Preparing the soil for seedlings. DIY soil for seedlings

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Tilling the soil with copper sulfate in the spring for tomatoes is carried out by many vegetable growers before planting seedlings. This is done so that young seedlings are better accepted and grow faster. Sometimes plants are planted in soil that was purchased at the store. However, it is not always of high quality and people increasingly decide to prepare the soil with their own hands.

This method is more reliable, since a person independently introduces all the necessary elements into the ground. Therefore, before planting tomatoes, you need to familiarize yourself with how to prepare the soil for seedlings.

Soil requirements

In order for tomato seedlings grown at home to bear fruit well, it is necessary to use special soil for planting the seedlings. When preparing the soil for sowing tomatoes, you need to add all the necessary nutrients that plants need for normal growth and further development. Soil for tomato seedlings must meet a number of special requirements:

the soil for planting seeds and seedlings should contain the optimal amount nutrients, it should contain not only organic substances, but also other useful macroelements;
the structure of the soil should be loose so that young bushes can easily access air;
the acidity level should not be too high - the optimal indicator is 6-7 pH;
soil for tomato seedlings should not contain fungal spores and painful microbes that can kill tomato bushes;
High-quality soil should not contain industrial waste or heavy metals.

Soil components

Before cultivating the land, you need to find out what components it should consist of. There is a standard set of elements that must be used when preparing soil for tomato seedlings. Various mineral and organic elements are added to it.

Peat

This component must be included in the soil for tomato seedlings. It makes the soil looser, which allows it to better absorb and retain moisture. Peat has a fairly acidic environment, so it is often added dolomite flour, chalk and deoxidizers. It also needs to be sieved as it may contain large fibers.

Peat has excellent absorption abilities, so it is often used in greenhouses, where the most high humidity. He constantly absorbs excess moisture and stores it in its pores.

The use of peat in a greenhouse reduces the amount of pathogenic elements. This property is very important in closed ground conditions.

Preparing the soil for tomatoes using peat has a number of advantages:

the treated soil becomes lighter and begins to allow water and air to pass through better;
such fertilizer is the best nutrient component for depleted and poor sandy or loamy soils;
peat is a natural antiseptic with which you can get rid of harmful fungi and bacteria in the soil;
with its help you can increase the acidity level of the earth.

Leaf soil

This soil preparation is carried out in the fall. The leaves are used to make the soil lighter and looser before planting. They do not contain a large number of nutrients, but they are still very often used.

Leaves that have fallen in autumn are used as the basis for such soil. However, they cannot be collected from all trees. For example, oak leaves cannot be used to prepare soil for tomato seedlings, as they contain a large amount of tannins. It is also better to avoid maple and pine leaves.

Most suitable choice Birch or linden leaves are considered. First, they are laid in several layers and sprinkled with fertile soil.

Sometimes freshly cut grass is placed between the layers. Leaf soil takes quite a long time to prepare – several years. Throughout this time, the layers of leaves need to be mixed several times. If necessary, you can add garden soil, urea and fresh manure to them.

Sand

Most often it is used to loosen the soil for sowing. The best choice for this would be clean river sand without clay impurities.

Preparing the soil for tomatoes with sand allows you to:

Improve drainage. Quite often it is added to an area with loamy and clay soil, which has low air permeability and dense structure. The use of sand makes the soil structure looser.
Keep warm. Earth mixed with sand warms up much better during the day and cools down more slowly at night. This allows tomato bushes to develop faster.
Retain moisture. Liquid remains in the soil even in hot weather summer days. This allows tomatoes to develop even without regular watering.

Before preparing the soil for seedlings, the sand is disinfected. It must be rinsed with water and heated using a gas stove or oven.

Perlite

Spring preparation of the soil for planting tomatoes with perlite is carried out so that the soil absorbs more moisture. It has a reflective property that promotes the development of young bushes. Perlite is added to upper layer soil for seedlings so that it reflects ultra-violet rays and did not allow the soil to overheat under the sun. The main advantages of perlite include:

this material does not contain microorganisms and is completely clean;
its use helps strengthen the weak root system of tomatoes;
perlite does not cake and provides good breathability;
has excellent thermal insulation properties that prevent plant roots from overheating or overcooling.

Humus

Humus is applied in the fall under tomatoes. It is recommended to add only overripe humus to the soil for tomato seedlings. If you constantly use fresh, this can lead to the death of tomato seeds and their seedlings.

Quite often, slurry is used to create planting soil. To prepare it, manure is mixed with several liters of water and poured onto the seedlings and soil after watering.

Invalid components

Not all components can be added to the soil for seedlings when preparing the soil mixture at home. There are restrictions that you should be sure to read:

Organic fertilizers that are in the process of decomposition can harm the growth of seedlings. They emit a lot of heat, which gradually destroys the seeds and seedlings of tomatoes.
It is not recommended to add soil or sand and clay to the soil for tomato seedlings. It makes the soil denser and heavier, which greatly complicates the flow of air and moisture.
Do not add soil collected near busy roads to the soil mixture. It contains heavy metals that negatively affect plant health.

Disinfection

Preparing the soil for seedlings begins with its disinfection, during which all larvae and bacteria are removed from the soil. This procedure is carried out to prevent the death of bushes and obtain good harvest.

