Have you ever been in the situation where you had too many seeds to sow and you didn’t have enough pots, but yes seedbeds? Yes? Well look, there are already two of us. Although tree seeds are ideally sown in forest seedbeds or in individual pots, horticultural seedbeds can also serve us. In addition to being inexpensive, they can be reused for several years.
Today we will explain the step by step of how they are planted in these seedbeds, which, apparently, are too small for the trees.
The materials you will need are:
- Hotbed
- Substratum
- Watering can
- Water
Once you have everything ready, you can start sowing the seeds.
Step by step
Step 1 – Fill the seedbed with substrate and water
It is highly recommended to add more substrate than we think necessary. To make sure, we will take another seedbed of the same dimensions, we will put it on top, and we will press down. Next – and here is the trick so that the seeds remain a little “stuck” to the substrate – we will water abundantly.
In the case of trees, it will be enough to place 1 or 2 seeds in each socket. If they are large, like the ones shown in the photo, it will be enough to place 1 in each one. If they are very small or of doubtful germination, we can place up to a maximum of 3.
Of course, we must not forget to put a label with the name of the species and the sowing date. This label will help us keep track of germination.
Step 3 – Cover the seeds with substrate and water
Next, we will cover the seeds with a thin layer of substrate, and we will water abundantly.
Step 4 – Choosing a place to place the seedbed
Now that we have the seeds sown in the nursery, we will only have to put them in a location that facilitates germination of the seeds. As a general rule, they should be placed in full sun, but depending on the season of the year in which you are and the species of the seed itself, it will be more advisable to put it in semi-shade. For example, Japanese maples (Maple palmate) germinate best in semi-shade, but tropical or warm-climate trees generally prefer to be in full sun from young. In any case, you should avoid placing the seedlings in the shade or inside the home. Well, the growth problems of trees that germinate under these conditions are very frequent.
The use of ecological fungicides and insecticides can help prevent diseases and / or pests, both to seeds and seedlings. Because the substrate must be kept moist on a daily basis, fungi will not hesitate to attack the seedlings once they sprout. One of the measures to avoid them is to use a new substrate, but sometimes this is not enough, and that is why the preventive use of fungicide -more recommended if it is ecological, as we say- it is very advisable.
