Is it possible to grow cucumber seedlings in peat tablets?

The spring season is full of worries and hassle of planting seedlings, from peppers and tomatoes to flowers, we are all ready to grow through seedlings, just to speed up the time of harvest and flowering. Now there are a lot of different containers, mini-greenhouses, all kinds of containers and devices for seedlings.

Peat tablets are one of the convenient things for growing seedlings of crops that do not like transplanting. For example, growing cucumbers in peat tablets is more correct than growing in boxes. By planting cucumber seedlings directly into the ground along with a tablet, you preserve the roots and the plants immediately begin to grow. When transplanted from boxes, the roots are damaged. Cucumbers do not like very much when they touch their roots and then recover for a long time in the garden.

What are peat tablets and how are they used?

This is compressed peat, which has been given the appearance of a disk. Such a tablet is always covered with a natural mesh. The middle of each disc has a small hole. It is needed in order to put the seed of the plant inside. Before planting cucumbers in peat tablets, the latter should be soaked. From this procedure, they increase approximately fivefold.

The ideal mixture of peat and soil makes it possible to ensure that the seedlings of courgettes and cucumbers in peat tablets develop well. And then they easily take root in a permanent place.

The advantages of planting cucumbers in peat tablets:

1. Money is saved on consumables, except for peat tablets, nothing is needed. You do not need to transplant them from one large dish into separate larger containers.
2. Seedlings of cucumbers in peat tablets take root well.
3. Plants are not injured when they are planted in the garden.
4. Planting cucumbers in peat tablets allows you to effectively use the area occupied by seedlings.
5. These discs have a high air permeability, so the seedlings breathe well.
6. Peat tablets provide good protection against waterlogging.

Planting and growing seedlings of cucumbers in peat tablets

• A pallet with high walls serves as a general container; you need to put peat discs in it and fill them with water. Leave to swell completely.

cucumber peat tablets

• Before planting cucumbers in peat tablets, some gardeners recommend enlarging the seed hole. However, you do not need to do this.
• Put a cucumber seed inside the groove. And again opinions differ, someone recommends sprinkling them with peat 1-2 mm, while someone says that there is no need to sprinkle them.

• Now you need to cover the container with foil and put the seedlings in a warm place. But not close to the battery.
• Monitor peat moisture. After sprouting cucumbers, place the container closer to the light.
• After the plants have grown and it's time to plant them in the garden, we plant cucumbers (peat tablets) in the ground. Before that, they must be freed from the protective mesh.

Seedlings of cucumbers in peat pots

This method is suitable for those who do not trust innovations. If it is not clear how to plant cucumber seeds in peat tablets, you can use pots made of the same material.They are convenient in that the seedlings do not need to be removed from them, but the cucumbers in peat tablets should be planted in the garden with them. This is useful when transplanting cucumbers, because at this point they have a very weak root system.

The advantages of peat pots also include the fact that they do not fall apart when wet. They are treated against pests and microorganisms. They do not contain weed seeds and harmful chemical compounds.

However, you need to make sure that you get exactly the peat pots. If they are made of cardboard, then the cucumbers will not be able to penetrate their walls with roots. The downside may be increased attention to the moisture content of the soil in the pot. Because they tend to dry quickly. Little water and the sprout died. Lots of water and the pot is moldy.

To facilitate the growth of the root system of cucumbers, it is recommended to make several holes before moving the pots to the garden.

If you figure out how to plant cucumbers in peat tablets and pots, then this can greatly facilitate the life of gardeners and summer residents. Since it will allow you to get a good harvest a little earlier than usual. Because cucumbers are not injured and take root better.

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Peat pots or tablets are a modern and convenient way of growing seedlings that do not tolerate picking well.

This is the method recommended for cucumbers.

In the open ground, the plants move directly with the peat container, the roots remain intact, and the growth of seedlings does not slow down.

