Every hobby gardener is probably very familiar with cultivation pots. But so-called source tablets are now also available in stores. The description reads well, but what does experience say? Are they an alternative for every seed or just a “limited” solution?
Which is better, growing pots or swelling tablets?
Both variants have their advantages Swelling tablets are ideal for single sowing of vegetable and flower varieties that have small seeds and a short pre-cultivation period and do not need to be pricked out. Large seeds and larger quantities of seeds are better stored in classic growing pots and growing soil.
Are seed pots or swelling tablets better for sowing?
This question cannot be answered in general, because both variants have their advantages. For some sowings the classic seed pot is preferable, for others the swelling tablet offers convincing advantages. When making a decision,the following points must be taken into account:
- Seed Size
- Location (Sunshine)
- Duration of pre-culture
- Single or mass sowing
When should I use a swelling tablet?
Allsmall-seeded vegetables and flowerscan be sown on swelling tablets. It is important that they germinate reliably. Because only one seed is sown per swelling tablet. In addition, the plant varieties with ashort pre-cultivation period should manage without pricking out because the swollen tablets cannot keep their shape “forever”. Swelling tablets are, among other things, ideal for:
- various types of cabbage
- Salads
- Chard
- Snapdragons
- Petunias
- Student flowers
What advantages do swelling tablets offer?
Swelling tablets arefirst and foremost very practical There is no need to handle small pots and bags full of soil. They are planted in the soil with the plants, which is ideal for plants that are sensitive to roots. There is no waste and no major clean-up work is required. However, this is also possible with nursery pots (€15.00 on Amazon) made of organic material, such as newspaper or toilet paper rolls.
When should I stick to the classic growing pot?
If you have gotten along well with classic cultivation pots so far, there is no compelling reason to switch to swelling tablets. Pots are cheaper and some can be used over and over again. In any case, you should sowlarge seeds in it. For example:
- Beans
- Cucumbers
- Nasturtium
- Pumpkins
- Melons
- Sunflowers
- Zucchini
In addition, conventional seed trays are also indispensable for small seeds, especially whenmany seeds are to be sown.
Tip
When using swelling tablets, be sure to work precisely according to the instructions
The pressed coconut substrate is more difficult to root through than normal potting soil. If the seed is not properly pressed into the source opening, the root may form onto the substrate instead of growing into it. In addition, the substrate must not dry out at any time.
