not from others. As a result, the root system of plants without rims was more powerful (photo 5). Although tomatoes are plants that, under certain conditions, can grow their root system well (it’s worth at least hilling them up), thereby avoiding a decrease in yield. And what such hilling will lead to in cucumbers is still a big question.
Cucumbers in peat tablets
Wanting to get a harvest as quickly as possible or wait for different flowers to bloom, gardeners try to grow everything using seedlings. And garden stores meet them halfway, offering various devices that help grow excellent seedlings: containers, mini-greenhouses, etc.
Among the relatively new devices are peat tablets, suitable for many plants, especially for those for which subsequent replanting is undesirable. For example, it is much better to grow cucumbers in them than in boxes.
When the time comes to plant seedlings in a permanent place of growth, the plant is planted together with a tablet, which does not disturb the root, and it immediately begins to grow. But if you replant a cucumber from a box, it takes a long time to recover after it gets into the ground - it doesn’t like that something was done to its root.
When to sow seeds for seedlings?
Some believe that the sooner the better. And they begin to plant seeds of tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, and eggplants in the middle of winter. This makes sense if you have a greenhouse, and you can transplant the grown seedlings there in April. Otherwise, it will simply be a mockery of your plants: the seedlings will be cramped on the windowsill, there will be little light, and there will not be enough nutrients. As a result, she will grow up pale, elongated and worthless.
Another point that needs to be taken into account in determining the time for sowing seeds. If you sow in winter, then the seeds seem to feel that it is winter around, it’s cold, there is little light, and they grow very reluctantly. And if you sow seeds for seedlings in early spring, when environmental conditions are already better, then the plants form much faster and often even catch up and outstrip those crops that were sown in winter.
What are peat tablets and how are they used?
The tablet is a disc made of peat, covered on top with mesh material with a 100% natural composition. In the middle of the tablet there is a special recess for the seed. But the tablet must be soaked before use, after which it will become several times larger.
The tablet contains peat and nutrient soil - exactly those ingredients that are especially useful for cucumbers (as for many plants). By planting seeds in such tablets, you can grow excellent seedlings, which will subsequently successfully take root in the place where they will have to grow constantly.
Growing cucumber seedlings in such a device has many advantages. Among them:
- no other consumables are required, which leads to cost savings: peat tablets alone are enough; there is no need to transplant them from one container to another;
- in such tablets, seedlings take root well, and subsequent planting in the ground does not injure them;
- saving space;
- the seedlings breathe, since air flows to them unhindered;
- the plant cannot be over-watered.
Recommendations for further cultivation and care
How to plant cucumber seedlings correctly
In a peat container, the soil dries out quite quickly. In the first days, the film provides the necessary moisture, but after removing it, you need to carefully monitor the condition of the soil. It should not dry out, the soil should be regularly moistened. To water already sprouted seedlings, you can use a spray bottle or a spoon; older individuals can also be watered from a watering can.
After a few days, the soil in the pots may settle. Experts advise carefully adding the already prepared substrate, squeezing it through your fingers. It is extremely important to ensure that a hard crust does not form on the surface of the soil, which will prevent the plant from breathing. For prevention, the soil is loosened several times a week, trying not to disturb the root system.
The first feeding should be done after a couple of true leaves have unfurled. Cucumber seedlings can be fertilized with an aqueous solution of mineral fertilizer for seedlings or diluted cow dung. It is necessary to water the previously prepared soil with nutritious fertilizers, and after fertilizing, spray the cucumber seedlings with a spray bottle.
Spraying from a spray bottle
Growing cucumber seedlings in peat pots has a number of significant advantages:
- such containers are very easy to use;
- they are suitable not only for planting seeds, but also for bulbs, as well as small cuttings;
- the porous structure of the material allows for excellent air exchange inside the container;
- the pots are made exclusively from natural materials without chemicals;
- the softness of the substrate allows you to remove seedlings from the pot without injury to the plant;
- there is no need to remove the sprout from the pot, they can be moved into the soil together, because the peat structure will soften in the soil, which will allow the root system to easily grow through the walls of the pot;
- being located outside the ground, the pots seem very durable: they do not swell or fall apart from interactions with water and wet soil during watering;
- after transplanting into the ground, the components decompose and supply the plant with useful substances;
- Seeds grown in such containers quickly grow stronger.
