Peat tablets for seedlings, how to use - experience

How are they comfortable? First, take up little space. Secondly, it is a fairly clean way to grow seedlings at home. Thirdly, they are not stressed when picking.

Peat tablet is a ready-to-peat soil substrate with an ideal content of organic-mineral additives, covered on top with a thin mesh-shell that does not prevent the growth of roots outside, the penetration of moisture, and air into it.

What are good peat tablets? I repeat, but this is the most important plus of their use. Good for the fact that plants under transplant are not under stress. You will dive the seedlings either in a more spacious container, or directly into the open ground, greenhouse, without removing the plant from the swollen peat tablet. This is especially important for plants with fragile root systems. For example, they are ideal for growing seedlings of peppers, eggplants, and seed potatoes.

Do not think that the thin shell of the peat tablet when planted dissolves in the ground. No, in the fall, removing plants from the site, you will see that the mesh-shell has remained at the root. But this should not alarm you. I have already said that the roots freely penetrate the shell, it does not interfere with the further development of the plant.

Peat tablets, how to use

So, what to do with peat tablets? When I used them for the first time, I placed the dry peat tablets inside the plastic container( the lid of the cake packaging).But there was no one to suggest that I chose a too shallow cover. Of course, the plants grew, but the top of the peat tablets( shell, substrate) dried up very quickly - it was unlikely that the seedlings were comfortable, although I tried to water them more often. This is very clearly seen in the lower picture - the leaves of eggplants were slightly twisted all the time.

Peat tablets with eggplant seedlings

Peat tablets with shoots of lobelia

In the same year I sowed very small flower seeds of lobelia in peat tablets, which I placed in spacious cells under cupcakes. I also had to tinker with them - they dried up very quickly.

So, taking into account my sad experience, choose a container for placing peat tablets with a height of at least 10 cm. And they themselves should be in cells whose diameter is slightly larger, or that they are pressed more closely to each other.

You can lay out peat tablets randomly, trying to keep empty spaces as small as possible. They will increase their volume in height, and their diameter practically does not increase. Then pour them at room temperature. Water peat tablets absorb quickly enough. As soon as everyone is swollen, they have acquired the same height( 7-8 cm) - the excess moisture must be drained. Now everything is ready for planting seeds.

A cassette for peat tablets

I liked the result of growing seedlings in peat tablets so much( although I made some mistakes) that I bought special cassettes for the next season. Now a large selection of cassettes for growing seedlings. There are cartridges with pallets, there are pallets and covers - these are called mini-greenhouses.

If peat tablets can be used only once, then the cassettes with careful application - a few seasons. What else are good tapes? The fact that the substrate with a seed or a plant is surrounded on all sides by the walls of the cell and, therefore, does not dry so quickly - it is possible to water less frequently.

The composition of peat tablets already includes the necessary nutrients for plant development in the first stage. But I add a drop of growth stimulant to the water for the first watering - HB -101( 1 drop per 1 liter of water).

How to plant

seeds in peat tablets I plant previously wetted vegetable seeds. Experimentally concluded that this saves seed material. First of all, almost all the seeds sprout, because I don’t plant uncurrent seeds. Secondly, one peat tablet - one seed - and this means I will not thin out any more.

I place the seeds of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and eggplants inside the recess in the center of the peat tablet, press it lightly with a finger so that it plunges to a depth of 1-1.5 cm. You can sprinkle it on top with soil or vermiculite. Celery seeds, petunias must remain on the surface, they do not need to be filled up, otherwise they will not germinate.

Cassette - peat tablets are sprinkled on top with primer.

A container with freshly sown seeds must be covered with a transparent film or a lid to create the desired microclimate inside and put in a warm place. As soon as shoots appear, the film or cover is removed.

Further care of the seedlings does not differ from the classic. About this is written in sufficient detail here: When to sow seeds of tomatoes, peppers, eggplants for seedlings.

Peat tablets - reviews