Peat pots for seedlings with mold. Seedling diseases Peat pot covered with mold

Pots for seedlings made of peat are familiar to many gardeners. Some people really like them, while others have a negative attitude towards them. Those who have a positive attitude towards this method of growing seedlings and in practice grow tender varieties garden crops, for example, tomatoes, cucumbers and strawberries, they consider this method the most rational, because the roots are not damaged during transplantation. And, on the contrary, with a negative attitude towards such dishes, lovers of gardens and vegetable gardens are disappointed in it, because the plants do not grow well enough in it, and in addition, mold appears. What should I do? Should I buy them or not? Indeed, in the retail trade network there are currently a lot of offers for the sale of such material for germinating garden crops. We need to look into this issue. Or maybe there are some recommendations for correct use such container.

What does a peat cup represent?

The name speaks for itself - this is a product made from peat soil. Its geometric dimensions can be in the form of a cylinder with two different diameters or a rectangle. Their use for temporary planting of seeds and their germination. Peat pots the plant can be immediately planted in the ground without being damaged root system. If the container for seedlings is made according to the right technologies, then it dissolves in the soil within one month.

The process of making peat pots

At first glance, everything seems very easy; nothing special is needed to invent them. But, unfortunately, this is not entirely true. The correct name for this growing container is peat pots. The name speaks for itself - they consist not only of peat, but also of humus and even compost. Peat does not affect the onset of various diseases that have negative effects on plants, and this is obvious. The pots are not made in a garbage dump, but in specialized enterprises. The soil is removed by dump trucks, loaded with an excavator bucket, and transported quite long distances to the work site in an uncovered body. Afterwards the load is dumped onto the concrete floor. And harmful microorganisms are able to move both on land and in the air, which is why they live on the remains of peat heaps, in the soil, and in the air. And so, the entry of at least one microbe into the pot may well happen; there is no way to trace it.

To produce compost and humus, as a rule, Californian red worms are used, which process manure into their feces, but their activity does not apply to types of fungal diseases, for example, fusarium, and there is a risk of infection with other diseases.

All raw materials for making pots are not subjected to any heat treatment, although this procedure would not hurt to get rid of excess pests. Although some responsible businesses do include process and this kind of sterilization, but this is difficult to verify in practice.

From all of the above, we can draw the appropriate conclusions that the pot is often far from sterile.

Positive properties of peat pots

Despite some disadvantages, peat containers also have some positive qualities:

pots made with proper quality are distinguished by their resistance to wetness and various deformations, but this can only be noticed in practice;
the existing sizes of peat humus containers are different, which allows you to determine the type of seedlings being grown, in other words, you can select the appropriate pot size, depending on the size of the plant’s horse system;
the contained mineral fertilizers subsequently serve as high-quality nutrition for the roots of the plant, in this case there is no need to add additional fertilizers;
when transplanted into the ground, the plant's stress on climate change is significantly reduced, which is the basis for an excellent harvest, since the roots are not damaged, but continue to grow actively;
peat is an excellent food for plants, and if its production is done correctly, then it should not contain any microbes or weeds, but this is impossible to verify.

Negative properties of peat pots

When choosing peat pots in a store, you also need to take into account the disadvantages.

the content of compressed peat is not suitable for all plants; for example, asters and kochia do not adapt to an acidic environment. However, many manufacturers add both lime and chalk to the pots, which help reduce acidity. In this case, you need to consider for which plant the peat containers are purchased.
Frequent watering of seedlings is required, as the soil dries out very quickly. Afterwards, the temperature in the cup drops, and the root system begins to freeze and, as a result, the plant stops growing. Again, this provokes the appearance of mold.
It is not recommended to plant seedlings in open areas of land together with a peat pot. Many gardeners think that having planted a plant together with a glass, the latter begins to decompose, and the roots are actively growing. Wrong, it is difficult for the root system to break through the dense walls of the planting containers.
peat cups made poorly quickly lose their geometric shape, and from frequent watering Mold may form. Each manufacturer has its own approach to the matter and often the dishes for planting are made from just cardboard, and not from peat.
If you add up the costs of seedlings, it will be a bit expensive to plant each seed in a separate glass.

