Nurseries play a crucial role in plant growth by utilizing cost-effective and scientific methods to raise young plants before transplanting. These methods not only increase the success rate of grafts and cuttings but also ensure the vitality of seedlings, reduce transplant shock, and minimize manual labor.
Setting Up a Nursery
To start a nursery, high-quality seeds are essential. Seeds should be carefully harvested from fully mature fruits or vegetables without causing any damage. The next step is to sow them in a sterile growing medium, such as coco-peat or sawdust, in either seedbeds or germination trays—to allow for the proper development of the plant’s roots.
When seedlings are ready for transplanting, they should be prepared along with the soil by thorough watering. The best time for transplanting is late in the afternoon or on an overcast day to diminish the stress caused by the process. For seedlings that are in peat pots, it’s important to remove the exposed tops to prevent them from drawing moisture away from the root ball.
Advantages of Tray Planters
The advent of tray planters has revolutionized nursery work. These machines offer a more convenient approach compared to traditional methods by automating everything from mixing the substrate to seeding and covering. Plug seedlings are advantageous as they conserve energy and resources, and they work well with dry seeds for direct and concentrated seeding.
It’s generally accepted that sowing seeds in plug trays results in healthier seedlings, which in turn eases and improves the transplanting process. Seedlings should be provided with moisture, light, warmth, and water on a consistent basis, and they should never be allowed to dry out. A fine soil that can retain moisture and support growth should be used, and when transplanting seedlings, the material around them should be loosened gently to avoid damage.
Transplanting Seedlings and Germination
Seedlings affected by pests or diseases often exhibit delayed maturity and stunted growth.
The ideal period for seedlings to stay in nursery trays is as follows:
- Tomato Seedlings: 4 – 6 weeks
- Hot Pepper Seedlings: 5 – 8 weeks
- Sweet Pepper Seedlings: 4 – 6 weeks
- Cucumber Seedlings: 3 – 5 weeks
- Watermelon Seedlings: 4 – 7 weeks
For proper growth, a seedling relies on the food stored within the seed until it’s capable of photosynthesis on its own. The best time to transplant seedlings is when they have matured sufficiently and when the external conditions are favorable, often when the seedling has developed its second set of true leaves.
When using a humidity dome, it should be kept on the tray until the first signs of germination, such as sprouting. After this point, the dome can be removed, and the trays should be placed under a light source with adequate air circulation to prevent the seedlings from getting leggy. Seedlings are typically ready to be transplanted into the garden at six to eight weeks, following a period of hardening off.
Lastly, the size of the tray can dictate how long the seedlings can stay in it. For instance, seedlings in a 12-cell flat can remain for two to three weeks longer than those in a 128 flat due to more available space.