Timing and technology for planting broccoli for seedlings and caring for seedlings at home

Broccoli is grown non-seedling or seedling method. In the latter case, it is important to take into account the nuances of care that young plants need and the optimal timing of sowing seeds. Then the seedlings will develop well and by the time they are transplanted into the beds they will have formed a strong root system. Let's look at the features of planting broccoli for seedlings at home.

When to plant broccoli seedlings

Sowing dates depend on the climate of the region. In the conditions of central Russia and the Moscow region, seeds are sown from the end of March to the beginning of April, in the Urals and Siberia - in early March, and in the southern regions, for example, in the Astrakhan and Volgograd regions - in February.

When to sow broccoli according to the lunar calendar in 2020:

How to sow seeds correctly

To achieve a positive result and obtain strong, healthy seedlings, it is necessary properly prepare planting material and select a suitable substrate and container.

Preparation of planting material

Seed preparation includes several stages:

1. Sorting. Large or medium-sized grains are suitable for sowing; all small and damaged specimens are removed.For calibration, use a grid with cells of approximately 1.5 mm or place the seeds in a salt solution for 5 minutes and discard those that float.
2. Disinfection. To disinfect and prevent the development of diseases, the seed is soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate for half an hour or poured with hot (+60°C) water for 25 minutes and then washed with cold.
3. Germination. Seeds are soaked for 2-3 hours in water or a growth stimulant, for example, Heteroauxin, Zircon or Kornevin. Then they are washed, put in the refrigerator for a day, and then dried.

Take note:

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Simple and tasty broccoli preparations for the winter

Soil and container for seedlings

This cabbage grows well in nutritious, loose soil with good aeration and moisture permeability. To independently prepare a suitable substrate, mix rotted manure or compost with turf soil or a peat-sand mixture in equal proportions. Wood ash is added to the resulting soil mixture as a source of macro- and microelements.

Important! You cannot use soil from the garden, especially from where cruciferous vegetables previously grew. This disruption of crop rotation will increase the likelihood of disease development.

Self-prepared substrate is disinfected: 10-15 days before sowing the seeds, it is calcined in the oven for 15 minutes, and after cooling, it is spilled with a solution of potassium permanganate.

Wooden boxes are used to grow seedlings in large quantities., plastic containers or special cassettes. For a small number of plantings, the seeds are sown in smaller containers, for example, plastic cups. The main thing is the presence of drainage holes at the bottom.

Seed planting process

How to plant broccoli - sowing scheme:

1. Pour expanded clay as a drainage layer and substrate onto the bottom of the prepared container.
2. Make planting grooves on the surface of the soil with a maximum depth of 1.5 cm or small depressions if we are talking about sowing in individual containers.
3. Sow the seeds at a distance of 3 cm from each other, and if using separate pots, place several grains in one hole.
4. Sprinkle the top of the planting with soil or peat.
5. Cover the containers with polyethylene and put them in a warm place at a temperature not lower than +18…+20°C.

How to care for broccoli seedlings

Proper care of seedlings is the key to obtaining healthy, high-quality plants and a rich harvest.. Therefore, it is necessary to provide seedlings with proper care and create the most comfortable conditions for them.

Hydration

The frequency of watering broccoli seedlings depends on the drying rate top layer of soil. It must always be moistened - lack of moisture leads to the death of plants. At the same time, excessive watering is the main cause of the development of diseases, for example clubroot or blackleg.

For watering use only settled water at room temperature.

Picking

Picking is carried out when the seedlings are 14 days old. This procedure involves transplanting seedlings into a larger container, which has a positive effect on the growth and development of the above-ground part and root system.

The container with seedlings is watered in advance, the sprouts are removed and placed in individual or larger containers.

Before seedlings are planted, they are protected from direct sunlight. and kept at a temperature of +20…+22°C. Then the average day temperature is maintained at +16...+18°C, and the night temperature within +7...+9°C.

Top dressing

Seedlings are fed 2-3 days after picking, watering it with a solution of “Nitroammofoski” (2 tablespoons per 10 liters of water).

Hardening

14 days before planting in the beds, the seedlings are taken outside. At first it is left there for several hours, but gradually the time is increased. A few days before planting, the seedlings are left outside overnight.

Read also:

How to properly freeze broccoli for the winter

How to freeze white cabbage for the winter

How to properly freeze Brussels sprouts

When to plant in open ground

Seedlings are transferred to the beds 35-50 days after germination. By this time, the plants reach a height of 10-15 cm and have 5-7 leaves.

Plants are replanted in the spring, when the average daily air temperature is at least +15°C, early in the morning or in cloudy weather. More precise dates depend on the cabbage variety and the region where the crop is cultivated.

In Siberia and the Urals, seedlings are transplanted into open ground from the third decade of May to mid-June, and in the Moscow region and central Russia - in early May.

Reference. Due to the risk of return frosts, the beds are covered with lutrasil, spunbond or other protective material.

Conclusion

Growing broccoli from seeds is not particularly difficult and does not require much effort. It is only important to take into account the climatic conditions of the region where the crop is cultivated, since the timing of sowing seeds and transplanting seedlings into open ground depends on this.