A few tricks for planting in open ground

First you need to decide what you will sow and whether it is worth buying peat pots. They are great for marigolds and physiostegia. To ensure that moisture evaporates more slowly, seedling containers can be wrapped in polyethylene. Plants with strong roots, for example, petunia or surfinium, can easily pierce the walls of a peat pot; they can be planted in the ground along with the container. Immediately before planting, it is best to make small holes in the walls to help the plant produce roots. It must be buried below ground level to prevent moisture evaporation. Before planting, water the soil generously and experienced gardeners The pots are soaked and the seedlings are carefully removed, then planted in the garden bed.

Very often you can observe that a white coating appears on peat seedling containers. There are explanations for this, since peat is highly acidic and mold appears. To avoid this, you can treat containers with hydrogen peroxide. The reasons for its appearance are as follows: the use of old soil from last year, there is no ventilation, the soil used for planting itself has high acidity.

Some experienced garden lovers claim that the appearance of mold due to the waterlogged bottom of the cup and since mold fungi are in the air, and the room is also not ventilated - this factor is the perfect reason for the appearance of white plaque. If the plant in such a container does not develop in a residential area, then it is recommended to treat the pots with vinegar or soda solution, or you can use alcohol or some kind of pesticide against fungus, and also reduce the frequency of watering. You can do without watering altogether, but simply spray it with water, slightly moistening the soil by two or three centimeters. It is not recommended to keep pots of seedlings in a crowded place, as their presence can cause many diseases, for example, diathesis in children or allergies. After all, spores will move through the air and successfully enter the lungs, which leads to the occurrence of a number of diseases, for example, heart muscle, oncology. Mold growth cannot be ignored.

Fighting mold on peat pots

The most primitive way is to remove mold with a layer of soil. Apply hydrogen peroxide to spray the soil at a rate of three tablespoons per half liter boiled water. Sprinkle the soil with fine vermiculite or crushed tablets activated carbon. These are sorbents and will absorb excess water. The room needs to be ventilated daily.

When choosing, you initially need to find out the manufacturing company, decide on the type of container for seedlings, and also take into account the thickness of the walls, which should be within one or one and a half millimeters, since the strength of the material and the ability of the roots to grow depend on it. To prevent mold from forming during production, anti-fungal mineral fertilizers and a number of other components are added to the peat mass.

Before using the pots for sowing seeds, you can store them for two years in a dry and ventilated area.

In conclusion

Each summer season begins with growing seedlings. Everyone understands why this is done - you can significantly increase the growing season and get not only an earlier, but also a much larger harvest. There are regions in our country in which heat-loving vegetables cannot be grown in any other way.

As the first stage of development passes, so will the subsequent ones - this is the law of nature. To improve plant development, many gardeners and gardeners use peat pots. How to use these little helpers? Is it worth purchasing them for growing seedlings? Let's look at the pros and cons of such cups.

What are they made of?

Before purchasing peat pots for seedlings, find out what they are made of. Such devices are made from peat, to which cardboard or wood is added. Most of all, gardeners praise cups with a ratio of the main substance of 70% and additives of 30%. Beware poor quality goods, it happens that unscrupulous manufacturers increase the percentage of impurities, or even use only cheap cardboard. Before buying agricultural equipment, read what is written on the packaging.

Environmental justification

Peat products have many advantages over their counterparts made from plastic, paper or ceramics. It will be truly environmentally friendly for the plants. clean house. The peat used to make containers for growing seedlings does not contain pathogenic microflora or weed seeds. Such products contain significantly lower levels of harmful toxic substances, for example, heavy metals, benzopyrene and pesticide residues. The concentration of such substances will be several times lower than permissible in agriculture standards for growing plants and crops. Light-weight peat is safe for use; it does not contain pathogens of various diseases of vegetable and flower crops.

When choosing peat pots for growing seedlings, carefully inspect them. For good quality products, the wall thickness should be one to one and a half millimeters. Such walls will be strong enough to last the entire period of plant development, but at the same time the roots of the seedlings will be able to develop unhindered. After planting in the soil, a high-quality pot will begin to quickly disintegrate, thereby facilitating the work of harvesting the fields. The decay period for quality products lasts approximately 27-32 days.