You can disinfect the soil using a solution of potassium permanganate. It is prepared from several grams of the substance mixed in a bucket of water. After this, the soil should be sprayed with the resulting mixture. In addition to potassium permanganate, you can use the steaming method.

To do this, pour 2-3 liters of hot water into the pan. Then a clean cloth is attached to the top of the container, into which the soil should be poured. Place the pot with water and soil on low heat and boil for 40 minutes. Under the influence of high temperature, all pathogenic microorganisms will die.

use the services of a special laboratory and get tested there;
use litmus paper to check;
wild herbs are planted on the site, which do not grow in soil with high acidity.

If the acidity is too high, then I treat the soil with lime or dolomite flour. About 20 grams of substance are consumed per kilogram of soil mass.

Creating a planting mixture

After preparing everyone necessary components You can start mixing the seed soil. It is not recommended to do this immediately before sowing seeds. Soil preparation is carried out several days before planting so that the soil can settle well and does not form voids after watering. There are several ways to prepare soil for seedlings.

First way

When creating a planting mixture, this recipe is used most often. The same amount of humus, sand, leaf soil and copper sulfate. All components are thoroughly mixed and added to a mixture consisting of 15 liters of water, 30 grams of sulfate, 40 grams of superphosphate and 15 grams of urea. The resulting solution is poured into the soil in which the seeds will be sown.

Second way

The turf soil is mixed with the same amount of sand and peat. If there is no peat, then you can add purchased prepared soil instead. If necessary, you can add a liter jar of wood ash and three tablespoons of superphosphate to the mixture.

Third way

We prepare a solution from two parts of turf soil, part of bottom sand and humus. Then half a liter of wood ash is added to the resulting mixture. The prepared mixture is applied under the tomatoes in the spring.

Conclusion

Not all people know how to properly prepare the ground for planting tomato seedlings. To understand this, you need to familiarize yourself with what components the soil mixture consists of and in what ways it can be prepared.

Every gardener knows that in order to grow and get a good harvest of tomatoes and peppers, it is very important to observe 3 important points: quality seeds, the right soil for seedlings and compliance with growing conditions (temperature, humidity, light).

Balanced soil for seedlings of tomatoes and peppers ensures the development of the root system and nutrition of the entire plant. Experienced vegetable growers share the secrets of preparing soil mixtures on which healthy and strong seedlings grow - the key to a rich harvest.

It is necessary to take care of the soil in which the seeds will germinate first. It should be light, loose, porous and not too acidic (preferably with a close to neutral acidity level, pH in the range of 6.5-7.0).

The soil for growing seedlings must be fertile, optimally saturated with organic matter and mineral fertilizers. For normal growth and development of seedlings, it must not only absorb moisture well, but also retain it. Such indicators can be achieved by properly preparing the substrate for seedlings.

Novice vegetable growers often make a common mistake: sow seeds directly into the soil from the garden. An ordinary soil mixture taken from the beds is highly dense, and it will be difficult for plants to develop in it. Therefore, many people are unable to grow vegetable seedlings at home and have to buy plants that are already ready for planting.

Components of the soil mixture

Humus - obtained from rotted plants or manure, it provides the soil with high nutritional and fertile properties.
Peat - helps to increase the looseness of the soil, absorbs and retains moisture well, ensuring that the plant receives the required amount.
River sand - used as a leavening agent, must be coarse, clean, without inclusions of clay. Before use, it must be washed and calcined over a fire or in the oven.
Perlite is an environmentally friendly material that can replace sand; it absorbs moisture well and imparts looseness to the soil.
Sawdust - can be used as a leavening agent instead of peat and sand, must be clean, and treated with boiling water before use.
Leaf soil is a loose, low-nutrient soil that is used in combination with other types of soil. They collect it in the forest where they grow deciduous trees. Experts do not recommend using soil collected under oak, willow, and chestnut: due to the saturation of tannins, the soil good quality It will not work for seedlings.

Unacceptable soil additives

Organic fertilizers that are in the process of decomposition cannot be used to grow seedlings of peppers and tomatoes. Fresh manure, tea leaves, and unrotted leaves begin to decompose when they fall into the ground.

The large amount of heat generated can burn the seeds. If they manage to sprout, the seedlings will still die from the high temperature. When organic components decompose in the substrate, the amount of nitrogen decreases, which is very harmful for young plants.

Sand or soil mixed with clay are not suitable for making a nutrient mixture: clay compacts and makes the soil heavier, and this is unacceptable for seedlings. In heavy soil that does not allow air and moisture to pass through, the seedlings will get sick and may even die.

You should not use soil collected near a busy highway or even on the territory of an abandoned chemical plant to prepare the substrate. Heavy metals quickly accumulate in the soil and remain there for a long time, and plants can easily absorb them.

How to prepare soil mixture with your own hands?

Ready-made substrate for growing tomato and pepper seedlings can be easily purchased in the store today. Many gardeners, fearing low-quality products, prefer to prepare the soil for seedlings with their own hands at home. Each vegetable has individual preferences and needs, so a mixture for seedlings different cultures Experienced vegetable growers advise compiling separately.

The soil must be prepared in the fall so that it freezes well in winter. It is better to take the soil from the forest or collect it from an area where garden crops have not grown for 2-3 years. Weeds and grass must be removed, and the earth mass must be sifted through a sieve until it becomes soft and loose. This contributes to the formation of a developed and powerful root system in plants.

