Summer residents were told how to water seedlings so that there is no black leg

The black leg, or lodging of seedlings, is caused by bacteria, fungi and mushroom-like organisms that belong to different genera: Erwinia, Rhizoctonia, Olpidium, Pythium, Fusarium, and so on. The causative agents of root and root rot live in the surface layers of the soil and feed mainly on dead plant tissues, but under certain conditions, in contact with the roots and root neck of living plants, pathogens pass to them.

Most often, seedlings suffer from root and root rot under the following conditions:

– cold soil;

– sudden changes in temperature;

– thickened crops;

– poor air circulation;

– excessive watering;

– heavy acidic soil;

– a large amount of nitrogen fertilizers.

Of course, it is far from always possible to create ideal conditions for growing seedlings. But we can try to reduce the risk of lodging seedlings. And you need to start with the preparation of the soil.

Since the source of infection is most often the soil, it is worth paying special attention to its composition and processing. For growing seedlings, it is desirable to use soil based on deoxidized high-moor peat, which has high porosity and contains phenolic compounds that prevent the appearance of root and root rot.

If we grow seedlings with subsequent picking, then it is quite possible to use a coconut or peat substrate mixed with baking powder (sand, perlite or vermiculite) for sowing seeds. This will significantly reduce the risk of black leg seedlings being damaged.

But there are many cultures that do not tolerate picking and transplanting. These are, for example, cucumbers, zucchini, melons, eggplants, peppers, etc. It is advisable to sow the seeds of these plants in a cut in separate containers filled with a more fertile substrate. In order for the seedlings to have enough nutrition for a long time, it is advisable to mix peat with biohumus, compost or mature humus.

Whatever crop we grow, we always need to follow the seeding rates. After all, the less often they are sown, the stronger and healthier the seedlings will be. Cabbage and tomato seeds are usually sown according to the 3 × 4 cm pattern, pepper and eggplant seeds are laid out at a distance of 4-5 cm from each other, and it is even better to sow them immediately in separate pots or collapsible cassettes.

But some gardeners thicken crops to save space on the windowsill. As a result, the seedlings grow weak, thin, shade each other, air circulation becomes difficult – and the plants get sick more often. Therefore, it is better to sow fewer seeds, but grow strong and healthy seedlings. Water the seedlings as the soil dries out, using settled water, the temperature of which is several degrees higher than room temperature. The frequency of watering depends on the temperature and humidity of the air in the room, on the composition of the soil mixture and the depth of the container with seedlings. The best time to water is in the morning. When watering seedlings, make sure the soil is moist throughout the container, not just the top. If the seedlings grow in individual pots, it is advisable to loosen the topsoil after each watering to prevent the formation of a crust and maintain soil air permeability. The fact is that through damage to the roots, which often happens as a result of transplantation, fungi of the genus Verticillium and Fusarium, which live in the soil and cause tracheomycosis withering of plants, can enter the vascular system of plants. Therefore, biopreparations.