Sowing soil: what is it and what advantages does it bring?

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Sowing soil: what is it and what advantages does it bring?
Sowing soil: what is it and what advantages does it bring?
Anonim

Sowing or growing soil is a special soil that promotes the growth of seedlings and young plants. This article will tell you where you can buy good sowing soil commercially or even make it yourself.

sowing soil
sowing soil

Where do you buy good seed soil or how do you make it?

Good sowing soil is low in nutrients and germ-free and can be purchased in specialist retailers, online shops or discounters. When purchasing, pay attention to quality, ingredients and pH value. Homemade sowing soil consists of garden soil, sand and mature compost that are carefully sifted, mixed and sterilized with heat.

Buy sowing soil – this is what you should pay attention to

Sowing soil can be purchased in many stores and from numerous suppliers. They are available in very different qualities both in specialist shops and on the Internet or even at discounters. Given this large selection, the question naturally arises as to which characteristics can be used to recognize good sowing soil? After all, not all products offer the same quality and many hobby gardeners have had to worry about poor germination rates and/or sick young plants because the selected substrate type did not have the required quality. So that you don't have to worry, we have summarized the most important selection criteria here.

The most important criteria

Sowing soil should provide seedlings and young plants with optimal starting conditions. These are particularly the case when the substrate has the following properties:

  • nutrient poor
  • free from or low in mineral s alts
  • germ-free (also free of fungal spores and weed seeds)
  • loose and airy
  • permeable to water and air

You can first determine the quality of the sowing soil by checking the information on the packaging and then by taking a sample. The packaging provides information about the respective ingredients and the pH value of the substrate. This should ideally be between 5 and 6.5.

sowing soil
sowing soil

Sowing soil is crumbly, loose and slightly moist

Take a sample of the substrate (€6.00 on Amazon) in your hand and feel it between your fingers. The earth should

  • loose and crumbly
  • easy
  • and a little damp (but not wet!)

feel. Good sowing soil also smells pleasantly of “soil” and has no unpleasant or even smelly odor. In this case, unpleasant smells are always an indication of poor quality.

Where should you buy seed soil?

Further information about the quality of the sowing soil includes the manufacturer and the place of sale. Basically, you should not buy “no-name” soil from discount stores, as these cheapest products are almost always of poor quality and your plants will not grow as well as desired. In addition, these soils often contain fungal spores and other pathogens; It also often happens that weeds suddenly grow out of them. You are actually best advised to go with the higher-priced branded products, although of course not everything that glitters is gold: just because a product is expensive doesn't mean it has to be of good quality. Therefore, be sure to look at the list of ingredients and check the sowing soil before use.

Excursus

Is peat-free sowing soil any good?

No question: peat is a good water reservoir and has long been used successfully in crop cultivation. Unfortunately, peat mining also has a serious impact on the environment, which is why this raw material can no longer be recommended in good conscience. The extraction of peat from the few remaining moors destroys these unique natural landscapes with their rare flora and fauna - irreversibly. Instead, large amounts of the climate-damaging gas CO2 are released during the mining and use of peat, which in turn contributes to omnipresent global warming. Fortunately, there are a few alternatives that are just as suitable for sowing soil as peat. When buying, make sure the soil is as peat-free as possible.

Make your own seed soil

On the other hand, you don't necessarily have to buy good sowing soil, you can also mix it yourself for a fraction of the price. You can find most of the ingredients you need in your own garden.

Ingredients

Sowing soil: composition and optimal additives
Sowing soil: composition and optimal additives

Basically, you only need three basic materials for your self-mixed seed soil, which you mix together one third at a time:

  • Garden soil: The soil thrown up by moles, which you are usually annoyed about in the form of molehills, is very suitable. Here, this loose soil, which comes from deeper layers - and is therefore usually free of weed seeds - is perfect for your purposes. Alternatively, you can also remove soil from the garden, but you should dig about ten centimeters deep to remove it. Soil from the surface usually contains weed seeds and other unwanted debris.
  • Sand: Conventional sand, such as that sold in hardware stores, is completely sufficient for this purpose. However, please do not use play sand or sand suitable for decorative bird cages, as these materials clump together very quickly when they come into contact with water and then become hard - not a good prerequisite for the root growth of young plants.
  • Humus / mature compost: Although young plants initially only need a few nutrients to grow, they cannot survive without them. Mature compost or even humus soil are the ideal nutrient suppliers; these substances are also loose and permeable as well as retaining water well. Bark humus is particularly suitable.