Experienced gardeners advise taking soil from the place where nettles grow. The roots of the plant are not strong, it does not allow weeds to be in the vicinity, so this mass is suitable for vegetables.

It is recommended to begin preparing the soil for seedlings by mixing the components, which is best done not immediately before sowing the seeds, but at least a few days in advance. During this time, the soil will settle and will not form voids that are washed out during watering. Having spread polyethylene, each component is poured onto it in the required proportions.

Options for preparing substrate for pepper and tomato seedlings:

One part each of garden or turf soil, peat and river sand. Mix the mixture thoroughly and pour it well with a nutrient solution: for 10 liters of water, 25-30 grams of potassium sulfate, 30 grams of superphosphate and 10 grams of urea.
Mix garden or turf soil, humus and peat in equal proportions, add to the resulting mixture a half-liter jar of wood ash and 2 matchbox superphosphate.
Mix 2 parts garden or turf soil with 1 part humus and 1 part river sand. Add a half-liter jar of wood ash to the bucket of the mixture.

Proper composition of the soil and the use of fertilizers rich in minerals and microelements helps reduce the growing time of seedlings by almost 2 weeks. Peat-based soil contains long fibers that perform the function of deoxidizing fertilizers that have high acidity.

If the main soil itself is nutritious, you should not over-fertilize the soil mixture for tomato and pepper seedlings. The plant does not require many microelements at the initial stage of seed germination. Only with the appearance of the first true leaves does the need for them arise. Additional nutrition can be added a few weeks after germination in the form of liquid fertilizer.

Some vegetable growers practice mixing their own prepared substrate with a purchased one. From the ready-made mixtures presented in stores, you can choose the following: “Ogorodnik”, “Flora”, “Krepysh”, “Gardener”, “Gumimax”. To avoid counterfeits, it is recommended to purchase them from trusted retail outlets.

Soil disinfection

Disinfection is an important point in the process of preparing a mixture for seedlings. To obtain a good harvest and prevent the death of plants, it is necessary to remove pathogenic larvae and bacteria from the soil mass.

Various methods are used to disinfect soil:

freezing;
watering with disinfectants;
steam treatment.

After undergoing “thermotherapy,” the composition is heated, a teaspoon of urea, 2 teaspoons of superphosphate and half a glass of ash are added. After mixing, pour in the manganese solution (3 grams per bucket of water). After 2 weeks, seeds can be planted in a disinfected substrate.

One of the effective methods of disinfecting earth mass is steaming. To the bottom metal container you need to pour 1-1.5 centimeters of water, use an elastic band to secure the edges of a clean natural fabric and pour the earthen mixture into it. Place the container on low heat for 20-30 minutes until the water boils.

Under the influence of high temperature, the larvae and pathogens will die. When steaming, the soil is additionally saturated with moisture. Some gardeners practice calcining the soil in the oven, but with such treatment, nutrients may also disappear from the soil along with pathogenic microbes.

Checking the acidity level

It is necessary to check the acidity level of the soil mass: slightly acidic soils promote infection of plants by clubroot and blackleg. Among the methods for determining the acid-base balance of the earth mass, gardeners use laboratory tests, testing with a special litmus test, and determination using wild herbs, many of which select a specific type of soil.

To carry out tests in the laboratory, you need to dig holes and place the contents in a bag, sign and indicate the coordinates. Special tests sold in stores are also effective: on an acidic surface the paper turns red, on an alkaline surface it darkens. Another folk method— moisten a lump of earth with vinegar. If the acidity is low, it will make noise.

When determining the type of soil using wild herbs, it is important to know that plantain, wheatgrass, speedwell, pickleweed, and heather prefer to grow on soils with neutral or high acidity. Alkaline surfaces are chosen by pine, ash, larkspur, and European euonymus. Creeping buttercup, bird's buckwheat, white pigweed, wild strawberry, and field bindweed will grow on any soil.

For high acidity, add 15 grams of dolomite flour per 1 kilogram of soil mass. The quality of tomato and pepper seedlings will improve significantly if you fertilize the mixture with ground eggshells.

The future pepper harvest depends not only on the seedlings, but also on the land in which it was planted. This can be self-prepared soil or an option purchased at specialized gardening stores.

The problem with the latter is that such options are made from peat with the addition of excessive amounts of fertilizer. That is why seedlings “burn” in them so often. Due to this good soil It’s better to prepare it yourself for planting, without worrying about its quality. It is worth considering in more detail all the nuances of preparation.

General requirements

Excess minerals can not only inhibit the growth of seeds, but also cause the development of various kinds of diseases in them.

To grow good and strong seedlings, it is necessary that the land meets the following requirements:

Good permeability to moisture and air. To achieve this, the soil must have the required degree of looseness, be porous and not very heavy, so that good access to both oxygen and water is provided to the roots of the plant.
Balance with fertilizers and minerals. The composition of the soil, in addition to all organic substances, should contain useful microelements in an easily digestible form for plants, but in quantities not exceeding the norm.
Acidity. It should not exceed 7.0, but not be less than 6.5.

Simply put, to grow pepper seedlings, the soil must be balanced with nutrients. Any significant deviation from the norm has a negative impact on productivity. It is best to fertilize over time during the active growth phase.

Soil composition

Under no circumstances should you add clay, this will make the soil more dense and reduce its carrying capacity.

