by Peat-humus tablets have long been successfully used for growing vegetable and flower seedlings, as well as for rooting cuttings. Sometimes this is a real lifesaver when there is no desire to buy or prepare soil, select cups and dilute dirt in the living space.
Peat tablets are easy to use, take up little space and have excellent air and moisture permeability, which prevents the development of fungal diseases.
What are peat tablets
Peat tablets vary in size and composition. The basis of the tablets is pressed peat or a mixture of peat and humus. However, recently, tablets made of coconut fiber have appeared on the market, which, like peat, has good moisture capacity and air permeability. All manufacturers add macro- and microelements, growth stimulants, and antibacterial components to the substrate. Therefore, seedlings at the initial stage of growth are protected from diseases and provided with all the nutrients necessary for full development.
Most tablets are coated with a thin non-woven material that holds the substrate but does not prevent swelling from water.
Peat tablets that are not covered with mesh fabric are available for sale. They are often sold together with peat pots or in special containers with cells for tablets.
How to sow seeds in peat tablets
The tablets are available in different sizes: from 24 to 90 mm, which allows you to choose a convenient option for any crop. Large seeds of vegetables such as peppers, eggplants should be sown in tablets with a diameter of 60-70 mm. Small seeds of strawberries, arugula, basil, petunias can be sown in tablets of a small diameter.
Step 1. Preparing planting material
If you are using seeds that are not covered with a nutrient shell, you can soak them in an infusion of wood ash (1 teaspoon per glass of water) or in a biofertilizer solution before sowing. To do this, wrap the seeds in a cloth and dip them in the prepared nutrient solution for 15-20 minutes. Then take them out and leave them to swell in a warm place at a temperature of 23-25 ° C for at least 12 hours. Seeds can also be germinated before sowing: this will promote rapid germination. However, you should not allow long roots to appear, as they can break when sowing in peat tablets.
Step 2. Preparing peat tablets
Before sowing the seeds, place the tablets in a container with the indentation facing upwards. This can be any plastic container or a special container with cells according to the size of the tablets used. At the bottom of such a container, as a rule, there are holes for the drainage of excess water, so it must be placed in a tray.
Fill the peat tablets with warm water (22-26°C). Try not to wash away the top layer of the tablets’ substrate. Leave until completely swollen for 10-15 minutes. Drain off excess water.
Step 3. Sowing seeds in tablets
Small green seeds, such as arugula, can be sown several at a time in one tablet. If you use pelleted seeds, after sowing you can lightly press them with your finger to the moist substrate so that the nutrient coating dissolves faster. Then sprinkle the surface of the tablets with a thin layer of soil. Seeds of petunia, celery, strawberries and other small seeds do not need to be sprinkled.
When sowing larger seeds, the depression in the center of the tablets can be enlarged. This is especially important for sprouted seeds. After sowing, sprinkle them with disinfected soil for seedlings or cover the edge of the tablet with substrate.
Then cover the container with a lid or place it in a plastic bag and put it in a warm place (but not on a radiator). The optimal temperature for germination of most seeds is 23-25°C.
Step 4. Caring for seedlings in peat tablets
After the shoots appear, remove the lid or film from the container and place the seedlings in a well-lit place. All plants have different temperature requirements, which should be during the first two weeks of growth. For example, for cabbage and arugula, the optimal temperature for growth and development during this period is 10-15 ° C. For tomatoes – 15-17 ° C during the day and 12-14 ° C at night. If the temperature is higher in the first days, the seedlings will stretch out and become weak. After two weeks, the temperature can be increased to 20-22 ° C during the day and 16-18 ° C at night. Eggplants and peppers are more heat-loving: they develop well at room temperature.
When growing seedlings in peat tablets, you should constantly monitor the substrate humidity, as it dries out quickly. Peat tablets can be watered in a tray, and every two weeks after the appearance of a real leaf, feed with a complex organomineral fertilizer.
While the root system of the seedlings does not take up too much space, the seedlings feel great in the tablets, but as soon as the roots begin to break through the mesh material, the plants should be transplanted into larger containers or directly into the ground, if the weather permits. Manufacturers usually indicate that grown seedlings can be planted together with the non-woven material surrounding the tablet. However, as practice shows, it can hinder the development of the roots of the growing seedling. Therefore, the day before transplanting the plants into the ground or into pots, the material will need to be carefully cut or torn.
How to root cuttings in peat tablets
Peat tablets are great for rooting cuttings of various plants: grapes, conifers, flowers: petunias, pelargoniums, etc. To do this, the tablets must be prepared according to the scheme described above. Kornevin can be added to the water for soaking, having prepared a solution according to the instructions. After they swell, you should make a small depression in the center and insert the cut cutting into it.
To root a petunia cutting, cut it with a sterile knife above the fifth leaf. Then remove the lower leaves and cut the largest upper leaves in half.
After this, plant the cuttings in peat tablets and press them with your fingers at the base of the stem.
Cover the container with cuttings with a transparent lid with holes and place it in a warm, well-lit place, but not in direct sunlight. Make sure that the temperature in the improvised greenhouse does not rise above 25°C. After the roots appear, which will protrude beyond the mesh material, transplant the cutting into a container with nutritious soil.
Peat tablets have proven themselves well, as they improve seed germination, facilitate the cultivation of seedlings, and reduce the risk of various infections. However, due to the high cost, the use of this product is not always justified, especially when it comes to growing a large number of seedlings.
