Cultivation of many vegetable crops ( leeks , tomatoes , cabbages, peppers) involves the planting of ready-made seedlings in the open ground. For this, it is necessary to take a sufficiently large number of small containers. Most often, disposable plastic cups are used for these purposes. But for the convenience of gardeners, cassettes for seedlings were invented, in which it is much more convenient to cultivate any plants.
The principle of using cassettes for seedlings
The cassette is a container divided into a number of cells into which cylinders filled with substrate or peat pills are inserted. Then in each of them 1-2 seeds are put, and further the gardener acts according to recommendations on cultivation of the given plant.
Before filling the cells with soil, a small hole must be made in the bottom, this will prevent water stagnation. The use of such cassettes has a lot of positive points:
- the planting material is saved;
- the roots of the seedlings are not traumatized, since there is no need to dive them, so the root system is stronger;
- easily transported;
- each sprout develops on its own, because no one interferes with it and there is an opportunity to create the necessary conditions for it (light or shadow);
- facilitating the care and control of plant growth, which increases the number of plants grown;
- The absence of diseases that are usually carried through the soil.
The only drawbacks are that the soil dries out faster and this design is worth the money (but small). These insignificant shortcomings are compensated by the listed advantages. Or you can additionally purchase a transparent cover, and then you will have a mini hothouse.
Types of cassettes for seedlings
Two varieties of cassettes for seedlings are distinguished: plastic and peat. The first are convenient because they can be used repeatedly, and the latter - by transplanting without damaging the root system, since the glass in which we land into the ground, then simply decomposes. Peat, it is naturally more expensive to use, but for plants with very tender roots it is simply necessary.
There are cassettes with and without pallets. The first are very convenient for growing plants in the home, as the possibility of pouring a window sill is excluded. But the cost of such products is higher, so if there is no special need, you can do without a pallet.
Also, the cassettes for seedlings differ in size: width, length (these parameters depend on the number of cells) and depth. They can be on any number of cells (32, 40, 46, 50, 64, etc.). Cells, where the seeds are planted, also come in different sizes (from 4.5 cm to 11 cm). The sections themselves can also be of different shapes (round, square, polygonal).
The choice of which one to purchase a cassette for planting seedlings depends first of all on how much free space there is where you are going to put it, and in the second - what exactly you need to grow. After all, each plant has its own characteristics of development of the root system.
What can be grown in cassettes for seedlings?
In any seedlings you can grow both vegetables and flowers. Most often, tapes are used for seedlings of tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, zucchini and squash, and strawberries and strawberries.
Most plastic cassettes are used for a long time (3-5 years), but not all of them can be used for so long. If you bought a product made of high-quality polystyrene, then yes, but if not, by the end of the first season it will most likely crack you.
Cassettes for seedlings can be made by yourself, for this you should divide a large box into small cells with strips of cardboard or plastic.