Peat pots for seedlings. Pros of use

Due to the porous walls, the best air-water regime of the root layer is ensured. When planted in the ground, plants freely take root through the walls and bottom.
Such containers do not contain pathogenic organisms and toxic substances, and at the same time they have great mechanical strength in both wet and dry conditions.
When planting seedlings together with a pot in the ground, the survival rate reaches almost 100%. Later, when decomposed, the pot will serve as fertilizer.
Due to the accelerated establishment of seedlings, more early harvest, this is mainly why seedlings are planted in peat pots.

How to use? General requirements for the use of peat pots

The containers are filled with preliminarily slightly moistened nutritious soil, crush it a little. After this it begins in peat pots. You can sow bulbs, cuttings or seedlings.
Place the prepared cups on pallets, pesos, plastic wrap, gravel or a layer of soil.
Seedlings should be watered frequently, keeping the soil moist.
Peat pots must not be allowed to dry out. How to use them correctly? Wrap each unit with film - this will help prevent drying out. Otherwise, the salt contained in the soil may crystallize and, in concentrated form, pose a danger to delicate seedlings.
When the plants begin to grow, the pots should be spaced more freely to increase light and aeration. In addition, with a more spacious arrangement, the intertwining of the root systems of neighboring plants is prevented.
Growing seedlings in peat pots ends with planting them in the ground. There is no need to dig up the plants; plant them directly with the old container.

Seedlings of zucchini, cucumbers, pumpkins, eggplants, squash

Seedlings of these crops do not like transplanting. To ensure that the plants take root, use peat pots for growing. How to use them? Which size would be preferable?

For cucumber seedlings intended for planting in protected soil, pots with a diameter of 11 cm are suitable. The duration of cultivation is approximately 30 days. How to plant in peat pots? One germinated seed is sown in one glass.

If you have to plant vegetables in open ground, then for seedlings of zucchini, squash and cucumbers you should choose containers with a diameter of 8 cm, for pumpkin would be better suited 11 cm and plant one in each pot. Planting depth is 1 cm. Cucumbers can be planted 2 pieces in one container.

On average, pumpkin seedlings will be ready in 20 days, and other vegetables in a month. You can calculate it yourself optimal timing landings.

The finished pots are placed on trays close to each other, watered thoroughly and left in a warm place where the temperature is maintained at 25-30 degrees until germination. When yellow-green sprouts appear, the temperature should be reduced to 20-22 degrees. Such temperature regime maintained for 2-3 days.

Watering

You should water the cucumber seedlings with warm water heated to 25-30 degrees. If there is cold watering, the plants may get sick or even die.

Hardening

To prevent plant diseases after transplanting into the ground, they are hardened off - 7-10 days before planting - the rooms are often ventilated, the temperature is reduced to 15 degrees, and watered less often.

Planting in open ground

Prepared plants are planted in the soil directly in pots. Before planting, some gardeners break the cups or take out the seedlings along with a lump of earth. You can do that too. However, gardeners who used peat pots to grow seedlings leave the following reviews about planting - they believe that it is better to first make holes in the containers. As they decompose, the cups will nourish the plant, helping to produce a large harvest.

Cabbage seedlings

In March, cabbage is sown in special boxes. After the seedlings appear, they are picked out and planting in peat pots begins. Cups with a diameter of about 7 cm are suitable. You can use round specimens or peat blocks, which contain 6 cells at once. At the end of April you can begin planting in

Lettuce seedlings

Lettuce seedlings for planting in protected soil are prepared by picking the seedlings into pots. Pots measuring 50x50 mm or, as they are also called, peat cells, are suitable. In about a month, the seedlings will be ready for planting in a greenhouse or greenhouse.

The roots of many plants can penetrate the bottom and walls of peat cups. However, most gardeners do not wait for this - they focus on the size of the above-ground part of the seedlings.

