How to Select Soil for Seedlings

The quality of seedlings depends on the selection of soil for its cultivation. The complexity of soil selection is determined by the huge variety of species, types and characteristics of soils that are sold in stores. Firms-manufacturers in this area are not even tens, but hundreds. In addition, they are constantly changing, all stores are represented by their suppliers, and it is almost impossible to choose a primer for the company. Therefore, it is better to be guided by the characteristics that the soil for seedlings possesses.

Requirements for soil for seedlings

  First of all, it must meet the requirements of the cultivated crop (soil for seedlings of tomatoes, eggplant, cucumber, etc.). Each culture grows better in a specially selected for her land. It is better not to buy on the "universal" mark: most often such soils are not suitable at all for any crops.

Soil for seedlings should be a certain composition. Most of them are oversaturated with peat. Peat is good as a loosening additive, but in itself it is not suitable for growing plants. There is no point even trying to germinate seeds in pure peat. If you purchased the soil and found that instead of the promised soil mixture there is peat in it, be sure to add sand, fertilizers and create a real mixture yourself.

How to determine the quality of the soil?

Determine the qualities that the purchased soil has for growing seedlings, even an experienced dacha player can not. Only laboratory specialists can do this. Nevertheless, there are some methods of determining the quality of the soil by its appearance and touch. Of course, they will not give 100% confidence in the proper quality, but in many respects will help to avoid mistakes that lead to the death of seedlings.

Soil to the touch should not be viscous, sticky, too dense. It should not be clearly visible sand, spots of salt, large undecomposed remnants. The land should not be "fatty". The soil composition for seedlings must be structured so that it can pass air and water well.

In case of abnormalities, shoots may be depressed, they will get sore, plants may rot, leaves become brown or discolor.

Control purchase

A selective study of several soils purchased in stores yielded the following results.

Nourishing soil "Flower" (Moscow, "Fasco"), 2 liters

Loose soil with the presence of sand and expanded clay. Suitable for planting flowers and growing flower seedlings.

"Living Land" (St. Petersburg, "Fart"), 5 liters

The earth is pleasant to the touch, with undecomposed remnants of herbaceous organic substances, really "alive". You can safely buy for growing seedlings of vegetables, flowers and berry crops.

Soil-ground universal "Biofort" (Moscow, "Technopromintorg"), 2.5 liters.

The ground is too light, with lumps of undecomposed organic residues indicating low quality. It is better not to buy.

Universal vegetable vegetable "Boud" (Korolev, "ECO-Agti"), 5 liters

Solid peat with large inclusions of expanded clay and spillage. Based on the results of checking the purchased samples, this primer for seedlings was the worst on the list.

Nutritious soil "Green sign is a sprout of luck" (Moscow, "ANT" Company), 5 liters

Good soil, loose, but fertilizer is clearly not enough. For seedlings it is suitable, but it will be necessary to feed fertilizers.

How do experienced summer residents do?

Those who do not grow seedlings for the first time buy seedlings for seedlings in more than one package. They buy several mixtures, choose the right one, and only after that they need to get the number of packages. You can also mix soil from several packages to get the right mix, but for this you need to be almost professional.

Those who are interested in high germination and health of seedlings, prefer to buy not domestic, but imported mixtures. No matter how much we would like to oppose this patriotic protest, it will not work. Imported mixtures are really better and more reliable. The best producers are the brand "Giinland" (Germany).