Читать книгу Home Gardener's Propagation (UK Only) - David Squire - Страница 87

As soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle, they must be transferred (‘pricked off’) so that each has more space in which to develop, and an increase in light and air. Seedlings left clustered together become weak and etiolated, and more susceptible to diseases than those with a good circulation of air around them. It is better to transfer seedlings when young, rather than leaving them until large, tough and tightly clustered.

1 After germination, remove the cover. Whenever the compost shows signs of drying out, water the seedlings by standing the seed-tray (flat) in a bowl shallowly filled with water (see opposite page).

2 When the seedlings are large enough to handle, water them from below. Then use a small fork to lift a few seedlings and place them on damp newspaper.

3 Fill and firm the compost in another seed-tray. Use a small dibber (dibble) to make holes, keeping the outer row 12 mm (½ in) from the sides of the tray.

4 Hold a seedling by one of its leaves and insert the roots into a hole (to the same depth as before). Gently firm the compost around the seedlings.

5 When the seed-tray is full, gently tap the tray’s edges to level any loose compost. Water carefully from above to settle the compost around the roots, Then proceed as described below.

COVERING THE SEED-TRAY (FLAT)

After you have sown the seeds, the tray (flat) needs to be covered to prevent the surface of the compost drying out. There are a couple of ways of doing this:

• The traditional method is to place a piece of glass over the seed-tray (flat). However, because condensation forms on the underside, you must wipe the glass clear each morning, then invert it so that the dry side is facing the compost. To create a dark environment (this is needed by most seeds to aid germination), place some newspaper on top of the glass.

• More recently, transparent plastic ‘lids’ that fit seed-trays have been produced, and these are ideal where children might approach the seedlings and cut themselves on the glass. Again, cover with newspaper (see right).

To create darkness, cover the glass or plastic lid with newspaper