A common problem for new gardeners is planting seeds in uncultivated soil. This becomes the reason for unsuccessful attempts to grow seedlings themselves, after which they buy ready-made options for landing.

To prevent this from happening, the soil must be properly prepared, so it should consist of the following components:

Peat. It allows you to make the soil the necessary looseness and provide the necessary moisture to the plant.
Humus. Due to the content of a huge amount of minerals, it is the best remedy to increase fertility.
Leavening agents. The main type of such component is river sand. If it is used together with peat, then this mixture replaces sawdust. However, it is worth noting that before using them, they must first be treated with boiling water.
Leaf soil. A good option for loose soil. Its main disadvantage is the low content of essential minerals and nutrients.

Worth knowing: if purchased soil options are used, they must be diluted with ash and sand to reduce standard level oversaturation with minerals.

Therefore, to use this type of soil, you need to combine it with other types of soil and fertilizers. Such soil is collected in forest belts where deciduous trees grow in large numbers.

Mixing components

If it is not possible to use manure, it can be replaced with various mineral fertilizers.

The process of preparing soil for seedlings begins with mixing. To do this, a thick plastic film is spread on the ground, onto which all the components are poured in the proportions indicated below.

The standard soil for pepper seedlings should have the following composition:

Mix equal amounts of turf soil, peat and the same amount of river sand. Mix this whole mixture very well and add 30 g of superphosphate, the same amount of potassium sulfate, 10 liters of water and 10 g of urea. Stir the resulting mixture and leave to dry.

It is important to know: those who have significant experience advise making separate seedlings for each variety. This is necessary in order to more optimally select components for the individual needs of each type.

Another option is to mix humus with peat and turf soil, also in equal quantities. Stir and add a half-liter jar of ash and 35-40 g of superphosphate.

Soil disinfection

The most gentle option for soil disinfection is freezing, since when treated with high temperatures, the soil loses its beneficial properties.

In addition to the fact that seedlings can be destroyed by unbalanced soil, diseases can also destroy them. So that there won't be any left in the ground pests and pathogens, it is necessary to carry out a disinfection procedure. The following methods are used for this:

Calcination.

This option is to treat the soil with exposure high temperatures. To do this, place about 5 cm of soil on a baking sheet and then place it in the oven.

Its temperature should average 80 degrees. But you need to make sure that this indicator does not rise above 90 degrees, because in this case the soil may lose its fertile properties and it will become impossible to grow seedlings on it.

Steaming.

About one month before use, the soil needs to be steamed for several hours in a water bath. The lid of the container in which this process will take place must be well closed.

Freezing.

In the fall, you need to prepare the soil and leave it in a container outside, while closing it to protect it from precipitation. About a month before use, add it to warm room, let it warm up, then mix with the necessary ingredients. Then take it outside again and let it sit for the remaining time.

A simple way to treat the soil is to water it with potassium permanganate and wait until it dries, after which you can plant the seeds.
To disinfect the soil, you can also use the method of watering with a fungicide, for example, Fundazol.

These are the main methods, but not all. Moreover, each of them has both its supporters and its opponents, so you need to choose the disinfection method yourself.

Soil storage

If the soil, not treated with additives and fertilizers, is usually stored on a balcony or in a garage, where the temperature is winter time approximately in the region of 0, then after processing and disinfection the list of conditions increases.

Ready-to-use soil should be stored in dry areas protected from sunlight. There shouldn't be any nearby medicines or food.

The temperature should not be lower than -35C and not higher than +40C, although it is better to store at sub-zero temperatures. If these conditions are fully observed, the shelf life of such soil can be more than one year.

So, what is the best soil for seedlings, and what kind of soil should it be sown in? In the literature devoted to the problems of vegetable growing, one can find many recommendations for preparing soil for growing seedlings; their composition depends on biological characteristics crop, the period of its cultivation and on the available components.

We should start talking about seeds with the fact that they, having a supply of nutrients, do not require fertile soil at first. They need water and air the most. To use them fully, the soil for seedlings must, first of all, be loose, porous, moisture-absorbing, air- and water-permeable. Then the seeds will germinate without any problems, throw out the cotyledons and be in excellent condition for picking.

Knowing what kind of soil is needed for seedlings, you can buy a soil mixture in a specialized store or prepare it yourself by combining the available ingredients - peat, humus, compost, sawdust, sand, etc. The composition depends on the crop and the funds available to the gardener. Listening to the advice of experts, however, try to create your own recipe for the best soil for seedlings, based on your own capabilities. The only thing that everyone agrees on is that you should not use damp garden soil for sowing seeds, soil from the area where cabbage and potatoes grew, and from flower beds due to the fact that the former is unsatisfactory in structure; in other cases, infection by pests and spores is possible fungi and pathogenic microorganisms.

Speaking about which soil is best for seedlings, most gardeners recognize the following mixtures as optimal for sowing seeds:

compost, garden soil and coarse sand (1:1:1);
humus, turf soil and sand (2:1:1);
humus and sand (1:1).

These are the best soil options for seedlings, which are suitable for crops intended for picking at the stage of formation of cotyledons or 1-2 true leaves.

By the time of transplanting the seedlings, it is necessary to prepare the seedling boxes and fill them with soil. Compared to seed soil mixture, it should be more nutritious (all other qualities should also be present), especially since the plants will remain in it until planted indoors or. This does not mean that you can immediately fill the soil with minerals and forget about fertilizing. Remember that nutrients even in the most better soil enough for vegetable seedlings for no more than 2 weeks.