…

Peat pots: quick and convenient

Peat pots or cups - simple, affordable and economical way of growing cucumber seedlings. The containers are made from a mixture of peat and pressed cardboard. Stores offer products of various sizes and depths, single or combined in several pieces.

For growing cucumber seedlings in peat pots, medium-sized containers are needed. In too spacious, the soil quickly sours, small ones do not allow fast-growing seedlings to develop normally.

Selection rules

To make the seedlings strong and of high quality, you need to choose the right peat containers... Good pots have a flat, smooth surface with no coarse fibers sticking out.

The walls of the cups should not be too thick and hard.otherwise, when transplanting, the roots of the seedlings will not be able to break through the peat walls.

Overly soft cups will not work either; with constant watering, they will lose their shape. High-quality pots have a stable, flat bottom, a neatly finished top, they are aligned in height.

These little things are very important. Neatly made cups will not tip over, the same height allows you to cover the plantings with glass or film, creating the microclimate necessary for seedlings.

Benefits of peat pots:

• you can fill the containers with any soil, both purchased and prepared independently;
• cups keep their shape well;
• when transplanted to beds, peat quickly soaks and does not interfere with the normal development of roots;
• you can use mineral or organic fertilizers.

Despite the positive aspects, peat cups also have disadvantages:

• cheap samples contain too much cardboard;
• bulky cups take up a lot of space on the windowsill or balcony;
• the soil in containers dries out quickly, constant moisture control is required.

How to plant cucumbers for seedlings in peat pots?

Before planting, you need to find a suitable container for cucumbers for seedlings in peat glasses.

The ideal container is a cardboard box of the right size... It does not allow containers to tip over, does not interfere with normal air exchange and does not retain excess moisture.

In the bottom of the peat cups with an awl or a thick needle several drainage holes are made... The soil for cucumber seedlings should be light, nutritious, with a neutral or slightly alkaline reaction.

Ideal - a mixture of garden or turf soil with humus and some old sawdust.

Replacing humus with peat is undesirable. The walls of the pots are also made of peat, its excess will acidify the soil, the seedlings will develop poorly. The substrate can be enriched with nutrients: urea, potassium sulfate, superphosphate or wood ash. All components are thoroughly mixed.

Before planting, the soil can be disinfected by heating it in an oven or microwave. An alternative option is to spill the soil with a potassium permanganate solution. This procedure kills harmful microorganisms that can cause seedling diseases.

The pots are filled with soil so that at least 1 cm is left to the walls. The soil is slightly crushed. Later, it will settle and a bedding will be required, so some of the soil should be set aside. You can plant both dry and pre-soaked seeds.

Planting cucumbers in peat pots for seedlings. If dry material is used, the seed is buried with your fingers, lowering into the ground by 1.5-2 cm... The surface of the soil is slightly crushed, it is not necessary to tamp it. The pots are placed in a prepared tray so that the containers do not tip over. The soil is sprayed generously with warm water from a spray bottle.

When planting germinated seeds, you need to be careful. A hole 2 cm deep is made in the soil, the germinated seed is carefully moved into it, sprinkled with soil and slightly crushed.

Important do not injure the tender sprout, otherwise the seedling will die.

The soil is moistened with a spray bottle. You should not use a watering can, directed jets of water can erode the soil.

The plantings are covered with plastic wrap or glass and placed in heat. After the emergence of shoots (4-5 days), the mini-garden moves to a bright place: sill of the south or southeast window. In cloudy weather, the seedlings will have to be supplemented with fluorescent lamps.

Seedling care in peat pots

In peat tanks, the soil dries out quickly... In the first days, the film retains the necessary moisture, after removing it, you need to carefully monitor the condition of the soil.

It shouldn't dry out the soil is moistened daily or every other day... For watering newly sprouted seedlings, use a spray bottle or spoon, older plants can be watered from a watering can.

After a few days, the soil in the pot may settle. It is recommended to carefully add the prepared substrate.squeezing it with your fingers. It is important to ensure that a hard crust does not form on the surface of the soil, which interferes with the respiration of the plants. For prevention, the soil is loosened at least 2 times a week, trying not to hurt the roots.

