Are you going to sow? If you like to grow your plants from scratch, that is, since they are seeds, it is very interesting to have things on hand that can serve as a seedbed. For example, the yogurt cups, but they exist commercial alternatives which can be highly recommended, especially those that maintain the temperature for winter.
For most plants it is interesting to make a protected sowing in seedbedSince in addition to protecting the seedlings, it will allow us to make better use of the space in the orchard or garden, making the selection of the plants that we are going to grow in the seedbed and taking them to the final container when they already have a certain development.
What types of seedbeds are there?
There is a great variety of seedbeds, both at the market and at home. So, let's see which ones are available in each location:
Fx Market
There are different types of seedbeds on the market:
- Plastic cells (in trays or individual). Their advantage is that they can be reused, as long as they are washed well after each use.
- Alveoli of peat (in trays or individual). Peat is a type of substrate. When constituting the container, in the transplant it is not necessary to remove the root ball, the entire socket is planted, and thus the impact on the plants is less.
- Pills of pressed peat. They are comfortable, since it is not necessary to add extra substrate, you just have to wet the tablet.
- Seedbeds protected. Some seedbeds include a transparent lid to avoid damage from frost or temperature changes, or to advance planting.
- Electric germinator. In winter we ensure a temperature above 20 degrees. It facilitates the germination of our seeds and prevents damage from frost or changes in temperature.
At home
In homes there are many things that can serve as a seedbed. They are also a good way to save money and also to help protect the environment. For example, these are the most recommended:
- Plastic bottles: yogurt cups, milk containers, bottles, ... They are practical, waterproof, and therefore useful for plants to germinate without problems. Of course, clean them well beforehand with water and a little soap, and make one or two small holes in the base.
- Laminated cardboard boxes: You will have an excuse to take home the shoe boxes. Once you are going to plant something in them, wrap them with plastic (they can be shopping bags) and make a hole in the base.
- Paper rolls: Once you have finished with the paper, the cardboard will be very useful as a seedbed. Laminate it, then fold it so that one end is covered. After making a small hole in the base, you can fill it with substrate and sow.
- Eggshells: if they are split in half and opened carefully, then you just have to clean the inside with a little water and fill them with peat. The only thing is that you have to bear in mind that, as they are quite small, they will serve you for a very limited time, only until the seeds germinate and have grown a little.
What are the advantages of seedlings?
Sowing in seedbeds It has several advantages over direct sowing into the ground. I have been in the gardening world for many years (since 2006), and I have had the opportunity to experience both types of planting. Without a doubt, I will keep the seedbeds. Here's why:
You are in control from the first moment
When you are going to plant in a seedbed, you know how many seeds you have, and you decide how many you are going to put in each one. In addition, by having them in a very specific place, irrigation is much more efficient, since you know exactly where the seeds are and the size of the container you used to sow them. To learn more about growing techniques, you may be interested in how to make a home garden and optimize resources in your crop.
If you sow them in the garden, although you could set up indicators, it's actually a bit difficult to monitor the sowing. Once watered, the force of the water could carry the seeds to another location or cause them to clump together.
The risk of seed spoiling is lower
The seeds have many enemies, not only herbivorous animals but also microorganisms, such as parasitic fungi. In a hotbed It is relatively easy to prevent them from having problems, since all you have to do is control irrigation and carry out preventive treatments with some fungicide. (I recommend copper or sulfur powder in spring and autumn, and fungicide spray in summer).
On the contrary, if you choose to sow them in the ground, both pests and microorganisms will take advantage of the slightest oversight to do their own thing.
You can sow at any time of the year
They allow you to advance the season, or extend it, something that can't be done if you plant in the ground, where you're highly dependent on environmental factors. A seedbed can also be as comprehensive as you'd like: a simple plastic tray with a lid will let you germinate vegetable seeds in the middle of winter, but if you want to plant palm trees, putting a thermal blanket underneath will get them growing at any time of year (as long as they're viable seeds). For this purpose, you may also be interested in: How to know what season plants are in and make better use of seedbeds.
You choose the substrate
This is perhaps the most important reason. Sowing in the ground is fine, but only for plants that will germinate in the soil you have in your garden or orchard. That is, if you have clay soil and wanted to germinate heather in it, it wouldn't work well, since those plants only grow in soils with a low pH (between 4 and 6), not in the 7-8 range found in clay soils. To learn more about soil care, you may be interested in: orange tree diseases and the optimal conditions for each plant.
Therefore, seedbeds are an opportunity to germinate seeds of any type of plant, since you can choose the substrate that best suits your needs.
And you, do you prefer to sow in seedbeds or in the ground?