Composition of the correct soil for seedlings in a greenhouse and at home

If you decide to make soil for seedlings with your own hands, then you need to take care of it in advance and prepare turf soil, humus, non-acidic peat, coarse river sand, lime (chalk, dolomite flour), wood ash, mineral fertilizers, sawdust, etc. Of course , not all of this necessarily needs to be included in the mix. From these components, you can choose what you have and make a soil mixture from them in the required quantity. For example, soil for seedlings at home from soil for seedlings in a greenhouse may differ in the quantitative content of manure (at home - less, in a greenhouse - more), because inhaling its vapors is an unpleasant task. Some components are interchangeable. For example, instead of humus or compost, you can use vermicompost (vermicompost).

So, we prepare the soil for seedlings ourselves, but first, check out some of the recipes that are most popular among gardeners. The composition of soil for seedlings can be as follows:

peat, turf soil, humus (compost) and sawdust (coarse sand) (3:2:4:1);
peat, compost and sawdust (3:5:1);
humus, turf soil and coarse sand (2:2:1);
turf soil and manure humus (1:1);
peat, humus and sawdust (2:2:1);
humus and peat (2: 2);
turf soil, humus and mullein (3:6:1);
peat, humus, turf soil and mullein (5:3:1:1).

In the soil for seedlings that you prepare yourself, add an additional 2 tablespoons per bucket of each mixture. wood ash and 1 tbsp. superphosphate.

High-quality soil for seedlings: how to prepare the soil

Turf soil deserves a few words. This component is included in many mixtures of high-quality soil for seedlings, since it is nutritious (contains rotted remains of plant and animal origin), porous and retains moisture well, but is not prone to compaction and does not allow excess moisture to stagnate.

Before preparing the soil for seedlings, in order to get real turf soil, at the end of June it is necessary to cut layers of turf 20-30 cm wide and 8-12 cm thick (the length can be any) and lay them in a stack (width and height - 1.2 -1.5 m). The bottom row consists of layers laid with grass up, manure should be placed on it and another row of turf with grass down. If the soil is wet, then it is enough to sprinkle the layers with phosphate rock (5 kg/m1) and lime (2-3 kg/m3), but if it is dry, then water it with water, or even better, slurry (this will speed up decomposition). Once all the sod has been laid, lift the edges of the stack to create a depression. It will retain liquid after moistening.

In the summer of next year, shovel the soil at least 2 times, and in the fall, sift through a sieve and pour into containers or paper bags. You cannot leave it in the open air, as it will quickly lose those qualities for which so much time and effort was spent on it. If you decide to prepare the soil for seedlings as best as possible, keep in mind that turf soil with the best properties is obtained after 2 seasons.

What soil is needed for seedlings: soil composition

The soil for seedlings often includes sand. It is best if it is clean river sand that does not contain clay. It is enough to sift it to clear it of stones. Soil containing sand never forms a surface crust, which is a big plus.

When preparing soil for seedlings, refrain from using quarry sand, since it always contains clay and may contain toxic impurities such as iron or manganese salts (the brightness of the color of the raw material indicates their presence), which negatively affect plants.

In recipes for mixtures you can find manure or mullein. If you grow seedlings in an equipped greenhouse, there are no contraindications to their use. In case if we're talking about about residential premises, this issue must be approached with knowledge of the matter.

Manure happens:

fresh, in which the straw is clearly visible;
half-rotted, the straw is still visible in it, but it has already darkened and is easily torn;
rotted, representing an almost homogeneous (homogeneous) mass;
in the form of manure humus. This is the most the best option, since in such manure the nutrients are in the form that is most accessible to plants.

What kind of manure for soil is better when growing seedlings in a residential area? At home, only manure humus can be used as a component of the soil mixture, which is good not only from the point of view of hygiene and aesthetics, but is also beneficial for plants.

When preparing soil for seedlings, compost is also used, which still needs to be properly prepared, since the pile in the corner of the plot, consisting of food waste and weeds, has absolutely nothing in common with a real compost pile. If heating is not provided during its preparation, then plant debris and everything else that is usually put into compost will simply slowly decompose, losing nutrients and accumulating harmful microorganisms. For seedlings, only mature compost obtained through the process of aerobic decomposition (that is, in the presence of oxygen) and accompanied by heating is suitable.

Preparing the soil for planting seedlings: preparing the soil

When preparing soil for seedlings, in order to obtain crumbly dark-colored soil as a result of composting, you must follow some rules:

In addition to organic substances that quickly decompose (manure, plant residues, etc.), the necessary components of compost are slowly decomposing sawdust, shavings, chopped stems, leaves and garden soil, and not in an arbitrary, but in a strictly defined ratio -1: 1: 0 ,5.
Place compostable materials in layers, the last of which should be soil. If this requirement is not met, plant residues are compressed and begin to prevent oxygen from penetrating deep into the stack.
When laying compost, moisten the layers and sprinkle them with lime. The ripening of compost is accelerated by watering with slurry, but waterlogging and drying out are equally harmful to the compost.
To ensure heating to 55-70° C, the compost pile must have sufficient big sizes- 1.5 x 1.5 x 1.5 m.

