How to harden seedlings, the summer resident’s lunar calendar for April

A transplant is stressful for a young plant, because it spends the first weeks of life at room temperature, does not know what wind or ultraviolet radiation is, and is not ready for a night cold snap. Therefore, before transferring to a permanent place, the seedlings are hardened.

“The hardening process is very simple and arbitrary in time, the usual time for its beginning is two to three weeks before planting. Plants intended for growing in a greenhouse can be prepared for new conditions right now, and those for open ground in a couple of weeks, ”says our expert, landscape designer and city farmer. Anna Vagina.

The glazed balcony and loggia have approximately the same temperature and humidity parameters as the greenhouse in May: a powerful flow of heat comes from the residential building. Therefore, when it is +10 on the street, boxes with seedlings can be taken out and left for the whole day, and returned to the house at night. Look at the weather: if it is warm outside, then after a couple of days you can open the windows, start a breeze on the loggia. Five to seven days before planting, the plants are exposed overnight and no longer removed.

Are the nights too cold? Leave the windows on the loggia open for the last three days. On an unglazed balcony, conditions are close to natural, so carefully monitor the temperature forecast so as not to overcool the plants. To avoid sunburning the leaves, place the seedlings in direct sunlight before noon and in partial shade in the afternoon.

As soon as you start hardening, stop watering the plants with water at room temperature, go to a colder one – 16-18 ° C. Limit watering 10 days before planting in the ground, and stop watering seven days before.

But watch out for the soil: if it dries up, the seedlings will shed their buds. To prevent this from happening, water with a quarter or half of the norm of water or spray the plant and soil with a spray bottle. The day before planting, water well and spray with epin, an anti-stress hormone.

Excessive stretching of seedlings is a common problem for novice gardeners. There are several reasons, the main one being poor lighting. Plants in a certain period tend to grow intensively and tend to the ground. The process can be stopped in two ways: by limiting watering and by cutting the roots. This is done like this: you cut the soil under the plant at a depth of 5 cm with a sharp, long and thin knife. If the seedlings are in a peat pot or wrapped in plastic, make an incision right through the container.

Don’t worry about your roots. On the contrary, this technique increases the survival rate. Moreover, during hardening, cut the soil between the tomatoes along and across the rows with a knife 2-3 times: this will enhance the formation of new roots. Do not touch the roots of cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, melons: they do not tolerate damage, and the plant will die.

April 8, the growing moon in Taurus

The day is favorable for planting vegetables, especially legumes and cabbage. Also plant everything climbing: grapes, clematis, legumes.

April 9, the growing moon in Gemini

Take care of planting seedlings, flower seedlings, especially annuals. Pest control, fertilization

April 10, the growing moon in Gemini

A good day to take care of seedlings. Feed, dive, loosen the soil, transplant plants into separate pots.

April 11, the growing moon in Cancer

Day of beauty: sowing, planting and transplanting flowers are favorable. Everything planted on this day will bloom especially magnificently.

April 12, the growing moon in Cancer

An ideal day for any planting: the plants will be strong, healthy and fertile. Transplant home flowers.

April 13, the growing moon in Leo

Planting leeks, cauliflower and Chinese cabbage is favorable. Planting seedlings of melons and annual flowers.

April 14, the growing moon in Leo

The day is favorable for planting vegetables, especially leafy vegetables and cabbage. Also plant everything climbing: grapes, clematis, legumes.