Cucumber seeds
Planting and growing cucumber seedlings in peat tablets
- The discs should be placed in a tall container. Pour water into it. Wait until the tablets increase in size by about 5 times.
- The recesses intended for sowing grains can be enlarged, but not necessarily.
- Place the cucumber seed in the hole. If desired, you can sprinkle it with a millimeter layer of peat, but many summer residents do without it.
- The general container should be covered with film and placed in a warm place, but not near the radiator.
- The peat should not be allowed to dry out, so it should be watered as needed. As soon as the seeds germinate, the container is moved to the light.
- As soon as the time comes to transplant cucumbers into the ground, it is necessary to remove the protective material from the tablets and place them in the ground, where they will grow constantly.
How to choose tablets
It is better to choose loose tablets; in densely compressed ones, the root system may experience difficulties in developing. It is necessary to find out the acidity, it is indicated on the package, for example, for coniferous crops, acidic soil is required, for vegetables, strawberries - neutral.
When choosing a tablet, it is also necessary to take into account the time required for the development of the seedling so that it becomes ready for transplanting or picking. The smallest ones are suitable for small seeds; they are placed on the surface of the tablet without deepening them. Considering the porosity and looseness of the peat, the shoots take root well.
Medium-sized washers are suitable for medium-sized plants - impatiens, lavender, asters, pelargoniums. If you need to grow tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, large-fruited strawberries, you should choose tablets with a diameter of more than 40 mm. Many summer residents prefer cheap tablets that do not have an outer shell, but they are not worth saving on. This can complicate the process of transplanting into the ground.
Pouring water into a container with peat tablets.
Cucumber seedlings in peat pots
Some people are distrustful of various innovations, including something as unusual as discs. A more proven method is suitable for them - planting in peat pots. They can also be planted in the ground along with the plant, without touching its roots, which are still very weak.
Pots also have many advantages. For example, the fact that they are not destroyed by frequent watering. They do not contain weed seeds or harmful chemicals, and in addition, they are treated against harmful microorganisms.
But it is important not to confuse peat pots with cardboard ones when purchasing. In the latter, it is not so easy for cucumbers to grow: they will not be able to break through the walls with their roots, it is difficult to achieve normal humidity in them - it is easy to either dry out the plant or over-moisten it.
When planting a plant in a peat pot in a permanent place, you need to make several holes in it. This will make it easier for the cucumber roots to grow.
Methods of correct landing (description and diagram)
Before planting, the cucumber tablets must be placed in a deep container and filled with warm liquid, which must be topped up as it is absorbed. After a few hours, the tablets will swell and begin to look like even columns; they need to be transported into a deep, massive tray. You need to sow the seeds carefully. An ideal container for pills would be a plastic container or a cake box. It is very convenient to use specially designed trays with cassettes to ensure that the tablets are fixed. The main disadvantage of this design is its considerable cost.
At the very top of the tablets there are holes for placing seeds, and they can be expanded with a toothpick. Dry seeds or seeds treated with a growth stimulant are placed into the small holes formed. Sowing can be deepened again with a toothpick.
Peat tablets
The sprouted seeds are carefully placed in the hole and covered with a piece of peat. There is no need to press them hard, because fragile sprouts can easily be injured
The peat columns are transported onto previously prepared pallets and covered with glass. The seedlings are placed in a warm place until the first shoots appear. After germination, it moves to the windowsill, protected from drafts. Even a novice gardener can grow cucumber seedlings.
Peat columns should be sprayed once every two days with warm water. If the mesh that holds the peat is torn, then the seedlings will have to be transplanted into any suitable container, first removing the remnants of the mesh and adding fresh soil.
Before planting the plant in the garden bed, carefully remove the net from it. It cannot dissolve in the soil, which leads to inhibition of the growth of the root system
Peat cups and tablets are a convenient and currently popular method of growing cucumber seedlings. It will not be suitable for an industrial scale, but the majority of amateur gardeners consider peat containers to be an ideal environment for growing cucumbers, which should subsequently stretch out.
Important! In order for a young plant to successfully grow and develop, it requires warmth and an increased level of humidity.