If the above conditions are met, the compost will mature in 5-7 months, during which it must be shoveled several times so that the process proceeds evenly, and in winter the pile must be covered with dry leaves. When the compost is ready, sift it. Use everything that is not sufficiently decomposed to lay the next pile, and add the fine fraction to the seedling soil mixture.

If you want to further verify whether the compost is ready for use, carry out the following test: prepare shallow containers, fill one of them with sand and the other with compost, moisten them and evenly distribute the watercress seeds over the surface, then place them in transparent plastic bags . When the seeds begin to germinate, compare their number and root length in both containers. If the result of seeds germinated on compost is worse, this means that it is not yet ripe.

The composition of the soil for sowing seeds for seedlings may also include peat. It is usually sold in specialized stores, but you can also check its quality. Do the same test as for compost, but replace the watercress with radishes.

If for some reason you have not prepared soil for seedlings, you can buy soil at the store. Such mixtures can be wet or dry. The latter are more profitable, since you yourself are able to add to them required amount water to get 6 liters of soil from a dry briquette weighing 750 g. There are mixtures specifically designed for individual crops - sweet peppers, eggplants, tomatoes (the difference is in the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium), and universal ones. You can sow seeds in them and pick up seedlings. However, gardeners, especially beginners, should be careful. IN Lately In the literature there are unflattering reviews about the quality of purchased soil mixtures. They write that often a freshly opened bag smells of mold or ammonia (the first means that the pound is contaminated with mushrooms, and the second means that it contains a large amount of undecomposed organic matter), that often the soil contains harmful microorganisms, or is even depleted soil, thrown out of greenhouses. In this regard, it is recommended to buy soil from famous manufacturers with a good reputation.

Ideal soil for sowing seeds for seedlings

Regardless of what kind of soil you are going to use, there are general requirements that must be taken into account:

The non-toxicity of the components of the soil mixture is the main condition, and do not be fooled by the black color of the soil (in our minds there is a strong connection between black soil and fertility).
The components of an ideal soil for seedlings should be free from pathogenic microorganisms and fungi, since seedlings are highly sensitive to them, which is why seedlings often suffer from blackleg, root rot, etc. In this regard, soil from the garden or vegetable garden poses the greatest danger. that has not undergone the necessary pre-treatment (for example, steaming in a water bath), and compost obtained without heating.
If the soil for seedlings contains materials organic origin, they should not quickly decompose, significantly raising the soil temperature, because at 30 ° C the roots of the seedlings die off. With a small volume of soil, this is, of course, unlikely, but it is impossible not to provide for the active absorption of nitrogen that occurs during this process.
It is equally important that the components form a mixture that will not harden and form a soil crust, which is typical when there is clay in it.
A rule that has no exceptions states that if the main component of the soil for seedlings vegetable crops undergone sterilization, it is mandatory to introduce a bioadditive with beneficial microflora into it, in particular vermicompost (a processed product organic waste California red worm). Of course, it is more common to add manure or bird droppings, but believe me, this will not work for seedlings best choice. Dietary supplements are distinguished by the fact that they are not contaminated with pathogens, fungal spores, helminth eggs and harmful insects, and also do not contain weed seeds. In addition, their potential as fertilizers is immeasurably higher. For example, vermicompost is 10-20 times more effective than manure. Don't confuse the amount of nutrients in the right soil for seedlings with a complex of beneficial microorganisms. Dietary supplements act indirectly. They do not increase the nutritional value of the pound, but increase the fertility of the soil. When adding them to the seedling soil mixture, you enrich it with beneficial microflora - an antagonist of mortise microorganisms, which means you take care of the health of seedlings and seedlings.

Tilling the soil before planting seedlings with your own hands

If you are going to prepare seedlings for your own use, then mixtures based on various types soils (turf, compost, leaf, etc.) are quite suitable. When growing seedlings for sale, when the number of boxes is not 10, but several hundred, when there is a need to rearrange or rotate the boxes, the weight of the soil mixture turns into tens of kilograms, and you want to find a recipe for such a mixture so that it is as light as possible and does not harm health gardener, but at the same time retained all the qualities necessary for plants. One such option is a substrate based on sawdust (it was tested more than 10 years ago and received quite a high rating). It is advisable to use rotted sawdust, but if you cannot find any, you can use fresh sawdust, but they will have to be pre-treated in a special way.

When cultivating soil for seedlings, dissolve 200 g of this in 10 liters of water. ammonium nitrate, pour sawdust into it (this amount is enough for 3 buckets), mix, cover the container with black plastic film and leave at a temperature of at least 20° C (especially good if you have a greenhouse). Sawdust is considered ready for use when it darkens and loses its specific odor.

The process described above is called fermentation. Before preparing soil for seedlings, it must be done, because if you use fresh sawdust, the nitrogen that will be added to the mixture as part of nitrogen or complex fertilizer, will be spent on sorting out the sawdust. Consequently, your plants will be left without the necessary nutrition, which will naturally affect the quality of the seedlings.

When the season for growing seedlings approaches, combine the sawdust substrate with mineral fertilizers - superphosphate and potassium sulfate (15 g per bucket), scatter it into boxes in a layer of about 6 cm, add soil mixture for seedlings on top, then pour in biofertilizer and cover with plastic wrap. If you strictly followed all the recommendations on how to make soil for seedlings, after 1 week the substrate will be ready for use. The seedlings feel great in it and develop well, and the boxes weigh almost nothing.

