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Purslane, seedlings: when to sow and how to grow
Purslane is an annual plant that is grown in gardens for ornamental purposes. The flower is small in size and in a variety of colors. And although it is believed that he is unpretentious, growing purslane from seedlings is a laborious task.
How and when to sow purslane for seedlings
Preparation for germination of purslane begins in February or early March. For seedlings, seeds that have been stored for more than six months are suitable. They are planted in shallow but wide pots.
In order for the seeds to grow into strong seedlings, the seedlings of purslane need to be watered and fed regularly.
First you need to prepare the soil for planting. If possible, collect the soil in your garden beforehand and mix it with sand and charcoal. Bake the resulting mixture in the oven to disinfect the soil. For seedlings of purslane, you can also use a purchased substrate, but it should not contain peat, which slows down the process of seed germination.
Pour gravel or expanded clay on the bottom of the pots. Drainage holes can be made in the container so that water does not stagnate in the ground. After laying the substrate, the resulting soil is thoroughly watered.
Plant your purslane seeds on the surface of the soil without pressing them too deeply. The distance between them should be 1–2 cm. After planting, cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil. Cover the finished containers with plastic wrap.
How to grow purslane seedlings
In order for the seedlings to sprout, under the film, you need to maintain a temperature of at least +25 degrees. The first shoots of purslane appear on the surface of the soil after 3-6 days. Air and water them several times a week. Drying out of seedlings can lead to the early death of plants.
Flowers need a lot of light, so expose them to a south-facing window. When germinating seedlings in winter, you need to create artificial lighting. If the purslane is strongly stretched upward, then it does not have enough light.
You can supplement the purslane with a regular table lamp. Place it at a distance of 10–20 cm from the germinated sprouts and do not turn it off for several hours.
To create high-quality seedlings, thin out the seedlings in a timely manner, planting them in other containers. The transplant should be carried out when the flowers have two or three leaves. It is possible to plant purslane in open ground in late May and early June with the onset of stable high temperatures.
For purslane seeds to grow into good seedlings, they need a lot of heat, moisture and light. When planting flowers in open ground, choose a sunny location located on a hill. There the flowers will feel as comfortable as possible.