Contents of the article:
The method of obtaining seedlings of vegetable crops under a film cover is often used by gardeners who do not have the opportunity to do this in a greenhouse or in apartment conditions. Most often it is used for tomatoes.
Advantages of the method of growing seedlings under temporary shelter
The main advantage of this method of producing seedlings is that the “film” plants have a more stable immunity against adverse climatic conditions compared to greenhouse seedlings. They tolerate transplant and lower air temperature more easily.
In addition, the film cover allows you to sow seeds in the ground for seedlings almost a month earlier. So, for temporary shelters, seeds can be sown as early as the second decade of March, and seedlings will be ready for transplanting to a permanent place already on the 20th of May. Accordingly, it will bring the harvest time closer.
Growing seedlings in the open ground under the film can be divided into three stages:
- selection of crop varieties and site preparation;
- placement landings;
- shelter construction.
Selection of seeds and preparation of a site for a hotbed of
For growing seedlings under film cover, it is recommended to use zoned early and middle-ripening varieties of garden crops. As for tomatoes, there are varieties of the Far North, Sanka, Siberian early, Ogorodnik.
Prepare a plot for a film nursery in advance: dig in the fall, add organic matter and mineral fertilizers. In the spring, dig a shallow trench( up to 20 cm) across the width of the film.
Experienced gardeners recommend putting a layer of straw or sawdust insulation on the bottom of the trench - they will protect the seedlings from cold and not yet warmed earth. On top of the sawdust to apply a layer of soil that has been dug.
Placement of landings and shelter construction
It is better to sow seeds for seedlings by a belt method, alternating narrow aisles with wide ones. It should be borne in mind that one sheet of film should be enough to cover 2 rows with narrow rows.
Shelter Construction
In order to make a film cover, you will need:
- Film - it is better to use polyethylene with a thickness of at least 100 microns and a width of up to 160 cm.
- Supports - special arcs made of wire from 160 to 180 in. 17. in-s.: Should I believe in the signs and superstitions associated with begonia
Arcs should be placed through each meter across the planted row and stretch the film from above. The edges of the film to fix( powder) earth on all sides. If a strong wind capable of tearing off the shelter is not a frequent visitor in the region, one can not sprinkle one side of the film, but simply press it with something heavy. This will facilitate the process of airing.
With the expected frosts, the hotbed should be covered on top with a second film layer.
Shelter can be removed when the weather is stable and warm, but before that the hotbed of days 5 should be well ventilated. And if summer is predicted to be cold, vegetables are grown under the film, occasionally airing a mini-greenhouse.
