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Usually, gardeners plan to plant seedlings in December for slow-growing flowers. Plants develop more luxuriously if sown in accordance with the favorable periods of the lunar calendar. Early seedlings require special care.
Verbena is sown in December to get beautiful bushes in early summer.
Lunar calendar for december 2022 for seedlings
Flower growers provide the garden with splendor and multicolor if they plant the seeds of their favorite crops according to the lunar calendar in December for seedlings, and also check with him for the care of sprouts. Shoots appear together, plants are strong, with a powerful impulse for the development of inflorescences.
Favorable days in December for planting seedlings
Periods are calculated by astrologers who take into account the phases of the moon and the time it takes to pass through the zodiac. Productive dates in December for sowing flowers: 3-5, 8-10, 14-15, 17-23, afternoon 27 to 9 hours on the 28th. In December, tightly germinating seeds of berries, flowers, stone fruit and pome crops are also laid for stratification.
Pros and cons of planting seedlings in December
Gardeners know that they need to sow slow-growing crops in December for seedlings in order to get flowering plants as early as June. Due to the nature of the weather in the middle lane, additional care efforts are required.
Positive factors for growing seedlings from December:
- central heating batteries – a good source of heat for the germination of hard-to-germinate seeds;
- in the conditions of an apartment, an uninsulated balcony is used to stratify and strengthen the sprouts;
- flower cultures develop well in the heat and by the end of spring, the beginning of summer, buds are laid, ready for sale on the market or decorating a flower bed.
The costs of growing seedlings in winter include:
- installation of phytolamps is required to ensure a long daylight hours;
- seedlings standing on windowsills require protection from the cold;
- providing air humidification during central heating operation.
Is it possible to sow vegetables for seedlings in December
Before the new year, pepper and tomato seedlings are sown if they are grown in heated greenhouses. You can plant seeds of these crops for seedlings in December for other purposes – growing on a kitchen windowsill, no more than 2-3 copies. Lettuce, arugula, basil, dill, parsley are also sown for growing in a greenhouse or on a windowsill in large containers.
It is popular to grow crops without land only until the initial phase of development, 1-2 leaves, called “microgreens”. Moistened paper napkins or hydrogel are placed at the bottom of a wide and low container, and seeds are laid out on this substrate, which hatch in the heat in a few days. The greens are illuminated, after 2 weeks, small sprouts are cut off and vitamin products are added in microdoses to the diet. For microgreens in December, watercress, any varieties of cabbage and lettuce, mustard, beets, and chard are sown.
Is it possible to plant berries in December for seedlings
At the beginning of winter, small-fruited strawberries, large-fruited strawberries, and raspberries are sown, which require stratification. Seeds can be sown for seedlings in December on a substrate from fertile land, covered with snow. The container in the bag is placed in the refrigerator or under the snow for 1,5-2 months. Then they are removed from the cold and moved to a room where sprouts appear after 3-4 weeks. The development of plants before the formation of buds lasts at least 4-6 months.
What flowers to sow for seedlings in December
There are many beautiful plants that take more than 140-180 days to develop. It is necessary to plant flowers such as cyclamens, gloxinias, fuchsias, passionflowers, balsams and many others for seedlings in December.
Gaillardia
In the conditions of the southern regions, drought-resistant and multi-colored gaillardia always helps out. The plant is unpretentious, develops well in border culture in full sun. To get good seedlings, gaillardia seeds are sown in a common bowl or in separate containers, slightly pressing into the ground, without sprinkling soil on top.
Gaillardia does without fertile soils, prefers that there is a large amount of sand in the substrate
Lobelia Erinus
Sky blue, lilac, white or light burgundy lobelias are sown for seedlings in December. When sowing, small grains are mixed with sand and scattered over the soil. In a warm room, seedlings appear after 15-17 days. Lobelia grows to buds for 3 months.
Excellent planters for pots are placed in semi-shaded places and watered regularly.
Planting eustoma for seedlings in December 2022
The longest among the beautiful annuals continues the development of exquisite eustoma, which is also called the Irish rose. The culture is sown in December to get developed seedlings by the beginning of summer. Sow on the surface of the substrate, sprinkle with sand on top. If the seeds are placed in already swollen peat tablets, they are slightly pressed into the substrate.
Eustoma needs at least 150 days to develop.
Snapdragon
In December, it is customary to plant snapdragons or antirrinum, beloved in the gardens of the middle lane, on seedlings. In order for plants that prefer slightly alkaline soils to initially develop well, wood ash or dolomite flour is added to the substrate. The growth of seedlings is long, slow, so the culture is sown at the beginning or middle of winter.