The first feeding is carried out after unrolling a pair of real leaves. Cucumbers can be fertilized with an aqueous solution of mineral fertilizer for seedlings or a diluted mullein. It is necessary to water the pre-moistened soil with nutrients; after feeding, the cucumber seedlings are sprayed from a spray bottle.

Peat tablets: one hundred percent result

Peat tablets for cucumber seedlings - smarter option for growing cucumber seedlings. They are easy to use, affordable and inexpensive. The planted plants do not need picking, they quickly take root in any soil.

The tablets are made from light, ecologically flawless top peat mixed with useful substances: growth stimulants, components with a disinfectant effect, nutritional supplements.

Planted plants do not experience a deficiency of nutrients, they develop well... The shape of the products is retained by a thin but strong mesh. Thanks to it, the soaked peat does not creep, and the seedling is firmly fixed.

Stores offer different options for pills. They differ in the diameter that they choose, focusing on the size of the future seedling. The largest options are suitable for cucumbers.giving a final volume of 400 ml.

For the successful development of cucumber seedlings in peat tablets, it is better to choose products from well-known manufacturers that use high-quality peat and do not save on useful additives.

The cheapest tablets consist of low-grade fibrous raw materials, they swell poorly, do not keep their shape. Another disadvantage of cheap pills is the overly acidic environment, which is not very good for cucumber seedlings.

How to plant cucumbers for seedlings in peat tablets?

Before planting, peat tablets are placed in a deep container and pour warm water... As it is absorbed, it is added. After a few hours, the tablets will turn into straight columns. They are carefully moved into a deep tray.

The ideal container for pills is a plastic container or cake box. It is also convenient to use special trays with cassettes for fixing tablets. The only drawback of this design is its high cost.

At the top of the pills there are holes for placing seeds... They can be expanded slightly with a toothpick. Dry or treated with a growth stimulant seeds are put into the resulting mini-wells. The dry seed is buried with a toothpick.

Sprouted seeds are carefully placed in the hole, covered with a piece of peat. It is not necessary to squeeze them in, fragile shoots are easily injured.

The peat pillars are placed in prepared pallets and covered with glass... Plantings are placed in heat until emergence. After germination, the mini-garden is placed on the windowsill and protected from drafts.

For successful growth of young plants need warmth and high humidity... Peat sticks are sprayed with warm water once every 2 days.

The tablets contain all the essential nutrients, cucumber seedlings do not need additional dressing.

If the mesh holding the peat breaks, the seedlings will have to be transplanted into any suitable container, after removing the remnants of the mesh and adding fresh soil.

Before moving to the beds, the net from the plant is carefully cut off. It does not dissolve in the soil, which can inhibit root growth.

Peat tablets and cups are a convenient, simple and modern way to grow cucumber seedlings that must be tried. It is not suitable for industrial cultivation, but most amateur gardeners consider peat containers ideal for growing cucumbers.

Useful video

Personal experience of growing cucumbers in peat tablets in 2 parts.

Part 1 - planting seeds:

Part 2 - transplanting sprouted shoots:

Probably everyone knows that a cucumber is a rather whimsical culture, which is not so easy to grow in seedlings, and then also transplant. Therefore, to make this whole process less painful and not so much "shake" your nerves, it is better to overpay a little and stock up on peat tablets, in which the cucumber seedlings will be planted.

Of course, most likely, you are no longer asking this question, since all modern gardeners have used them at least once or, in extreme cases, have seen them once. But, and if, nevertheless, this word did not explain much to you, then this information will help fill in the blanks a little.

What are peat tablets?

So, peat tablets are small washers of pressed peat covered with natural mesh. On top of each such "ring" there is already a depression in which it is very convenient to place the seeds. In its original form, the "tablet" is a low 8-mm washer, which when soaked in water, and this procedure is performed immediately before planting, increase by about five times.

