Pros and cons of growing seedlings in cassettes

Do land owners need cassettes for seedlings, or is this a new momentary trend? For centuries, seeds were planted in wooden boxes filled with soil, bulky structures were arranged on a narrow window sill. To prevent the sprouts from tilting to one side, the heavy container with earth was removed and turned with the other side towards the light. By the time of planting on the garden bed, the roots of the plants were intertwined, they were injured during separation, and many seedlings died. Then came the time of milk cartons, plastic bags, tin cans. It was inconvenient for both people and plants. Remember that we live in the 21st century, and trade offers summer residents a convenient container in which the seedlings feel great.

What are the seedling containers?

Manufacturers offer a variety of cassettes for seedlings of tomatoes, peppers, cabbage. You can buy cheap containers that will last for 2-3 seasons, or choose more expensive products made of durable plastic. Pay once, but the problem of crockery for planting will be solved for years to come. If you want to take care of green pets not a lot of trouble - get a model equipped with a tray and a transparent lid. Overdo it with watering - the moisture that flows out will not flood the windowsill, and in cool weather you can take the plants out into the sun, covering them from the cold.

Advice

To make it easier to remove the seedlings from the container, try to get containers with a rising bottom or a special insert.

For plants that do not tolerate transplanting well, peat containers are perfect. You will have to buy them every season, but zucchini, strawberries and other capricious plants will not even feel that they have been moved to the garden. Just dig a hole and bury peat pot, after a month it will completely mix with the surrounding soil. The hole must be deep enough so that the edges do not look out of the ground, otherwise all the moisture will not get to the plant, but will evaporate through the porous material into the atmosphere. The cost of buying a container will pay off with 100% survival of the seedlings and an excellent harvest.

Pumpkin, celery and cabbage have different root mass volumes. In small cells, seedlings will be cramped, it will begin to develop poorly. Too large containers will give room, but will take up a lot of space and will require extra costs for the purchase of soil. In order to find a suitable “apartment” for each culture, the industry produces models of different sizes: from 35x35x35 mm to 68x68x78 mm. If there are more cells in the block than you need, you can cut off the excess part.

Prices for seedling cassettes depend on the material, the number of cells, the availability of additional devices. Simple blocks for 10 compartments for cabbage, pepper and eggplant can be purchased from 7 rubles per piece. Structures for 30-40 plants with a pallet cost about 70 rubles. There are also models that are sold several times more expensive. Many suppliers cut prices depending on the purchase volume. Think, maybe it makes sense to make a collective order from the inhabitants of the entire suburban village.

Benefits of cassettes

Thrifty housewives may decide that it is unprofitable to buy special containers, it is better to use available materials for free: plastic bottles, cans.

What is the advantage of cassettes for seedlings, what does the buyer pay for?

• Ease of use: can be installed on a narrow window sill, easily rotated and carried.
• Less land and seeds are required: you purchase containers as large as the plants need and plant the seeds in individual cells.
• The seedlings do not need to be dived.
• The roots do not intertwine with each other and are not damaged during transplantation.
• Special materials are used that are most comfortable for the seedlings.

Don't forget about hygiene and disinfection. Wooden crates cannot be cleaned well; after the first year of use, they become unsightly. After planting the plants in the ground, the cassettes are easy to wash and treat with a disinfectant. In this form, they can be stored in an apartment: the vessels are clean, compactly folded, and do not take up much space.

Growing seedlings in cassettes has its drawbacks. It is not always possible to find cells of the required volume, and the roots may be cramped. In one block, you cannot grow crops that require different conditions for development. But this problem can be easily solved if you cut off the cells with peppers, separate them from the cabbage seedlings, and rearrange them to another place.

How to choose a container for seedlings?

It is better to purchase cassettes in specialized stores, where certified goods are sold, and sellers will give the necessary advice. Containers made of low-quality material are often sold on the market, even if the seedlings grow well, the containers can quickly become unusable. Craftsmen make comfortable designs from the wrong materials. In cardboard boxes, seedlings stop growing, the owners water them with all kinds of compounds - it's useless! And the reason is that the material is treated with drugs that inhibit the development of plants. The metal walls of the cans are heated in the sun and burn the delicate roots. In containers made of translucent material, a clod of earth is overgrown with moss on all sides.

When choosing cassettes for seedlings, pay attention to the following nuances.

1. Wall thickness: thin containers will not last long, too hard can crack.
2. Material homogeneity: high-quality plastic should not contain any inclusions.
3. Good drainage holes through which excess moisture should leave, and not fall out the soil.

Choose the color of the cassettes not in harmony with the interior, but depending on the conditions where the seedlings will develop. If little light enters the window, purchase white or very light containers that do not absorb the sun's rays. If there is enough light, but the room is cool, and soon the heating should be turned off, the dark walls will absorb heat from the sun and warm the earth.

Before going to the store, consider how many specimens of each crop you will grow. Depending on the length and density of the roots, each species needs its own volume.

Approximate sizes for seedlings:

• Zucchini and melons - 68x68x78 mm.
• Tomatoes and peppers - 65x65x65 mm.
• Cabbage, eggplant, cucumber - 55x55x65 mm.
• Celery, lettuce, leeks - 35x35x35 mm.

How to grow seedlings correctly?

Even the best mini greenhouse will give poor results if misused. First of all, good soil is important: buy soil in the store that is specially prepared for specific crops: cabbage, tomatoes, peppers. Usually all the necessary nutrients are present there. Is there enough fertilizer before planting seedlings in the garden or the plants need to be additionally fed, it is written in the instructions.

Soak the seeds and wait for a small root to hatch. Some plants require a special approach: stratification, drying - be sure to look at the instructions on the bag with the seed. The day before planting, cover the soil with water or nutrient solution and cover with foil to soak the soil. Place the nailed grains in the ground, sprinkle with earth to the desired planting depth, carefully moisten and cover with foil or a special cover. Until shoots appear, keep the cells at a temperature of at least 20⁰, open for a few minutes every day to ventilate.

Advice

If the plant begins to hurt in any cell, check how the drainage hole works.If it is missing or clogged, the liquid will stagnate and the roots will start to rot.

You can use seedling cassettes and for growing seedlings hydroponically. Fill them with a special substrate. Moisten or spill with nutrient solution as recommended by the manufacturer, add cabbage or tomato seeds, and cover with plastic. Take care of normal seedlings, only take more seriously the humidity around the plants, this value should be 85%.

Output

For growing seedlings, it is best to use special cassettes. High-quality products are made from plant-friendly material that does not inhibit development and protects the roots from burns. The designs are compact, easy to rotate and carry. Individual cells do not allow roots to intertwine, they are not damaged during transplantation. Species that are very painful to transplant are best grown in peat blocks.

For each crop, select a model with the appropriate cell volume. The pallet and lid make plant maintenance easier. Some types of soil contain enough nutrients for the entire period of growing seedlings, others are quickly depleted, the plants need to be fed. If the seedlings do not develop well, check that you have chosen the right container and how you care for green pets.