Experienced gardeners claim that if you immerse peat pots in water before planting warm water until the release of air bubbles from the walls stops, then in this case the soaked walls and bottom will not create obstacles and will be easily processed by soil inhabitants.

Disadvantages of peat pots

Not all plants tolerate the acidic environment that is inherent in peat. Some manufacturers add special mineral fertilizers to their products, as well as lime and chalk, which reduce acidity.
Frequent watering is required.
Evaporating from the surface of the pots, the water greatly cools the soil, as a result of which the root system develops much worse.
Some plants cannot break through the peat walls and have to be removed from their containers when transplanted.
Often mold appears on low-quality pots and the walls are destroyed
The high cost of peat cups, especially when growing large volumes of seedlings.

Unfortunately, some unscrupulous manufacturers pass off pots made from ordinary cardboard as high-quality peat products. Gardeners complain that sometimes in the fall, when digging up a plot, they find undecomposed pots with remnants of roots.

Unfortunately, mold is a frequent companion of young seedlings. It can appear both on the plants themselves and on the soil around them. Many gardeners are at a loss why indoor flowers standing next to each other on the windowsill do not suffer from mold - there is not even a trace of it there, but the growing seedlings nearby are simply suffocated by a white mold blanket?

The fact is that adult plants with a developed root system can produce special substances that can resist mold. But young growth, which has practically no roots, cannot fight mold spores.

Where does mold come from?

Mold spores in minute doses are everywhere - in the ground, water, air. There are several ways that mold could get to your seedlings.

There is a lot of fungus in the soil itself. Therefore, before planting it must first be sterilized. This can be done easily by placing the soil in a hot oven for a while. You can disinfect the soil by keeping it in a water bath for half an hour - this is also very effective.

But even sterilized soil can be infected with mold. Where, you ask? The fact is that fungal spores can be in the water with which you water the seedlings, and even in the air. However, mold growth and development only occurs under certain conditions.

Under what conditions does mold grow?

There are some factors that create favorable living conditions for mold. To defeat mold, it must be deprived of these factors.

Cold. If the room temperature does not rise above 20 degrees, this is beneficial for mold. Create favorable conditions for seedlings, not for fungus, increase the air temperature in the room.
Dampness. Large quantity water not only favors the development of fungus, but also destroys crops. Before boarding, do not forget about drainage holes, which will help excess moisture come out.
No ultraviolet radiation. Everyone knows that ultraviolet light is a natural antiseptic that can kill mold and mildew spores. But few people know that an ordinary glass window does not allow ultraviolet rays to pass through, leaving them outside. From time to time, expose the container with seedlings to the open air to get rid of mold.
Acidity. High acidity or high peat content is a favorable environment for the development of mold. Before planting, reduce the acidity of the soil by watering it with slaked lime.

Often mold develops in unventilated spaces, especially when seedlings are covered with film. To avoid this, you need to regularly open the greenhouse so that air circulates there.

Mold is quite harmful to seedlings - it can penetrate the seed and destroy it from the inside. To cope with mold that has already appeared on seedlings and on the soil, it is necessary to carry out a number of resuscitation measures.

First you need to carefully remove the mold from the top of the soil. This can be done with a simple spoon.
After this, you need to use a stick or a regular pencil to make several holes in the soil. This will allow the soil to dry out faster.
Then the container with the seedlings should be placed in a warm, well-ventilated place.
If the dishes do not have drainage holes, they must be made immediately. Only everything must be done carefully so as not to damage the seedlings.
After a few days, when the soil dries out, it needs to be treated with phytosporin. This special remedy, capable of protecting young plants from rotting, bacteriological and fungal diseases.

Subsequently, after taking a set of measures, you need to remember that the seedlings should not be flooded, they may die.

There are a few more effective ways, which will help you get rid of mold on seedlings.