You can also add additives such as perlite, coconut fiber, wood fiber or even cat litter to your self-mixed seed soil. All of these substances are intended to help loosen the substrate and improve its water storage abilities. However, they are not absolutely necessary.

However, it is much more important to sift the raw materials carefully and repeatedly to remove any coarse components. Then mix them well and fill them into cultivation containers. You can also buy these from specialist retailers - or make them yourself ecologically from egg cartons, paper or cardboard. The following article shows how easy it works:

video: Youtube

Sterilization

But before that there is another very important step: sterilization. This process kills any pathogens or weed seeds that may be present in the substrate, giving your seedlings a better chance of growth. No chemicals are necessary for this, as all you need for sterilization is an oven or microwave. The following table shows you how this works:

Oven Microwave
Preparation Spread the soil flat on a baking tray and moisten it slightly Spread the soil flat on a plate and moisten it slightly
Temperature 200 °C 600 to 800 watts
Duration of application 30 minutes 10 minutes
Advantages make larger quantities germ-free germ-free soil within a few minutes
Disadvantages more time required is only suitable for small quantities

Excursus

When is the best time to repot young seedlings?

As soon as the seeds have sprouted and the young plants start to grow, it is time for what is known as pricking out. You should do this as early as possible: As soon as the young plant has a “real” pair of leaves in addition to the two cotyledons, it is time to move. This is especially true for heavy-feeding plants, such as tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers. However, you can leave medium- or low-consuming species in the growing substrate for a little longer - but these must be transplanted at the latest when space in the growing container becomes limited.

Why should you use seed soil at all?

sowing soil
sowing soil

Sowing soil provides young plants with everything they need

“No one would think of feeding their newborn baby a juicy steak. Young plants also have completely different needs than adult plants.”

Of course, young plants also grow in conventional potting soil. However, in a nutrient-rich substrate they do not develop as many and, above all, not as strong roots as in a nutrient-poor substrate: in a sowing soil that is poor in nutrients, mineral s alts, etc., the young plants are practically forced to develop a strong root network in search of “food”. to train. This will benefit you later as an adult plant, because many roots ensure better supply and thus better and he althier growth.

Frequently asked questions

How long does seed soil last?

Conventional planting or potting soil should be used as fresh as possible and not stored for too long. The reason for this is the nutrients present in these soils, which break down over time, as well as the fungi and bacteria that are usually present. Since sterilized potting soil is low in nutrients and ideally contains no pathogens, it generally has a longer shelf life. However, if possible, you should always mix or buy them fresh before sowing.

Are there alternatives to sowing soil?

Sowing soil is available commercially under many names, so you can also use potting soil or (not pre-fertilized!) herb soil. There is also the option of using cocohumer or a special substrate made from coconut fibers. This is often sold in compressed form and is only made to swell with warm water. The disadvantage of this source earth, however, is that the raw materials have to be flown in from distant countries - this is not particularly sustainable for various reasons.

Which is better, sowing soil or swelling tablets?

So-called swelling tablets or swelling tabs usually consist of pressed coconut fibers or peat. They are very practical to use, but make little sense for ecological reasons. It is actually best to buy a high quality peat-free and coconut-free sowing soil or to mix it yourself. The latter also helps you save money.

What to do if the sowing soil becomes moldy?

If the sowing soil is moldy, it is either too wet and/or has not been properly disinfected. Unfortunately, it is now unlikely that the seeds inside will germinate. However, you may be able to save larger plants by quickly pricking out and repotting them in a germ-free substrate. Do not water seeds and seedlings with a watering can, just moisten the soil slightly using a spray bottle. This will help you avoid overwatering and therefore mold. In addition, greenhouses or indoor greenhouses must be ventilated daily, as high humidity also contributes to the formation of mold.

Tip

If you let the seeds soak in lukewarm water for a few hours before sowing, they will germinate better. Also, always use fresh seeds.

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