Preparing soil for seedlings: how to make high-quality soil

You can also make soil for seedlings based on sawdust, as described below.

Combine fermented sawdust with coarse grain river sand in a ratio of 3: 1. Add 30 g of lime and 15 g of complex fertilizer (for example, nitroammophosphate) to 1 bucket of the mixture. Mineral fertilizer will successfully replace a 10% aqueous solution of mullein - fresh manure cattle.

The next stage of the operation, called “Preparing soil for seedlings with our own hands,” is filling planting boxes or individual containers with the resulting soil mixture. Don’t forget to add drainage to the bottom, the role of which will be played well by crushed eggshell, small expanded clay or perlite (volcanic glass in the form of small balls), if possible. Next comes watering. When preparing the soil for seedlings, it is necessary to adhere to a certain technique. Do not pour in a large amount of water at once. Do this gradually, in small portions, making sure to mix the soil with your hands so that the moisture is evenly distributed throughout the entire volume. There should be no dry areas left, since then moisture will flow around them, and watering will not be uniform, as a result of which the plants will suffer. In addition, it is more convenient to sow seeds and plant seedlings in a wet pound.

The optimal moisture content of the mixture when preparing the soil for seedlings is 75-85%. To check if you did everything correctly, take a handful of soil and squeeze. Is water not dripping? Then open your palm.
Didn't the lump of soil crumble or crack? This means you did everything as it should.

After tilling the soil before planting the seedlings, level the surface of the soil and be sure to check the corners to ensure they are also filled. Remove excess soil by running a regular slat along the sides of the box. To allow the soil to settle a little, carefully moisten it. Now everything is ready to sow the seeds.

How to prepare the soil for seedlings if you plan to grow seedlings of different varieties of the same crop? In this case, care must be taken not to confuse them. The following method is often used: the boxes are numbered, and the numbers are applied to all their sides oil paint, which allows, without disturbing the plants and without turning the container, to know exactly what type of crop is sown or picked in it, since at the same time a diary is kept in which it is recorded what is in which box. In addition, during the season, it records data on when sowing began, when picking took place, which varieties turned out to be the best and which did not live up to expectations, etc. These records can be used in subsequent years, which is very convenient. This technique is recommended primarily for those who grow a large number of seedlings for their further sale.

Why is it important to know how to make soil for seedlings?

It may seem unnecessary to a novice gardener to attach such importance to soil mixtures for seedlings. Why is this so important to know? It would seem that what could be simpler than pouring garden soil into boxes (you can also add fertilizer to it), after all, vegetables grow in it, and often not at all bad! Isn’t this unnecessary fuss, isn’t this a far-fetched problem designed to create additional difficulties and discourage the desire to garden? Everything said above should have convinced you that growing seedlings is a technology that must be followed if you want to get not just what will work, but plants that will give bountiful harvest. Therefore, the formation of a soil mixture is far from being an idle matter, but rather a pressing issue.

Regarding garden land, the following must be said. Of course, you can increase the fertility of such soil by fertilizing it appropriately, but you cannot change its physical characteristics, and this is what is most important when growing seedlings. Typically, garden soil is poor in humus and in most cases does not have a water-resistant structure, which looks in the following way: when watering, water is not absorbed immediately, but remains on the surface for some time and only then slowly penetrates inside. As a result, an unsatisfactory air regime in the soil occurs; a crust forms on its surface, which further impedes soil aeration. In addition, garden soil is usually contaminated with pathogens, fungal spores and contains weed seeds. And if we add to the above that the seedlings are grown in a residential area, then what plants can withstand the onslaught of so many negative factors!

All of the above together leads to the conclusion that it is undesirable to use garden land for the purpose of obtaining high-quality seedlings.

How to prepare the soil for seedlings: healing the soil

Since circumstances may be different, and therefore sometimes you have to use garden soil, you should know about some ways to improve its health.

The negative side of sterilizing soil when preparing soil for seedlings is that along with pathogenic microorganisms, beneficial microorganisms that help grow plants are also destroyed. Moreover, the soil does not remain completely clean for long after this, since, for example, fungal spores can be in the air. To reduce the risk of this happening, transfer the treated soil into bags and tie them tightly, and when the time comes to scatter it into boxes and moisten it, add vermicompost or supercompost.

Reading time: 6 minutes

Every gardener strives for a large and healthy harvest at his or her summer cottage. Growing seedlings is the most basic stage, which must be carried out according to all the rules to obtain a rich harvest.

In order to approach planting seedlings, it is necessary to comply with all requirements during soil selection, watering, disinfection of the soil mixture, and the like.

Primary requirements

When choosing soil for planting seedlings, it is important to pay attention to the crop that will be planted in this soil.

The process of soil preparation.

Different seedlings prefer soil with different levels of minerals and moisture. When choosing soil for sowing seeds at home, the gardener must comply with the basic requirements:

The soil for sowing seeds should not have a too dense structure;
The soil for sowing should have moderate moisture and looseness;
The acidity of the soil must correspond to the crop that is sown for seedlings;
The soil should not be oversaturated mineral supplements and fertilizing;
The presence of foreign elements in the soil for seedlings, such as stones, roots, sand mixtures and others;
The prepared soil must be completely mixed and homogeneous in structure;
Before planting seeds, it is necessary to disinfect the soil using special solutions from bacteria and harmful insects;
Every self-respecting gardener should calcinate the soil at home. Calcination can be carried out in microwave oven, in the oven or large iron container on an electric or gas stove;
Soil sampling must be carried out away from roadways and industrial enterprises, to avoid oil products and heavy salts getting into the soil.

