Contents
Planting Brussels sprouts for seedlings is important at the right time, properly preparing seeds, containers and soil. Before moving to the garden, it is necessary to provide comprehensive care. It also includes the correct temperature regime with lighting.
When to sow Brussels sprouts for seedlings
One of the features of the culture is a long growing season – up to six months can pass before harvesting. It is important to plant Brussels sprouts for seedlings in a timely manner, otherwise they simply will not have time to ripen before the end of the season.
It is optimal to sow seeds from mid-March to the beginning of the next month. Before landing in the ground, 1,5-2 months should remain. In the Urals, you can sow a crop in early spring.
Planting Brussels sprouts for seedlings
Brussels sprouts should be planted with seeds only after they have been properly processed. Soil and planting containers also need preparation.
Soil Preparation
For sowing a crop, you can use purchased soil or make a mixture yourself. There are several options:
- fertile garden soil and compost 1:2;
- sod land, peat and sand in equal parts, wood ash (3-4 tablespoons) and mineral fertilizers (0,5 tablespoons of superphosphate per 1 liter of soil);
- garden soil, humus and sand 1:3:1.
The soil mixture must be disinfected. There are several options:
- steaming (water bath, 30-40 minutes);
- freezing (-15-20 °C);
- calcination (70-90 °C, 30-40 minutes);
- etching (solution of potassium permanganate).
After disinfection, the soil should be left for 1,5-2 weeks. This time is necessary for the restoration of beneficial microflora. Before planting in the ground, you can add biofertilizers:
- biohumus;
- Baikal EM1;
- Agrovit.
The soil is already poured into disinfected containers. Moisturize it 3-4 days before sowing. On the day of planting, antifungal treatment of the soil is carried out. For this, the fungicide Fitosporin or a weak solution of potassium permanganate is usually used.
Capacity selection
For sowing seeds for seedlings of Brussels sprouts, boxes are usually used. Their depth should be at least 7 cm. Seedlings at a certain time will need to dive into separate pots – you can use them right away.
The containers chosen for growing must be washed with hot water and disinfected. A solution of soda is well suited for this – 1 tsp. for 1 liter of water. After disinfection, seedling containers must be dried.
It is convenient to sow seeds in special cassettes – grown seedlings dive into individual containers
Seed preparation
The preparatory stage depends on the quality of the purchased seed. You can buy seeds that are already disinfected, pickled and treated with a growth stimulator. It is easy to make all the necessary preparations on your own:
- Soak in hot water (50°C) for 20 minutes.
- Cooling under running water – immediately after hot soaking, continue for 1-2 minutes.
- Treatment with a growth stimulator. Epin, Kornevin will do. The drug is used according to the instructions, soaking time is 12 hours.
- Flushing.
- Stratification in the refrigerator during the day.
- Drying.
All these activities are necessary to increase the germination of Brussels sprouts and reduce the risk of a number of diseases. Only one drug is used for processing, they should not be combined.
The scheme of sowing Brussels sprouts for seedlings
When sowing seeds in a common container, grooves are made, and small holes are made in individual pots. Use the following landing scheme:
- distance between rows 4 cm;
- the interval between seeds in one line is 1-1,5 cm;
- bookmark depth 1-1,5 cm.
The crops are sprinkled with soil and lightly compacted. To moisten, use a fine spray bottle and warm water.
Before germination, seedlings are covered with a film – this allows you to save moisture.
Care of seedlings
To successfully grow seedlings of Brussels sprouts, it is necessary to provide them with comprehensive care. No less important are the conditions of detention – temperature, lighting.
Temperature and lighting
At 20°C, Brussels sprouts will sprout in 2-3 days. After spitting the seeds, the film is immediately removed and the seedling container is placed in a bright place. Until 2-3 true leaves appear, protection from direct sunlight is needed.
You can grow the crop on a windowsill, a covered balcony, or in a heated greenhouse. Brussels sprouts do not like heat. It is optimal to provide the culture with a daily temperature of 14-16 ° C, and at night 8-10 ° C. Lower it gradually – the desired mode is set within a week after germination.
