A vegetable seed nursery is set apart for raising or handling young vegetable seedlings until they are ready for more permanent planting.
Nurseries are set up in containers, boxes, or regular seedbeds. Whichever set-up you use, make sure the area you choose is flat.
Before sowing the seeds for germination, you need to do several things to ensure the soil condition is conducive enough.
At Lion farm, we have various vegetable seeds to choose from. Head on over to our shop: https://tropika.co.ke/shop/
Soil sterilization is a crucial step when it comes to preparing your seedbeds. It helps eliminate microorganisms in the soil that may cause diseases and harm your seedlings.
The easiest and cheapest way to do this is by using the sun's heat. This method is known as solarisation. Here's how you go about it:-
This process will help your seedlings increase their productivity rate.
You can also consider chemical sterilization, but it is usually expensive and can cause soil pollution.
We recommend setting up your nurseries 50 meters away from the central farms to avoid pests and diseases.
Ensure that the area chosen for your nurseries is easily accessible and away from foot traffic, especially from your livestock.
You can read more on soil sterilization from: https://www.makeitmissoula.com/2021/05/understanding-the-importance-of-soil-sterilization/
As you're preparing your seedbeds for planting, you need to consider the seeds you want to use. Seeds selected or purchased need to have the ideal and preferred qualities.
It's okay to re-use seeds that have worked for you from a previous harvest, or you can opt to buy certified seeds from reputable seed companies.
Once you have chosen your seeds, you can do a seed test a week before the main sowing to make sure the seeds grow into seedlings. That will help you avoid losses and will also help you increase your level of productivity.
Before sowing your seeds, you need to prepare them for planting. First, soak your seeds in hot water to soften them up.
Drill thinly in rows 10cm apart and cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil.
Cover the bed with dry grass lightly to help maintain soil moisture and keep the plants warm enough, creating an environment conducive to seedling growth. We call it mulching.
As you take care of your seedbed, ensure that your seedlings get enough sunlight and shade while also watering them as often as possible to grow well.
You will start seeing growth in 5-7 days after sowing.
Seedlings don't need fertilizer in the first week of germination because the cotyledons (seeds) have the required nutrition to sustain seedling growth.
After 5-7 days, the seedlings may require a certain amount of nutrition. This added nutrition in fertilizers is essential to boost your seedlings' growth.
Nitrogen and phosphorus are two essential nutrients for growing seedlings to promote plant growth. And a lot of fertilizers contain these nutrients in them.
We advise that you use them as directed when you get these fertilizers. Too much of it or less of it may hurt your seedlings' development.
Remember to water your seedlings often, as water plays an essential part in your seedlings' growth.
With some of the things we've mentioned before, we advise that you have your seedbed at least 50 meters apart from the main farm to avoid certain pests and diseases. So make sure your site location is ideal.
It is advisable to use herbicides and weed chemicals recommended for seedlings.
And as you keep a close eye on your seedbed, you can choose to handpick the weeds that pop up. Then, dot it carefully to avoid damage to your seedlings.
Pests and diseases can be a complete menace to your seedbed that can cause significant losses, so you need to keep a close eye on them.
It's essential to always keep a close eye on anything strange and new that may appear in your seedbed. That way, you can easily control them before they get out of hand.
It's also essential to know the proper insecticides for your seedlings.
Some significant pests and diseases affect seedlings in the nursery:-
Seedlings are usually ready for transplanting in the five leafed stage, which characteristics include:-
While transplanting the seedlings, you should do it carefully and delicately to allow the seedlings to thrive in the main field.