Snapdragon sprouts in a week but grows slowly
Phloxes
In containers, phlox seeds are carefully laid out on the surface, sprinkled with snow or sand. Seed containers are placed under snow or in a refrigerator for stratification. Frost-resistant seedlings are taken out into the garden as early as possible.
If December is warm, phloxes in the southern regions are sown directly on the garden
Gentian
Gentian is sown from December in a container, which is placed in a cold place for stratification for several weeks. Sprouts germinate in 20-22 days, develop slowly. In the spring, seedlings are transplanted, but gentian will delight in flowering only next year.
Intense blue small corollas of gentian are one of the most beautiful primroses.
Bells of the Carpathians
Delicate flowers are planted for seedlings in December. For good development, the culture needs a loose nutrient substrate with a slightly alkaline or neutral reaction. Seeds are sown on the surface, do not sprinkle with soil and do not press, but only cover the container with a film.
The Carpathian bell is demanding on soils
Lavender
This culture is one of the most difficult to germinate. The seed must be stratified by placing it in the soil substrate, on cotton pads or a damp cloth in the refrigerator, for 1,5-2 months. Then the container is transferred to room temperature, and seedlings appear after 10 days.
Lavender seedlings are grown at a temperature of 15-20 ° C
Delphinium hybrid
Tall plants with flowers in all shades of blue, white or lilac develop slowly, so they are sown in December. In order for the sprouts to receive a powerful impulse, the seed material is soaked in a growth stimulator. After the seedlings begin to form 3 leaves, the seedlings dive and place in separate pots.
A container with delphinium seeds is covered with a dark film until germination
Begonia
The culture loves light and loose fertile soil with a slightly acidic pH. The smallest begonia seeds are sown with sand. Fragile seedlings appear after 7-8 days. For watering seedlings use a spray bottle.
It takes 5 months from begonia shoots to buds
Primrose
Plants take a long time to germinate and grow slowly. Small primrose seeds are sown on the surface of the substrate, slightly pressed into the soil. The container is transferred to a cold place and the seed is stratified for 30-40 days. When returning to the heat of 15-20 ° C, seedlings appear in 2-3 weeks.
When sown in December, primrose blooms in May
Viola
The culture is grown on moisture-intensive and loose soil. This is a prerequisite for the lush flowering of touching pansies. Small grains are sown on a fertile substrate and lightly sprinkled with sand, the layer is less than 1 mm. Shoots can be seen in 10-20 days. Plants love diffused light.
Viola is sown in December for summer flowering.
Clove Shabo
The graceful flower has been grown since December, so that the slow-growing culture will form buds by summer. Shabo cloves are sown in separate pots or in a common container, followed by a pick. Seedlings of Shabo carnation necessarily require additional illumination so that the stems are strong and durable.
Shabo carnation flowers bloom only six months after germination
Verbena hybrid
Back in December, seeds of a slowly developing culture are planted on seedlings. The seed is first treated with growth stimulants according to the instructions, sown in a bowl, which is placed in the refrigerator for up to 45-60 days for stratification. When sowing, small grains of verbena are not covered with anything, they just place the container in a plastic bag. After treatment with cold in heat, seedlings are visible after 3-4 weeks.
Beautiful openwork inflorescences of verbena develop on plants that sprouted 90-100 days ago
Pelargonium
Nutrient soil is prepared for seedlings so that strong and strong, stocky stems are formed. Large seeds of the culture are placed in the ground and sprinkled with a substrate on top. Pelargonium sprouts quickly, after 5-10 days. Sprouts require mandatory supplementary lighting.
The gloomy days of December are a good time for sowing pelargonium in order to get lush flowering as early as next June
What other flowers can be sown in December
In the southern regions, winter December sowing is practiced, during which natural stratification occurs, and the plants are strong and hardened. More often, planting flowers in December for seedlings is carried out in a container, which is also placed in the cold, but so that the ground does not freeze completely. After all the worries, petunia, saxifrage, evening primrose, gelenium, aquilegia, decorative bows will please with early flowering.
Advice of professionals
Before growing any flowers, it is better to study the conditions for their sowing and development. Landing in December requires the following rules:
- watering is moderate;
- installation of air humidifiers;
- additional lighting for a total of 13-15 light hours per day;
- shoots dive immediately after the appearance of 2-3 true leaves;
- when picking, some sprouts deepen more so as not to stretch;
- the temperature is maintained within 18-22 °C.
Conclusion
Planting flowers for seedlings in December means getting developed plants, some already with buds, by May, to sell or decorate your gardens. Additional care will please the lush flowering flower beds or flowerpots.
