There are many reasons why you need to save seedlings or plant bulbs until spring. This includes unpredictable weather in the fall and simply a lack of time to plant plants. And stone fruit crops (apricot, cherry, plum) are generally recommended to be planted in the spring. Fear has big eyes, and everyone has their own convenient way to preserve the plant.
General preparation of seedlings for wintering
What is clear is that all foliage from such seedlings should be stripped off. Leaves draw moisture from the tree, which has a bad effect on plants during wintering.
Garden trench
This method is suitable for almost all types of seedlings. This method involves digging a trench in an area where water will not accumulate. It should also be of a somewhat specific shape.
On its northern side there should be an angle of 90°, and on the southern side - 45°. The depth of the trench is 50 cm. The length depends on the number of seedlings. On average, take 15-20 cm per 1 seedling. The width depends on how large the root system is.
The seedlings are placed in such a trench as if lying down. The roots are straightened as much as possible and try to be laid so that there are as few voids as possible. Then they are buried in a layer of soil of about 20 cm. It is important that all the roots are covered with soil.
The top is usually covered when severe frosts occur, with the remainder of the soil at the level of the trench. In such a way that the stems of the seedlings are closed.
Basement
To store in the basement, you need to be sure that it will not freeze, and also that the temperature in it will not rise above +5°C. At this temperature, seedlings can wake up, and this will most likely lead to their death. If this happens, you need to ensure the circulation of cold air so that the temperature does not rise higher.
To store it in the basement, place the seedling in a plastic bag and cover it with sawdust. For smaller plants, you can use a smaller bag, and for larger plants, a trash bag will work.
You should keep an eye on the soil moisture in the bags. The soil should be moderately moist.
General storage conditions for different rooms
In theory, seedlings can be stored in any room subject to a number of conditions:
- The temperature should not rise above +5°C. The optimal temperature will be 0°C or +1°C. Also, the temperature should not fall below -1°C;
- There should be no wind or drafts;
- The seedlings should not be exposed to direct sunlight.
Recommendations for specific crops
It is better, however, to keep coniferous plants in storage until spring. The roots should be in a moist environment, and the trunk should be covered with dry soil or peat. The mound itself must be protected with plastic wrap from excessive moisture penetration.
Perennials can be kept alive until spring arrives, but since they are cold-hardy plants, it still makes sense to try planting them even if the soil freezes.To do this, you need to thoroughly water the place where you are going to plant them; wait about an hour until they cool. Dig in the roots with damp soil. Fill the rest of the hole with dry soil. You can pile up leaves on top of the hole or sprinkle with peat. All this must be covered with polyethylene for 2 weeks until the roots are strong.
Planting rose seedlings sometimes drags on until late autumn. But if necessary, dig a trench about 30 cm deep, place the plants there and cover with earth. You can insulate them with spruce branches or lutrasil on top.
It is better to store seedlings of fruit plants or shrubs in the basement. Before storing, the roots are checked. Overdried ones are soaked in water. In this case, the water should be cool, and you will have to wait several hours for “revival”. Then place in cut bottles (if there are containers - in them) and fill with sand, periodically tapping to avoid the formation of cavities.
Throughout the wintering period, you need to ensure that the humidity is normal, so as not to dry out or flood the plant.
Storing bulbs
Bulbs overwinter quite well in a regular household refrigerator in a vegetable drawer or simply on the bottom shelf. To do this, plant the bulb in peat moss, and then wrap it all in a sheet of thick paper and put it in a bag. Every week you need to check the humidity.
Another way to preserve the bulbs until spring is to place them in a box filled with sawdust and put them in a dark, cool place with a temperature of +4 ° C.Important: this temperature must be kept stable.
In conclusion, let’s say that there is no need to panic if the plants are not planted. It is important to understand how to properly preserve the plant, and it will successfully overwinter.
