Family vegetable seedling cultivation methods

Family vegetable seedling cultivation mainly includes five key steps: soaking and germination, substrate preparation, sowing and covering with soil, temperature and light regulation, and transplanting and planting.

1. Soaking seeds to promote germination

Soak the seeds in warm water for 4-6 hours, and eggplant fruits need to be soaked for 8-12 hours. After soaking the seeds, place them in moist gauze and maintain an environment of 25-30 ℃ to promote germination. If the exposure rate reaches 70%, the seeds can be sown. Melon seeds require hatching treatment, while cruciferous seeds can be directly sown. During the germination period, rinse with clean water once a day to prevent mold growth.

2. Matrix preparation

Mix peat soil, perlite, and vermiculite in a ratio of 3:1:1, and add 5 kilograms of decomposed organic fertilizer per cubic meter. The substrate needs to be disinfected with 50 ℃ steam in advance, and the pH value should be adjusted to 6.0-6.8. Leafy vegetables should use loose substrates, while root and stem vegetables should increase the proportion of vermiculite. After filling the seedling tray with substrate, gently press it to 80% full.

3. Sow and cover with soil

When sowing, 1-2 seeds should be placed in each hole, and the spacing between rows should be maintained at 2-3 centimeters. The thickness of the covering soil is 2-3 times the diameter of the seeds, and fine-grained seeds can be covered with vermiculite. After sowing, gently press the seeds to adhere to the substrate, and use the bottom soaking method to water thoroughly. Light loving seeds such as lettuce do not need to be covered with soil, they need to be covered with non-woven fabric for moisture retention.

4. Temperature and Light Control

During the germination period, maintain a daily temperature of 25-28 ℃ and a night temperature of no less than 15 ℃. After the true leaves are unfolded, reduce the temperature by 3-5 ℃ and use a fill light to irradiate for 12-14 hours daily. Maintain a temperature difference of 8-10 ℃ between day and night during the seedling stage, and regularly rotate the seedling tray to prevent excessive growth. On cloudy days, the heating pad needs to be turned on, and during summer noon, 30% shading is required.

5. Transplanting and planting

When 4-5 true leaves appear in eggplants, transplant; when cotyledons are flat, plant in melons. Seven days before transplanting, gradually ventilate and refine the seedlings, selecting sunny evenings for the process. Transplant with soil to the same depth as the original seedling mound, and immediately water the roots. During the seedling stage, shade for 3-5 days and apply a thin layer of seaweed fertilizer to promote root development.

It is recommended to choose new varieties with strong disease resistance for home seedling cultivation, and disinfect the seeds with warm water before sowing. During the seedling cultivation period, pay attention to the growth of the seedlings. If there is excessive growth, increase light exposure or spray dwarfing agent. Maintain ventilation and reduce humidity in the environment, and regularly loosen the topsoil with bamboo sticks to prevent compaction. Leafy vegetables can harvest seedlings in 20-25 days, while fruit vegetables need to be cultivated for 35-45 days to reach the planting standard. Adopting plug seedling cultivation can reduce root damage and delay transplanting during continuous rainy weather. Record the growth data of various varieties and optimize the seedling plan year by year.