A mixture of wet peat and soil is just the perfect environment. Seedlings of cucumbers in peat tablets feel just great.Due to the fact that the mixture in the tablet retains moisture very well, the seeds are protected from fungi, which cause the fall of seedlings grown in poor-quality soil.

Benefits of peat tablets

If you still doubt that the seedlings of cucumbers in peat tablets are much better, then you will definitely be convinced by the main advantages of such nutritious "washers":

- significant cost savings for seed germination and rooting;

- very high air capacity;

- almost complete absence of injury to seedlings during transplantation;

- efficient use of the area;

- protection against waterlogging.

Planting cucumbers in peat tablets

In principle, this procedure is not particularly difficult and planting cucumbers in peat tablets will not take you much time. You just need to adhere to some tips and the whole process will go very quickly and successfully:

- Peat tablets should be placed next to each other in a high tray and pour warm water over them for 10 - 20 minutes until they swell completely.

- Carefully place the cucumber seeds in the existing recesses of the formed containers and cover them lightly (only 1 - 2 mm) with the mixture of tablets.

- Transfer the tablets to the seedling box. A special heated container is best suited for these purposes. If there is none, then you can simply put the box with future seedlings on a warm surface. This will allow the seeds to germinate faster.

- It is very important to monitor the air temperature (20 - 25 ° C) and ambient humidity. It is also highly desirable to use fluorescent lamps, which will provide additional illumination.

- The moisture content of the substrate must be checked very carefully, because cucumbers are very fond of "drinking" water. Watering is best done with a spray bottle.

- After the seeds germinate and seedlings are formed, they can be opened during the day, giving access to fresh air. At night, the box is closed again.

After the time comes, you need to plant seedlings in the garden. To do this, the tablets are taken out of the container and placed from the previously prepared recesses, after which they are covered with earth and carefully compacted. You can get the finished harvest of green cucumbers about 10 - 14 days earlier than in the case of planting right in the garden. And this is another significant "plus", isn't it?

Peat tablets are usually used for sowing tomato and pepper seedlings. However, with their help, you can grow high-quality seedlings of cucumbers.

Peat tablets contain everything necessary for the development of cucumber seedlings. Small peat tablets with a diameter of 3 cm are suitable for planting cucumbers, given that they will still need to be grown in pots.

Place the peat tablets in the tray and cover them with warm water. When they swell, they increase their volume by a factor of five or more. After the peat tablets have stopped absorbing water, drain the excess from the tray (1).

Deepen the holes located at the top of the tablets and place one cucumber seed in them. Cover the holes with peat, lightly stirring the peat tablet with a toothpick or sharp knife.

Place the lid on the tray of peat tablets or place it in a clean plastic bag. Place the tray with sown cucumber seeds in a warm place with a temperature of + 25 ° C. Seedlings will appear in 7-10 days (2).

Open the cover slightly and place the tray in a bright, warm place (3).

In good light, seedlings develop quickly enough. Top dressing in peat tablets is not required, watering - as the upper part dries. When you notice that the tablets begin to settle, diminishing in size, pour some water on the bottom of the tray and add it as it is absorbed. Remove excess water from the tray, as excess moisture prevents air from reaching the roots.When the roots of the cucumbers begin to sprout through the mesh on the tablet, planting cucumber seedlings in pots is required for further development.
For transplanting cucumbers, you can use a special soil mixture or prepare the ground for seedlings yourself.
Pour the prepared soil mixture into the pot in a layer of 3-4 cm. Remove the shell (4) from the peat tablet and place the seedling tablet (5) in the center of the pot.

Spread the protruding roots of the cucumber evenly over the surface of the soil mixture and cover with soil (6).

The soil level should be 1–1.5 cm below the edge of the pot. Gently water the cucumber seedlings, place them in a warm, sunny place - preferably on a southern or western windowsill (7).

Next, look after the cucumber seedlings in the same way as with the usual sowing method.

Read on Planting seedlings of cucumbers soil