As noted, mold is often evidence that the soil acidity is increased. This can be corrected, even in the process of growing seedlings. Dissolve a couple of tablespoons of ash in a liter of hot water and wait until the next day. After a day, water the soil with the prepared solution.
If you don't have ash on hand, you can use it instead baking soda. For a liter of water you will need half a teaspoon.
To prevent mold, you can sprinkle the surface of the soil with river pebbles. However, they are pre-calcined in the oven to prevent any infection from remaining on them. Instead of pebbles, you can use charcoal - its properties resist the formation of mold.
If you use only home remedies, then instead charcoal Feel free to sprinkle the soil with activated carbon.
Ventilate the seedlings regularly - they should be in fresh air at least half of the time.
If you have flooded the seedlings, leave them without film for 3-4 days until they are completely dry.
Loosen the soil regularly to allow air to circulate in it.
Among the professional means of combating mold on seedlings, Mikosan can be noted. This biofungicide can be used for plants grown at home, the main thing is to follow the instructions and proportions. Mikosan not only kills mold, it develops strong immunity from pests in plants. In addition, it is an excellent natural growth stimulator.

If you are just going to plant seedlings, you need to take care of this problem in advance. Preliminarily determine the acidity of the soil, and if it is elevated, reduce it using available means. Also, seeds must be soaked in potassium permanganate or diluted aloe juice before planting. This will protect them from possible spores, bacteria, and infections.

Mold on seedlings is not a death sentence. And this does not mean that the plants can no longer be saved. Although mold is harmful, it is quite possible to get rid of it. The main thing is to act competently and consistently. Take care of your seedlings and receive good harvest!

Video: why mold appears on seedlings and what to do about it

Subsistence farming in a broad sense is one of the oldest, and perhaps the oldest, human occupation. Over such a long history, it has gone through many stages of development and public perception. From urgent necessity, when growing plant food with one’s own hands was the main condition for survival, to neglect, when digging in the ground began to be considered the prerogative of exclusively financially vulnerable people and the elderly, who seem to have nothing else to do. But today, crop production, growing vegetables, fruits, and any other greenery through its own efforts is experiencing a new round of popularity. The basis for it was the fashion for organic products and public protest against artificial ingredients, which are increasingly used in the food industry. Then mass fear of the notorious GMOs “connected”. The financial crisis also played a role, significantly reducing the ability of many of our fellow citizens to load the supermarket cart to the top with ready-made products in colorful packaging. And finally, over time (for some - with age, for others - under the influence of media propaganda), an understanding comes that simple fact that there is no better food than the simplest and most natural.

Once you take this path, fresh vegetables grown in the garden begin to seem a hundred times tastier than complex restaurant dishes, and there is no point in dwelling on the benefits of such nutrition: it is already obvious. Especially in the summer, when the body itself strives to cleanse itself and get as many natural vitamins, plant fibers and juices as possible. In such circumstances, even those who have never picked up a rake in their lives before, and learned about the ripening of tomatoes only by their appearance on the shelves, take up gardening. But for such novice gardeners, modern industry has created many aids. All kinds of devices, tools and chemicals make planting, growing, and caring for crops so much easier that their functionality is appreciated by experienced plant growers. And their special attention was given to peat pots, which now rarely do even one fan of gardening can do without. That essentially simple idea turned out to be so useful that now few people grow seedlings without them. Want to try it too? There is nothing simpler: handling peat pots is not difficult, they are not expensive and do not take up much space either in the house or on the site. And yet, for best result It’s better to learn in advance all the nuances of how to use peat pots.

Peat pots: properties and features
Peat pots are relatively small (the size may vary depending on your tasks) cups or boxes designed for growing seedlings in them. Main feature peat pots and their main difference from other containers for similar purposes is the material from which the pots are made. It is not difficult to guess about it just by the name itself, but in fact it is not 100% pure peat, but a mixture of peat with wood pulp or humus, dried, tightly compacted and shaped into a round or square container. This composition of the material for manufacturing was chosen because it is the lightest, most durable and effective in terms of the functions that are assigned to it. Every gardener knows about them first-hand, and for everyone else, we will once again remind you that the majority of both fruit and ornamental crops begin their life cycle from seedlings. This is a kind of “childhood” of the plant, and it, just like in humans, has a decisive influence on the entire subsequent life of the plant: its development, growth, fruitful indicators, etc. Therefore, it is so important to properly grow seedlings and provide them with necessary care. All this is provided for by the composition and design of peat pots:

