Hardening of seedlings

Before planting seedlings in the open ground, the seedling must be tempered.

The hardening process consists in the fact that plants grown in rooms and greenhouses with further transplanting into the ground are gradually exposed to lower temperatures close to the environmental conditions in order to reduce the likelihood of subsequent delay in plant growth when they fall into unusual conditions.

Young plants grown in a greenhouse under glass or in the sparing conditions of a warm apartment are very tender and sensitive, and their resistance to low temperatures, fluctuations in daytime and night temperatures, increased sun exposure, wind and limited access to moisture should be increased. Hardening is necessary to ensure that the seedlings are better rooted in the new open ground conditions for it, quickly established itself, without experiencing a delay in development, and did not get sick. Otherwise, plants will suffer, trying to adapt and cope with the impact of unusual factors, and weakened plants may even die. For the purpose of hardening for 10-14 days before transplanting into the open ground, the watering of seedlings is gradually limited, reducing its need for moisture. In addition, gradually increasing the ventilation of greenhouses until the complete removal of frames, even at night, and at home open the windows, thus adjusting the plants to the lower temperatures. In the last 3-4 nights it is recommended to leave the plants at all without cover. Hardened seedlings are not very strong with a dense dark green foliage, plants have a good tonus. Seedlings of cabbage crops in the process of hardening on leaves a protective wax coating.

Seedlings grown in the apartment are recommended to be tempered during the entire growing period, and not just before planting in the open ground. For this, at the stage of emergence, it is necessary to gradually lower the night temperature first to 17-15 ° C, then to 15-10 ° C.If the area and height of the seedlings are not too large, the tray can be placed on the lowest shelf of the refrigerator, where the temperature does not exceed 8-10 ° C.But it is more rational to achieve the necessary temperature by airing. In this case, you should be careful not to freeze the seedlings, so it is recommended that it be fenced off from the open window with film. At too low a temperature in the street, the window leaf should not be opened. Hardened seedlings in this way are low, sturdy and hardy, it can withstand even small spring frosts in the open ground. .. .