During the months of January, February and March, especially in Mediterranean climates, we will prepare the seedlings of tomatoes, peppers, eggplants i summer lettuces. From April onwards, we can start planting or direct sowing the rest of the summer vegetables, such as: melon and watermelon, the different species of pumpkin, beans and kidney beans, or the wheat from the Indies.
To make a good seedling, you need to get good soil. Generally, people who tend to make large quantities prepare their own mixture with different components such as peat, coconut fiber or vermiculite. It is important to remember that some of these ingredients can have a significant impact on the ecosystems where they come from.
There are also bags of substrate ready for making seedlings on the market. However, we can also prepare it ourselves with local ingredients and with a lower ecological impact. For example, we can use compost, worm castings and garden soil.
As for the containers to contain the substrate and seeds, we can use alveoli trays, where each plant has its own defined space. There are plastic ones, but we can also easily find cardboard ones.
Another option is to reuse milk or juice cartons, yogurt containers or plastic bottles. If we prefer a more traditional method, we can also prepare a wooden box with soil inside. In the event that the plants do not have their defined space, we will have to be careful when separating them, since the roots may have formed a kind of network. We can also explore other methods, such as block planter.
If we start preparing the seedling during January or February, we will make sure to place it in a place with a good temperature. It can be in a greenhouse, on a sunny balcony protecting the trays with glass or plastic, or inside the house, near a window with good light. Another very effective option is to place the seedling on a very active compost pile, taking advantage of the heat it generates during the decomposition process.
Once we have a clear idea of the container and substrate, we need to choose the varieties we will plant. It is important to make good planning based on what we will consume or how we will consume it, the space we have and the fertility of the seed.
We will proceed to fill the chosen container without pressing the substrate too much, but making sure that it is very full. Then, with our fingers, we will make small holes. You must remember that the seed does not need to be buried very deep; in general, it should have a layer of soil on top that is approximately twice its size or diameter. Then, we will place one or two seeds in each hole and cover them with a thin layer of soil. Some people put a little vermiculite on top to help maintain humidity.
Then, water the seedling abundantly, taking care not to displace the seeds with the water. We can also opt for watering with a tray: in this case, the seedling must be placed in a container that can contain at least a finger of water so that the substrate absorbs it by capillary action.
From there, it's a matter of time. Not all seeds germinate at the same rate, and not the same seed will germinate the same way in January as in April. It depends on many factors. In general, they can start to germinate in three or four days or take two or three weeks.
The most important thing during this period is to keep the substrate very moist. Once they start to germinate, you will need to watch out for pests such as snails or slugs, as if they eat the tender shoots the plant will no longer be able to regenerate.
When the plants have grown a little and have several well-formed leaves, it will be time to transplant them to the garden or to their final location.
Important note! If we plant the plant indoors and next to a window, it will need to be turned daily, as the plants will lean towards the light. The best option is to place it in a place where it can receive light from all directions; this way we ensure that the plants will grow straight and strong.