We prepare the ground according to all the rules

To prepare the soil for planting, you need not only soil dug in a place where there are no harmful impurities and elements, but also mixtures for feeding it. Mixtures for obtaining fertile soil include: peat mixture, humus.

Where is it better to take land - in the forest or in the garden?

When preparing a mixture for growing vegetable or flower seedlings, you can use soil collected from forest areas. This forest soil should make up the bulk of the soil mixture for planting. To obtain good and strong seedlings, you should dig the soil in places with a deciduous or turf base.

Watering the soil before planting seeds.

When choosing forest soil, you should pay attention to the trees under which the soil will be collected. Trees should not have dry trunks and be susceptible to disease. The most fertile soil is considered to be taken from under oak, willow and other species that do not release large amounts of acid into the soil.

When collecting soil from gardens and summer cottages it is necessary to follow the rules that will protect the seedlings from death after planting and germination.

Rules:

Disinfect garden soil for sowing.
Observe crop rotation, that is, do not use soil after certain vegetable and fruit crops.

Composition of soil mixture for seedlings

The composition of the soil mixture for planting seeds must be mixed and meet all standards to obtain a high-quality result after the crop ripens. When preparing a soil mixture, the soil is of two types in its composition: organic and inorganic. When using soil without organic matter, you can add the following fertilizers to it to increase soil fertility:

processed peat mixture;
ash from the furnace to enrich the soil with microelements and reduce high acidity in the soil;
humus is necessary only for those plants that are not susceptible to diseases that cause black stem;
twisted moss;
sawdust from different breeds wood that does not allow the soil to accumulate high moisture.

All these additives have organic structure, which quickly rots and gives the soil the necessary elements and fertilizer for better seed growth.

Substrate with the addition of vermiculite.

The soil for planting seeds can also be mixed with elements that are not of organic origin:

agroperlite - necessary to control the moisture content of the soil mixture for planting;
expanded clay;
sand mixtures to improve air flow into the soil for seedlings.

Technology for preparing a high-quality mixture

The main nuances in order to prepare high-quality soil for planting the seed of a particular crop include:

The time of year in which land is harvested. It is recommended to prepare, collect and mix all components for the soil mixture in the autumn. Since by the time sowing begins in the seedling container, all the collected components will ripen and mix with each other, forming a fertile soil mixture.
Storage of pre-prepared soil mixture. The soil should be stored in closed containers for better interaction of substances with each other. Plastic buckets can be used as containers, plastic bags, large plastic containers.
Avoid getting clay into the growing soil.

Soil at home

Preparing a substrate for growing seedlings of various crops requires a lot of attention and concentration. A well-collected soil mixture will allow you to grow an excellent harvest with strong seedlings.

How to cook: step-by-step instructions

Properly prepared seedling soil should include many components, the preparation of which should be carried out in advance of planting the seeds in the ground.

Various types soil mixtures.

All components for the soil must be collected at the beginning of the autumn period. To prepare high-quality soil for planting, every gardener must follow the instructions.

Checking the necessary soil and other components. All components should not be wet and should have their own containers.
Prepare a place and container for mixing pre-prepared components. A large basin, trough, box, etc. can be used as a container.
Prepare equipment for planting (rakes, scales, gloves to protect hands, watering container).
Pour the ingredients in equal parts into a mixing container and mix.
Pour the mixed prepared soil mixture into containers or bags for subsequent storage with sufficient ventilation.
Place the finished mixture, poured into storage containers, in a room with a low temperature.

When preparing the soil, you should not add components that have a mineral structure. All these substances are added when planting seeds in already prepared soil.

Disinfection of the soil substrate for planting seeds is an important point during the preparation of the soil mixture for the period of planting seeds in the ground. Disinfection of the land should be carried out several days before planting. This method disinfection cleanses the soil from unnecessary exposure to pests and other microorganisms that entered the soil during its collection and preparation.

Soil ready for sowing seeds.

When using the method of freezing the soil, which is carried out by exposing containers with soil to frost, it is necessary, after completing the procedure, to bring the soil into a warm room and spray it with an aqueous solution. After spraying, leave it to soak on oilcloth material for a week to avoid subsequent late blight infection.

During the steaming procedure, the soil in which the container is disinfected should be covered with a lid.
When calcining the soil on an open stove fire, it is necessary to maintain optimal temperature.
Depending on the above methods, etching of the soil substrate is carried out with a not very concentrated solution of manganese, which is prepared with cold or hot water.
The solution can be prepared by eye until pinkish water forms.

Useful video

Many gardeners who use soil prepared for seedlings independently and using all technologies and rules consider it the best and highest quality for growing fruit and vegetable crops. In order to prepare the soil, you need to know the basic rules, methods, time of soil preparation and methods of purification from harmful impurities and microelements.

This article will be useful not only for a novice gardener, but also for a person who is accustomed to growing seedlings on his windowsill in the winter and spring. Using the tips presented in the article, you will find many useful information, which will help grow a strong and fruitful harvest.

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