The root system is well supplied with oxygen and water thanks to the porous walls of the pot. Neither the nutrition nor the respiration of the developing plant is disturbed.
After planting in the ground, the roots grow freely through the pliable and soft walls of the peat pot without encountering resistance.
The base of the pot is strong enough to withstand the load of soil and seedlings as long as it is needed.
The peat pot, getting into the soil, gradually decomposes and itself becomes a natural fertilizer for the plant, which provides its nutrition and improves growth rates.
The peat pot is made entirely of natural ingredients that do not harm either the seedlings or the soil, and do not poison the harvest.

It follows from this that peat pots are a truly useful invention and necessary purchase for growing seedlings. But did you manage without them before? Of course, you can grow seedlings in other containers. Our mothers and grandmothers used boxes, bags, jars and cups of yoghurt, cottage cheese, sour cream for this purpose... No one is stopping you from following their example, but you need to take into account certain features and the difficulties that those who use “improvised materials” to grow seedlings have previously encountered and continue to encounter. Firstly, some crops with a naturally weak root system (for example, cucumbers, pumpkins, peppers, eggplants, etc.) cannot be planted and then planted in boxes: they simply cannot withstand such tests. Secondly, containers from fermented milk products often contains their remains, and lactic acid bacteria have a very aggressive effect on the roots, causing their damage and disease. And finally, the roots of seedlings grown in solid containers are inevitably damaged, which subsequently cannot but affect the development of the plant. All these dangers can be avoided by using peat pots. And in order to choose them correctly when purchasing for the first time, keep in mind that:

The shape of peat pots can be round or square in diameter. This is not of fundamental importance for the success of growing seedlings, but it can save space or otherwise affect ease of use.
Peat pots also differ in size, so do not rush to buy the first one you come across if their volume does not seem entirely convenient to you. Look for those that best suit your needs and provide your seedlings with maximum comfort and growth.
Peat pots can be separate or joined into horizontal blocks of several pieces. It is more convenient to store and use piece peat pots. If you expect to simply break the block into separate parts, then do it carefully so as not to damage the integrity of the walls of the adjacent pot; for all their strength, they are quite susceptible to mechanical damage.
Try to choose walls of peat pots from one to one and a half millimeters thick - experience shows that it is optimal for most types of seedlings.
Do not confuse a peat pot with a cardboard one. They look very similar, especially if the cardboard is painted, and unscrupulous manufacturers take advantage of this. Cardboard pots, unlike peat pots, do not dissolve in the ground, do not nourish the plant and do not allow its roots to develop freely in the soil.

Advantages and disadvantages of peat pots
Having mentioned fake peat pots, we come close to current topic their shortcomings. Indeed, it cannot be that anyone, even the most convenient and simple device, there were no cons. There are also shortcomings regarding the use of peat pots, and they have long been noticed by gardeners. How to treat them - everyone decides for himself, depending on his capabilities, character and preferences among garden crops. We invite you to learn about the difficulties that other gardeners have encountered and decide for yourself how critical they are for you personally: are they worth giving up peat pots altogether, or simply take some measures to overcome these difficulties:

Peat pots, due to the looseness of their walls, cannot be dry when filled with moistened soil. And if so, the moisture continuously evaporates, and the soil inside the peat pot dries out, causing the seedlings to suffer from “thirst.”
On the other hand, since it is very difficult to control the degree of moisture and evaporation, there is always a risk of watering seedlings in a peat pot too much. As a result, the pot becomes covered with mold, which spreads to both the substrate and the seedlings themselves.
Evaporation of moisture inevitably leads to cooling, that is, the fragile root system, which needs warmth, in practice begins to freeze, grows slowly and develops poorly.
Some peat pots do not decompose in the soil as quickly as necessary and remain in the soil in clumps, littering the soil and interfering with other plants. Most often this is a sign of low-quality pots made not from peat, but from cardboard and other materials.
Sometimes the walls of a peat pot are too strong for weak roots that simply cannot break through. For example, pumpkin copes with this task, but pepper gets stuck and withers.