Watering
After sowing seeds, the first two weeks, seedlings of Brussels sprouts do not need watering. It is then produced as needed. The soil should be moderately moist. Its drying or flooding with water is unacceptable. This is fraught with diseases, the death of seedlings.
The last 4-5 days before moving to the ground, Brussels sprouts are not watered. Abundant soil moisture is carried out a few hours before planting the crop on the beds. This will facilitate the process of extracting seedlings with an earthy clod.
Watering is also necessary before picking. Abundant hydration is also required after fertilization.
Additional fertilizing
During the cultivation of seedlings, Brussels sprouts are fed twice. First, fertilizers are applied after the appearance and development of two true leaves. For 1 liter of water add:
- superphosphate 4 g;
- ammonium nitrate 2 g;
- potassium sulfate 1 g.
The next feeding of Brussels sprouts seedlings is carried out after two weeks. The elements use the same, but the dosage is increased:
- superphosphate 6 g;
- ammonium nitrate 3 g;
- potassium sulfate 2 g.
Brussels sprout seedling picking
Brussels sprout seedlings are dived into individual containers after the appearance of true leaves. The algorithm is simple:
- Prepare a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
- Water seedlings.
- Carefully remove seedlings.
- Place seedlings one at a time in a new container using soil with the same composition.
- Sprinkle plants, lightly compact the ground. Seedlings should be buried to the cotyledon leaves.
When picking seedlings of Brussels sprouts, an earth lump is kept
After moving to new containers, seedlings are vulnerable at first. Within three days, you should shade it and moisten the air. Periodic spraying with water from a spray bottle with small holes is sufficient.
Hardening
Brussels sprout seedlings are transplanted into the garden after the appearance of 4-5 true leaves. Usually this period falls on the end of May or the beginning of summer. By this time, it is necessary to harden the seedlings. The process should take at least two weeks.
Brussels sprouts are hardened off gradually. Start with half an hour, daily increasing this time. By the time of landing on the beds, the duration of stay in the open air should increase to a day.
For hardening seedlings of Brussels sprouts, the optimum temperature is 5-6 ° C. You can put seedlings on a balcony or loggia, keep in a greenhouse or on a veranda.
Brussels sprout seedlings must adapt not only to the temperature regime of the street, but also to the lighting. First, when outdoors, seedlings should be covered with lutrasil. The material used is thin. Seedlings are accustomed to street lighting gradually, as they are hardened.
For hardening seedlings of Brussels sprouts, you should choose a place that is protected from strong winds.
What to do if the seedlings of Brussels sprouts stretched out
Pulling seedlings of Brussels sprouts occurs for various reasons. Most often, such consequences are caused by a lack of light. The problem is solved simply – it is necessary to use artificial sources, phytolamps. Additional lighting is needed not only in the morning and evening, but also in the afternoon, when the weather is cloudy.
Another possible reason for pulling out Brussels sprout seedlings is too high a temperature in the room. This mode contributes to the intensive development of the above-ground part of the seedlings, but the growth of the root system is weak. It is optimal to create conditions for planting that are as close to natural as possible – the daytime temperature should be higher and cooler at night.
Brussels sprout seedlings can also stretch out due to excessive watering. This is especially pronounced in combination with too high a temperature. To solve the problem, you need to normalize the microclimate in the room or move the seedlings to another place. The frequency of watering is oriented to the condition of the soil. The same applies to the amount of water.
At the stage of growing in one common container, Brussels sprouts can stretch due to thickened crops. If the seedlings are already large enough, then to solve the problem they dive into separate containers. Otherwise, you just need to remove the extra plants – throw them away or try to transplant.
Conclusion
Brussels sprouts should be planted for seedlings in the second half of March in order to move the crop into the ground by the end of spring or early summer. It is important to properly prepare containers, seeds and soil, follow the sowing pattern, and provide comprehensive care.
