GREENHOUSE FOR SEEDLINGS: TYPES AND METHODS OF USE

Experienced gardeners know that the seedlings grown on the street is much stronger than indoor plants. At the onset of the first warm days, it is more expedient to remove the seedlings of vegetable crops from the premises so that it becomes tempered and accustomed to the open air.

To protect it during this period, special greenhouses and mini-greenhouses are used.

Terms of planting seedlings

Planting time for temporary shelters depends on air temperature. Usually acceptable conditions come to end of april. Controlling night temperatures should begin in March. It is necessary to break up the greenhouse and begin to warm up the soil in it for planting when the average night temperature reaches above 8 degrees, while the daytime should not fall below 15.

For earlier disembarkation can be done "warm bed" in the form of a pillow of manure and compost under the soil. Such biofuel heating will increase the temperature under the shelter and help the plants protect themselves from night frosts.

Also, in earlier terms, you can start using a greenhouse when planting more cold-resistant crops, such as cabbage, in it.

With the planting of heat-loving crops (peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers), you should not hurry.

First, make sure that the temperature in it does not drop below 10 degrees at night, otherwise your plants will start to ache and slow down their growth.

When disembarking, consider the possibility of return frost and prepare additional shelter. This role can be performed by an additional layer of film or covering material, as well as an old blanket or blanket, with which the greenhouse should be covered overnight.

Types of greenhouses

Depending on the location of the structures for growing seedlings, they are divided into two kinds:

1. Mini greenhouses
Used indoors (in the apartment or on the balcony). Purpose of their use - greenhouse conditions for seed germination.

The basis of their drawers are small height covered with glass. The function of the cover is to accumulate and retain heat for germination. Germination in such conditions increases significantly.

To save space for the boxes, a kind of tiered shelf is provided. Additionally, this design is covered with a transparent film cap. Such a structure with boxes in a positive temperature convenient to hold on the covered balcony or loggiaswhere there will be enough light for seedlings, and it will not stretch out as if it were kept in an apartment.

2. Hotbeds
This is the same greenhouse, which is used for growing vegetables, but different from it in small size. There are several configurations of such mini-greenhouses. Main condition for their design - creation of favorable conditions for vegetables. Under the shelter should be appropriate temperature and humidity, as well as light and nutritious soil.

Greenhouses for seedlings in the garden area are of different types.

The simplest are arc. Their frame is made of plastic or metal pipes. Cover them recommended plastic film, as it retains heat well and allows the soil to warm up faster for transplanting.

As an option, you can use a greenhouse based on wooden box, covered with an old window frame or a frame of rails covered with film. For better access of light in this design, the rear wall is made higher than the front.

Height greenhouse for seedlings should be small, for better preservation of heat in it.

What to land?

The purpose of using street or balcony shelters for seedlings is their adaptation to the conditions of further cultivation. If the plants are taken out on the street and immediately transplanted into the open ground, there is risk of their death. Such seedlings are weak, elongated, not used to the sun's rays.

Sowing vegetables for seedlings begins in February on ambient conditions on window sills, then the plants dive into mini-greenhouses on loggias and mini-greenhouses for seedlings.

By the time of cultivation and transfer to greenhouses cultures are divided into:

Early - celery, pepper, eggplant, cauliflower, leek. Sown from late February to mid-March.
Average - cucumber, zucchini, pumpkin. The term of sowing is the beginning of April.
Late - cabbage, asparagus. The seedlings of these crops are grown in a greenhouse, starting with sowing, which is done in late April.

Dates of sowing seeds for seedlings of early and medium crops are calculated in such a way that they are picked at a time when the soil in the greenhouse is warm enough for the seedlings.

Vegetable sprouts dive into a mini-greenhouse for seedlings and cover them with the cold.

Seedlings grown in a greenhouse or mini-greenhouse strongtempered. From such a seedling there is an opportunity to get a rich harvest of vegetables.

If a “warm bed” is made in the greenhouse, it is possible to sow the seeds immediately into the greenhouse and swoop down the plants in the phase of one or two true leaves. So get seedlings for open ground or greenhouses.

Popular brands

Modern industry produces many greenhouses of various sizes and configurations. The most popular and most successful, according to customer reviews, are the following models:

"Palram Sun Tunnel". Mini greenhouse with polycarbonate coating. Designed for landing landing. Weight less than one kilogram. It has two holes for ventilation. Maximal light transmission. It is fixed with four pegs supplied in the kit. This greenhouse does not require additional assembly, is fully ready for use.
"Innovator Mini". At the base is a solid-curved profile 20 mm in diameter. Height - 80 - 100 cm. It is fixed in the ground with four piles-clamps. It is equipped with a lid with a double-sided opening, which is very convenient in the care of plants and ensures their maximum illumination on warm days. Easy to assemble.
"PDM -7". Portable mini-greenhouse for the garden plot. It has 7 sections of arc plastic frame. The coating is two-variant: polycarbonate or film. All greenhouse tubes are connected manually, without the use of any tools. For assembly, a set of tees and connecting elements is provided.
"Lazy". Frame arc, height 70-80 cm. Coating - covering material brand "Agrotex", density 35g / m², with special protection from ultraviolet rays.
"Planet - a garden". Mini greenhouse for the balcony. There are options with two and three shelves. The base is made of metal-plastic. The kit includes a plastic case with a zipper.

Using a greenhouse for seedlings - the possibility of obtaining an early crop of vegetables on their own site. Choose the option that is right for you in terms of price and size, and you will have the opportunity to grow strong, seasoned vegetable seedlings.