How to grow seedlings in a peat pot
If the above side effects you have not been put off, and you have not given up on the idea of growing seedlings in a peat pot, then it would be best to follow the standard instructions for using peat pots. And as complications arise, apply a few tricks, which we will discuss later. One way or another, not all gardeners have complaints about peat pots, so it is possible that in your case everything will turn out well. And the probability of a successful result using peat pots will be higher, the more accurately you follow the following sequence of actions:

Make sure that you are going to use peat-humus pots - and it is better to do this at the time of purchase, carefully studying the composition of the product in the packaging and asking the seller in detail.
Fill peat pots with soil suitable for each specific type of seedling, pre-moistened and nutritious.
Compact the soil slightly, but not too much, so that the seedlings can break through the soil and receive enough oxygen.
Sow the seeds in the soil directly in the pot, bury the bulbs in the ground up to their shoulders, plant cuttings and seedlings depending on their size.
Place the pots of seedlings in a wide tray. You can push them close together at first, and move them further apart as the root system grows to provide adequate space, light, and aeration.
Make sure that the soil in peat pots is always moist. Water it directly or through a drip tray.
Do not allow the soil in peat pots to dry out: this is fraught not only with drying out of the plants, but also with crystallization of salts, which further damage fragile seedlings.
Water the seedlings in peat pots generously about a day before planting them in open ground.
Do not remove seedlings ready for planting in the ground from peat pots, but bury them in the ground along with them. The depth of immersion of a peat pot into the soil depends on its size.
Make sure that the top edge of the peat pot is level with the ground or not much deeper (no more than 1-2 cm in depth).

As you can see, the technology for growing seedlings in peat pots is really simple and logical, both in theory and in practice. Its main advantage is that there is no need to remove seedlings from a solid container when planting in a garden bed and thereby injure the thin roots. Flowers take root especially well in peat pots, even such capricious ones as the miniature snapdragon. But you can’t ignore the disadvantages of peat pots either. Therefore, we suggest that you do not turn a blind eye to them, but, on the contrary, look around in search of a way out of the situation and take advantage of some of the subtleties discovered by enterprising gardeners in the process of using peat pots.

Secrets of using peat pots
Each gardener chooses for himself what devices to use in his work - fortunately, today you can find, choose and buy literally any tools. Listening to the opinions of others, it’s worth trying at least once to grow seedlings in a peat pot to make up your own mind. own opinion. But if you didn’t like using peat pots, and you bought them in advance and with a reserve, don’t rush to get upset and count the “wasted” money. There are no unnecessary things in the household, and now we will prove this to you again using the example of peat pots:

Using a hole punch, awl or other sharp object, immediately make several holes in the bottom and walls of the peat pot. Subsequently, this will make it easier for the plant’s roots to emerge.
To prevent moisture from evaporating through the walls of the peat pot and cooling the seedlings, wrap each pot plastic film or by package. Before planting in open ground, do not forget to remove this polyethylene.
Before putting soil for seedlings in peat pots, saturate them with the solution mineral fertilizers. This will help the walls of the pots dissolve in the soil faster and provide the plants with additional nutrition.
To prevent the peat pot from becoming moldy, spray it with a special drug, for example, foundationazole. This will not have a detrimental effect on the seedlings.
And finally, you can use peat pots not for all seedlings, but only for the strongest and strongest ones - for example, the same pumpkin, whose roots easily penetrate the walls of the peat molds.

The hype around peat pots, as often happens, is greatly exaggerated. For all their benefits, they also have disadvantages, which, however, are not at all difficult to cope with with a small amount of rational attitude. But they are light and safe for environment and they look incomparably better than the assorted plastic packages from curd desserts. You can start and continue to grow seedlings in peat pots for any agricultural, ornamental, garden crops, or abandon them forever by finding more suitable way. In other words, and gardening season, and a good harvest does not depend on peat pots, but on your skill and attitude. It is no secret that plants, as living organisms and part of nature, are sensitive to the psychological atmosphere around them. Therefore, use peat pots and other gardening tools easily, with a smile and good mood, then the shoots will be a joy!